Virgo 2011 Do's & Dont's in preparation of the event !
Thursday, 15 September 2011 11:14
It's that time of year again ..Virgo season ! Everyone knows the biggest event of the year is only a few days away. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Virgo Party presented by Seaspot and Tastemakers this year . The event this year will be held at the Showbox Sodo in Seattle,Wa. September 17,2011. "The Black Diamond' theme is catering to the 'All Black Everything' attire. Although wearing all black is not required, it is strongly suggested. On the 1's and 2's is the world famous DJ Kid Capri who is no stranger to the Virgo Party due to getting the party started back at Virgo 2003. Since this is the 20th anniverary of this iconic event, I put together a do's & dont's list in preparation for this event. This will be a classy meets flashy enviroment and the swagger in the building has to be at 100. Here are a few suggestions/tips to make sure you wont make the hotmess.com list this year:
1.Ladies- Make sure your attire is something that is in style for this season. Let's not wear dresses that were meant for Spring 2011 or prom related attire. Let's be tasteful and classy with our attire at this event. - No open toe heels with stockings. - No too small dresses. - No hair styles created in the kitchen or style's prepared 3-4 days prior to this event.
2. Fellah's - This is not the player's ball nor are you headed to church. You can dress fly and look casual versus looking like your headed to a job interview. It does not hurt to ask someone at the department store to help you piece an outfit together. (You can always tell the ones that dont get out or dress up much...lol.)
3. Ladies- Please wear age/body size appropriate clothing. Just because your friend is a size 6 does not mean that you are as well. Remember, the paparazzi will be in the building flashing pics all night, you do not..I repeat DO NOT want to be caught on hotmess.com or mediatakeout.com looking a gawd awful mess.
4. Fellah's- Fresh fades,braides or bald heads are a neccesity to your grooming tactics. Let's step our game up and get our grown man on in style. No woman likes a man in a too baggy suit or not wearing something talored to your swag. Make sure everything is on point.
Lastly, The Virgo Party is a staple in Seattle and has been going on for many year. Lots of great memories come from the Virgo party. Let's go out and do it like we are doing it for Tv !
Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 September 2011 11:50 )
Redistricting plan could help put people of color in Congress
Sunday, 11 September 2011 23:52
In the early 1900?s, racial discrimination had confined Seattle’s African American population to the area below Madison Street. Blacks found it impossible to buy or rent housing to the north. Decades later, that same barrier could help people of color get better representation in the U.S. Congress.United for Fair Representation WA, a Seattle-based coalition of non-profit organizations, has used Madison Street as the northernmost border of a new Congressional district that would be a “majority minority.”
“They’ve drawn a district that would be 51 percent people of color,” said Bonnie Bunning, Executive Director of the Washington State Redistricting Commission. “There’s a concentration of immigrants and people of color and minorities in the South Seattle area and they think that it’s only fair that they have someone elected that represents their district.”
The proposed new 10th Congressional district would extend south from Seattle’s SODO neighborhood as far as Federal Way and east as far as Newcastle. While it encompasses urban areas that are overwhelmingly liberal, it also includes more moderate cities such as Kent and Auburn. It is one among a number of proposals for a new district that will account for population increases reflected by the latest census data.
“The increase in population has largely come from communities of color and without this growth in communities of color we probably would not have received the 10th Congressional in the first place,” said George Cheung, executive director of the Win/Win Network, a collaboration of non-partisan nonprofit’s in Washington state that contributed to the plan. “Given that people of color are 1 out 4 of all residents in Washington state, I think it’s high time that we have better representation.”
But, should their redistricting plan be reflected in the commission’s final decision, it does not necessarily ensure a minority will be elected.
“It’s probably never safe to assume that everybody with a particular characteristic are going to vote the same way,” Bunning said. “But I think you might assume that it would increase your chances of getting someone who is of your community and understands your issues.”
Cheung said they don’t necessarily expect the district to result in a person of color going to Congress. They do, however, expect better representation for the minority population in South King County.
“Whether or not these lines will ultimately lead to a person of color being elected is secondary to us,” Cheung said. “Obviously having a representative in Congress reflect who actually lives in the state is really important, but we believe that having someone who is really accountable and a champion of our issues is more important.”
The coalition has also proposed revamping five legislative districts that would be a “majority minority.” Three of those districts would be in King County while the other two would fall in Pierce and Yakima counties.
The redistricting commission is expected to present their official drafts by mid-September.
Seattle are you ready?!? The self-proclaimed greatest rapper alive is bringing the ‘I Am Still Music’ tour to the Northwest. If you are a true fan of Hip-Hop you do not want to miss out on this show! The ‘I Am Still Music’ tour is the follow up to Lil Wayne’s ‘I Am Music Tour’ which hit Seattle back in 2009 at the Key Arena. This time around Lil Wayne is blazing the stage at the White River Amphitheatre in Aurburn, Washington on Sunday September 4, 2011. Of course, no true Hip-Hop show is complete without special guest; and this time around Wayne is sharing the stage with some of the biggest names currently in Hip-Hop and R&B. Rick Ross also known as Ricky Rozay will be blazing the stage with hit’s like ‘Ashton Martin Music’ and ‘BMF’ the crowd will surely be excited to hear some of that May Bach Music from the boss himself. The crowd will also get a change to see R&B singer Keri Hilson, with hits such as ‘Slow Dance’ and ‘Pretty Girl Rock’ the ladies will get a chance to represent with some girl power in the building. The bill also includes R&B star Lloyd and rising electro hip-hop quartet Far East Movement. With the release of Lil Wayne’s ‘Tha Carter IV’ right around the corner (scheduled release date Aug 29th at Midnight). This show will be filled with Wayne classic’s and hits such as ‘6 foot 7 foot’ and the current club banger ‘She Will’ feat. Drake. This tour is selling out arenas across the country and if you consider yourself a true fan of hip-hop music, the ‘I Am Still Music’ tour is something that you do not want to miss. Tickets are currently on sale at www.livenation.com Prices range from $23.75-$119.75 –Show Starts at 7pm.
Jay Z / Kanye pre-sale postponed Until Monday! Here is the link...
Thursday, 28 July 2011 10:15
DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST ADD ADDITIONAL SHOWS TO ‘WATCH THE THRONE’ TOUR
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 28, 2011) Due to overwhelming demand for JAY-Z and KANYE WEST’S WATCH THE THRONE TOUR (Powered By VoyR), additional shows are being added. As a result, the tour schedule has been modified. The new presale date moves to Tuesday, August 2nd. The new tour schedule will be announced on Monday, August 1st.
The public on sale remains Monday, August 8th with tickets available at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
Citi® card members will have access to presale tickets beginning Wednesday, August 3rd at 10AM local time through Citi's Private Pass® Program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Citi® is the official credit card of the WATCH THE THRONE TOUR.
Both JAY-Z and Kanye West have each appeared as guests on the other's stage, and now they come together for never-before-seen performances not only from their collaboration, WATCH THE THRONE but also songs from their classic catalogue. Fans should stay tuned: several key dates will offer unique opportunities to become a part of the WATCH THE THRONE movement.
Red Bull EmSee Seattle, the crowning of the best in the Pacific Northwest, will be determined by a freestyle rap battle of sight and sound. The national, invitation-only competition boasts a unique format challenging the rapper to execute extemporaneous dexterity in this driven display of the art of freestyle.
Eight emcees battle against each other, the clock, and their mind’s eye as their agility skills are put to the test in this quest for sovereign rights. This elimination style competition judges emcees in three rounds, each with spontaneous cues inducing the emcees’ flow.
In the first round, emcees will be tested on their versatility and speed as five images randomly flash on screen, for the basis of their battle. Four emcees advance to Round Two where the audience will text words that display on screen serving as the battle’s stimulus. The two finalists reveal their ultimate lyrical ability in a third round, traditional-format freestyle battle.
Guest Judges & Performers:
Too $hort
Crooked I
Casual
Red Bull EmSee Host:
Bun B
Competing MC's:
Illmaculate
9dm
KRUE
Mic Phenom
Billy the Fridge
Bishop I
Justis
KI Design
Red Bull EmSee Dj:
B-Mello
Date and Time:
July 28, 2011 Doors Open at 9:00 PM Show Starts at 10:00 PM
Location:
The Crocodile 2200 2nd Ave. Seattle, WA
Admission:
$8 advance at thecrocodile.com $10 at door if not sold out 21 and over
UNCF Walk & BBQ Cook-Off for Education at Umoja Fest
Monday, 11 July 2011 09:05
Seattle, WA- Umoja Fest is proud to partner with the UNCF to promote educational achievement in the community. For the first time since 2000, the UNCF Walk for Education, formally known as the UNCF "Walk-a-Mile to Save-a-Mind" walkathon starting at 9am on Saturday, August 6th (scroll down for details and registration info). Following the walk The day will also feature the 2nd Annual UNCF BBQ Cook-Off for Education in partnership with Umoja Fest and "Kids Happy Hour". The weekend of Umoja Fest African American Seafair Celebration will also include attractions such as Umoja Fest African American Day Parade, Soul of The City Stage, Best of Both Worlds Fashion Show, Community Fitness Challenge, Heal The Hood Basketball Tournament, Car Show, Hip-Hop Stage, Vendors and more. For more info visit www.umojafestnw.com, email
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or call 877.505.6306. Like Umoja Fest on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/umojafest
Follow Umoja Fest on twitter - twitter.com/umojafest
In a culture that has become based on passing fads, maintaining relevance has become quite the task. In the world of Hip-Hop music, artists come and go, hit singles fizzle out and are soon forgotten, but artists that stand up to the test of time and sustain longevity are few and far between.
Enter Cool Nutz.
With close to 20 years of service to Hip-Hop culture, Terrance Scott pka Cool Nutz has been a class act and Diplomat for Northwest Hip-Hop. While some have chosen to simply pursue success on an individual basis, Cool Nutz chose to put the region and City of Portland on his back and work to give an area typically unheard a voice.
From starting the highly successful Jus Family Records, to 2 major label record deals with Big Beat/Atlantic and Universal Records, to co-founding The Portland Oregon Hip-Hop Festival(12 years running), to creating and programming The Northwest Breakout Show(Wild 107.5 Portland/Clearchannel), to being showcased in Seattle’s Experience Music Project Museum alongside Sir Mix A Lot, Cool Nutz has built quite the body of work that will go down in the history books of Northwest music.
With 9 solo albums to his credit and appearances with the likes of E-40, BG, Tech N9ne, Kurupt, Ras Kass, Baby Bash, Mac Dre, The Grouch, Mistah Fab, C-Bo, and more, Cool Nutz has built an amazing resume, and looks to continue that with the upcoming release of his latest album “The Cook Up”.
On “The Cook Up” Cool Nutz continues to validate why he has been one of the most credible and talented voices to come from the Northwest and continues to add to his already impressive legacy. The key about “The Cook Up” is that Cool Nutz will be offering the project to fans for absolutely FREE. With appearances from Bosko, Potluck, Illmaculate, Mikey Vegaz, Maniac Lok, TxE, Kenny Mack, and more, you can rest assured that there will be plenty witty lyricism and slick wordplay to keep you glued to your speakers or headphones. And if the appearances aren’t enough, the bonus is mind blowing production from heavyhitter tracksmiths DJ Quik, Bosko, Trox, Nonstop, Tope, LawzSpoken, G_Force, HI-Q, and Terminill.
Look for standout tracks “Tax Brackets”, “The Gas Team” featuring Bosko, “Superman” featuring Mikey Vegaz, “Love” featuring TxE, and the title track “The Cook Up” to keep your listening attention, as Cool Nutz proves why he continues to be looked at as one of the shining stars of the Northwest music scene.
Lil Bow Wow... Prince of the O Town... is now ALL GROWN UP Bow Wow and he is coming to the NW this weekend! He will be hosting clubs in Seattle and Portland and pushing his music deal with Cash Money amoung other projects. While it is clear that he has made the SUCCESFULL jump to the BIG SCREEN, he is still getting it in with the Music.
BOW WOW NW EVENTS:
FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2011
T.A. EVENT CENTER 300 NE MULTNOMAH Portland, OR 97204
Black Art Show, Car Show, Gospel Fest, and appearence from Rapper WALE all scheduled to take place this weekend at the annual Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest
June 11-12, 2011 Center House, Fisher Pavilion, SC Pav.
Festival Sundiata is where participants and visitors from all communities have an opportunity to peak into the window and experience the vastness of Black culture. Presented by the Sundiata African-American Cultural Association.
What can you do in 2011? Participate in African dance workshops, learn the rhythms of traditional drumming, explore the outdoor food vendors and experience the richness of black culture during a weekend filled with continuous live entertainment. The festival celebrates the arts and educates the community about people of African descent who form a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities.
Think Globally... Act Globally... Omari "Big O" Salisbury helps to launch new media and marketing company in Africa. The Big O, known to many around Seattle recently from the huge success of R Networks (Ciroc Events last summer) and his phone stores, has made the jump across the pond, again. He has been brought in to help lead the launch of PUSH MOBILE, a mobile marketing company based in Tanzania. Among other mobile initiatives the company monitors media across east Africa. On a trip back to the town, Big O recently signed a deal with TWITTER to offer SMS services in Tanzania. Here is the Press Release:
PUSH MOBILE inks deal with TWITTER to provide SMS service in Tanzania.
Tanzania’s first mobile marketing firm continues to expand access to information via mobile.
June 6, 2011 [DAR ES SALAAM] – PUSH Mobile, Tanzania’s leading mobile marketing firm, today announced an agreement with Twitter that will launch Twitter SMS service here in Tanzania; this service is common place in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan, however, Tanzania, will be one of the first countries on the entire continent of Africa to offer this service.
Currently, Twitter users in Tanzania can only access their account and update their status via computer or smart phone; however with the Twitter SMS service, Twitter users will be able to allow their favorite people, receive status updates, and update their own status all via SMS on a standard rated short code. “Twitter SMS evens the information playing field” said Omari Salisbury, Chief Operations Officer of PUSH Mobile. “Before you needed to have a very expensive smart phone or a computer to participate in the global Twitter conversation, but the best thing is that now even someone in the village who could never afford a smart phone and where there is no internet can still make his voice and thoughts heard to the world” said Salisbury. “Twitter SMS is in alignment with PUSH Mobile’s core values of bringing access to information via mobile to every citizen of Tanzania.”
The Twitter service is currently in the test phase and will up for use nationwide in about one month on the standard rated short code 15404.
S/O to BIG O, the lastest from the TALENTED GREAT NW to become a GLOBAL CITIZEN!!
ROCKSONG OFFICIAL [HD] (((CHE'REAL))) 1ST LADY FLYBOYZ
Tuesday, 31 May 2011 18:04
Here is the new video from CHE REAL.... FLYBOYZ ENT ARTIST.... ROCK SONG VIDEO.... She is the 1st lady signed to Flyboyz Ent from Tacoma, WA.. Leave a comment..
Saturday June 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. In the Bullitt Cabaret Running Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
The Hansberry Project is honored to present actress, playwright, director and activist Regina Taylor with the Legend Award in honor of her incredible contributions that give voice to the African American experience. Taylor is the author of CROWNS, one of the most performed musicals in the country, and an award-winning actress known for her performances in films, television, and theatre. She continues to make a mark in the performing arts world and lifts the voices of Black people through her stellar writing, acting, directing and activism. Read Regina Taylor's full bio by clicking on the tab below!
Join us for a festive evening of food, drink, live music and a reading of excerpts from CROWNS, in celebration of the Hansberry Project and Juneteenth.
With an impressive body of work that encompasses film, television, theater and writing, Regina Taylor's career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects.? Taylor is best known to television audiences for her role as Lilly Harper in the series "I'll Fly Away." She received many accolades for her performance in the show including winning a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Taylor was most recently seen starring in the CBS hit drama "The Unit". She took home the NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Drama" for her work on the show. ?Regina made her professional acting debut on CBS in the movie "Crisis at Central High" and other television credits include the series "The Education of Max Bickford," "Feds" as well as television movies "Strange Justice" playing Anita Hill, earning her a Peabody Award and Gracie Award, "Cora Unashamed," "Children of the Dust," "I'll Fly Away: Then and Now," "Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder." Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, Taylor has starred in blockbuster films alongside some of Hollywood most talented leading men. Her film credits include "The Negotiator," "Courage Under Fire," "A Family Thing," "The Keeper," "Clockers," "Losing Isaiah," and "Lean on Me."
In addition to her film and television work, Taylor holds the honor as being the first Black woman to play William Shakespeare's Juliet in Broadway's Romeo and Juliet. Her other theater credits include As You Like It, Macbeth, Machinal, The Illusion and Jar the Floor. In addition, she won the L.A. Dramalogue Award for her performance in The Tempest on the west coast. Taylor not only feels comfortable on the stage, she is also an accomplished playwright. Her other credits as playwright include Oo-Bla-Dee, for which she won the American Critics' Association new play award, Drowning Crow, (her adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull, which was produced on Broadway by Manhattan Theater Club in its inaugural season at the Biltmore Theater and starred Alfre Woodard), The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove, A Night in Tunisia, Escape from Paradise, Watermelon Rinds, and Inside the Belly of the Beast.
Taylor's critically acclaimed Crowns continues to be one of the most performed musicals in the country. It is the winner of four Washington D.C. Helen Hayes awards including Taylor's win for Best Direction as well as Best Regional Musical. Taylor's play Magnolia premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in March 2009 directed by Anna Shapiro, Tony Award winner for August: Osage County. Taylor's trilogy, The Trinity River Plays premiered as a co-production with the Dallas Theater Center and the Goodman Theatre. Taylor is a member and Artistic Associate of the Goodman Theatre. She received the Hope Abelson Artist-In-Residence Award from Northwestern in 2010. Creator and Curator of The State(s) of America - The Regina Taylor Project, a festival involving multiple departments at Northwestern University; students were challenged to own their own voice by creating plays, films, interactive graphic art, stories, spoken word and devised pieces that hold up mirrors to these times.
She has received honorary doctorates from Columbia College, DePaul University and Lake Forest College. She was raised in Dallas, Texas and recently moved to Chicago. www.reginataylor.com
"Who'd ya'll come to see?! was the question asked by Hip Hop Prophet ice Cube, as he rocked the house at Seattle's Showbox in downtown Seattle. The "I Am the West" tour rolled through, performing hits from Cube's last eight albums. From old school classic cuts like "Amerikkk's Most Wanted" and upcoming singles off the much anticipated new album, "I Am the West". "I Got the Hood With Me" was well received as the audience excitedly went wild with the beat. This is my ninth studio album and it has taken me so long because i wanted to make sure where I wanted to go with it! So this album is in response to all the rappers from the South, the East, and the Mid-West. What I do is this gangster sh**! no apologies for it! The show was a Lynch Mob, Ice Cube gangter party, with DJ Crazy Tunes spinning the cuts, new fans and old fans alike can expect the new album to dropp in July. Yayy Yayy!
If you've never heard of rapper Big K.R.I.T don't worry, most people haven't. The Mississippi rapper whose real name is Justin Scott, has been rapping for years but still has plenty of years a head of himself at the young age of 24. Outside of gaining some national fame, K.R.I.T's latest accomplishment came in being chosen to XXL Magazine's Freshman Class of 2011. Every year XXL picks a number of rappers who they believe has the potential to blow up and make it big, last year they chose Wiz Khalifa, J.Cole, and Wale just to name a few.
To describe Big K.R.I.T's style would be like naming off the ingredients in your grandma's gumbo, too many to really capture the final product. On this mixtape you're reminded of the earlier days of OUtkast, mixed in with some down South smooth talkin' courtesy of UGK, with a dash of 8Ball & MJG for some spice. The final secret ingrediemt would be one brought by K.R.I.T whose subject matter is more personal than just drugs, women, cars, and jewelry. If you're a fan of any of those three groups that I named, I suggest that you take a listen to this mixtape, you won't be disappointed. Look out for Big K.R.I.T as his star continues to rise.
Timeless. It’s something every artist wants to be, but few earn the distinction. Charlie Wilson’sname is on that short list.
From his breakout as a member of the Gap Band (“You Dropped A Bomb On Me,” “Outstanding”) in the ‘80s to his revered solo recordings (2005’s certified gold Charlie, Last Name Wilson, 2009’s Grammy nominated Uncle Charlie), Wilson has sold millions of albums, inspired a throng of artists who modeled their vocal stylings after his (most notably Aaron Halland R. Kelly) and cemented his status as a musical icon with accolades from Billboard and BET, among a host of others.
Now, with his third Jive Records solo album Just Charlie, Wilson is on a mission:to teach people how to respect, treat and speak to women. It’s about respect and total commitment, somethingWilson puts on full display with the lead single “You Are,” produced by Wilson and P Music Group producer/songwriter Wirlie Morris.
“The first time I heard the song I knew it was going to be timeless and probably one of the best Charlie had recorded in his career so I immediately thought to add an extra layer of distinction and bring in a live orchestra,” stated Michael Paran, of P Music Group, who has managed and guided Wilson’s successful solo career for the last 13 years. “So we reached out to Larry Batiste, Musical Director for the Pre-Grammy telecasts who did the orchestral arrangements which took the song over the top.”
Already a radio hit on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart (7 weeks at #1), “You Are” features a warm, elegant soundbed that serves as the backdrop for Wilson to showcase the love and admiration he has for his wife, Mahin. After Wilson’s years of battling drug abuse and homelessness, Mahin was the one who helped guide him back to personal and professional greatness. “I didn’t have a reason to love,” Wilson says. “I didn’t have anybody to trust, to be there for me. To find someone like Mahin is the reason that I can love. She taught me how to live.”
That radiance carries over to “Once And Forever,” an elegant, piano-accented ballad whereWilson describes how his lady inspired him to be a better man. Both “You Are” and “Once And Forever” are likely to be featured at weddings for decades to come, thanks to their lush orchestration and uplifting lyrics.
Come see one of the most distinguished voice in R&B at the ShoWare Center -- Charlie Wilson is coming Saturday, April 23, 2011!
Elsewhere, Wilson details how his woman is a “Dime” in every way (not just physically) and celebrates his life with his lady (and shows off his impeccable vocals with daring runs and adlibs) on the feel-good “Lotto.” Then, on the breezy, reggae-influenced “Life Of The Party,”Wilson makes a point to treat his lady to a memorable night on the town, where the sole focus is to enjoy themselves. “As adults, when we start getting older, we start losing our youth because of Father Time,” he explains. “I think we should have a good time in life until the clock stops ticking. I think you should continue to have fun, never stop enjoying yourself, and never stop giving up on your dreams.”
And for millions of people, their dream is to be in love. That’s why Wilson chose to remake his good friend Roger Troutman’s “I Wanna Be Your Man.” This stellar cover features Fantasia and depicts the type of yearning people have before their love is reciprocated. For others, it’s a love past that makes them realize that maybe they “Never Got Enough” of that person. This cut contains classic funk elements and lively keyboards, sounds that work well with the intensity in which some reflect upon a love lost.
But it’s triumph that truly defines Just Charlie. After navigating through exhilarating highs and unspeakable lows, Wilson found redemption, a journey he documents on the driving, empowering “Where Would I Be.” “I went from rags to riches, riches to rags, rags to the curb and from the curb to being homeless,” he reveals. “Now I’m back to being a No. 1 artist and I couldn’t have done it without my woman. To have a woman who stands by your side no matter what you’re going through, the ups and the downs and the in-betweens, where would I be without her?”
And where would music be without Charlie Wilson? With The Gap Band, Wilson and brothersRonnie and Robert helped define and popularize an upbeat form of funk that was equally infectious and lasting. “Outstanding,” “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” and “I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)” were among their immense catalog of hits and are among the most sampled songs in music history.
Although Wilson struggled with alcohol and drug addiction that consumed him once The Gap Band broke up, his music resonated with generations of musicians and rappers, many of whom clamored to recreate his soaring vocals, to collaborate with him or to just achieve the level of artistic quality Wilson maintained.
In the early 1990s, Wilson (who had already been identified as the blueprint on which Guy’sAaron Hall and R. Kelly modeled their style) became friends and a regular collaborator withSnoop Dogg. This relationship provided Wilson with access to many of the artists that idolized him, as well as a fresh group of emerging talent who inspired him to continue pushing the limits of his own material.
“I had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest hip-hop artists in this business,” recallsWilson, who has collaborated with Kanye West, R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, T-Pain and Justin Timberlake, among others. “It allowed me to open up my horizons and be able to learn about different types of music. Working with these artists allowed me to not be locked in a time capsule. It opened the door for me to be a part of today’s contemporary music scene.”
Beyond music, Wilson remains committed to promoting awareness and testing for prostate cancer. As a survivor of a disease that afflicts one in six American men -- and one in three African American men -- Wilson in 2008 teamed with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “When I learned that the PCF had helped to build a global research enterprise of nearly $10 billion and funded more than 1500 programs at nearly 200 research centers in 12 countries, I knew I wanted to support their efforts,” stated Wilson.
Today he continues to speak at events around the country, encouraging men to get screened for the disease. He also supports the PCF through the sale of his signature fedora hats at his concerts and on his website at www.unclecharliewilson.com/shop.
With music and his work to combat prostate cancer, Wilson has been able to sustain the passion and drive that have been hallmarks of his legendary career. “I’m still living this dream,” Wilsonsays. “I’m still going to the stage and I’m still having fun. I’m not there just to pick up the check. It’s about the passion and the respect that I have for the game. It keeps me going.”
No wonder Charlie Wilson is considered timeless. And no wonder Just Charlie will soon earn the same distinction.
E-DAWG ‘CARS THAT GO BOOM’ PARTY WAS ONE TO REMEMBER
Sunday, 20 March 2011 13:32
March 16, 2011 [Seattle, WA]- Hip-Hop and rap artist, E-Dawg’s return to the forefront of the Pacific Northwest Hip-Hop scene was made loud, clear and with party people every at Poppa’s Pub in Kent, Washington where as socialites, music industry personalities and performers came out to celebrate his career and new single, ‘Cars That Go Boom’.
‘It was crazy’, says DJ B-Mello (West Coast DJ of The Year Fraternity), ‘the place was packed and rockin’!’ The sentiment was repeated by party goers and talent alike as hundreds of people packed the suburban-Seattle club – including: Money B of Digital Underground, Ras Kass, Maharaji, Lady Tasz and DJ Roc’Phella who was the other half of the duo who djayed the party (B-Mello). B-Mello and Roc’Phella, two of the west coast’s most talented and celebrated dj personalities did their job throughout the night, making way for performances from various artists, including E-Dawg.
On the heels of his well-received single, “I Dip”, E-Dawg premiered “Cars That Go Boom” to a crowd that responded in party fashion. People mingling, having drinks, dancing and enjoying the performance overall was the general mood of the highly successful launch of the single. “I’m pleased – everyone had a good time and a lot of people, friends and family came out to support what I’m doing”, says E-Dawg. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Rhyme Cartel is supporting E-Dawg’s current efforts including his two acclaimed mix cds hosted by DJ B-Mello and available in stores and online, The Plan Before The Retirement Plan Vol. 1 and The Plan Before The Retirement Plan Vol. 2.
The ATL and SEATTLE Premieres SOLD OUT this past Friday Night and other cities were moved to Larger Locations.. The Chronicles a day in the life of a grieving woman, and the twelve visitors who help her move forward. The movie will be playing in Seattle until the 18th
The LHAAFF is pleased to join AFFRM (African American Film Festival Releasing Movement) in presenting the Seattle-area theatrical release of the film “I WILL FOLLOW”, starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Omari Hardwick, Blair Underwood and Beverly Todd. This is a beautiful, award winning drama that chronicles a day in the life of a grieving woman, and the twelve visitors who help her move forward. “I WILL FOLLOW” was written and Directed by 2011 NAACP Image Award nominee Ava DuVernay.
WHEN – March 11 – March 18, 2011
WHERE – AMC SOUTHCENTER 3600 Southcenter Mall Tukwila, WA 98188. Information on specific show times is forthcoming; please sign up for our e-newsletter for more information or visit this website again for details. See the email newsletter sign-up box on the upper right hand side of the LHAAFF website home page.
What is AFFRM? The Langston Hughes African American Film Festival is joining a national coalition of black film festivals to release an independent black film. This is an historic event that could change the number and quality of black films that are available to the public. The collaboration is called AFFRM – The African American Film Festival Releasing Movement. AFFRM is a working collaboration of the nation’s top Black film festivals to bring quality images of Color to the big screen via simultaneous national theatrical release. We need the whole community – across all sectors – to join with Langston Hughes in this groundbreaking cultural movement. There are benefits for all – community organizations, businesses, civic groups, religious groups, artists, arts organizations, seniors, youth, government – the list goes on
Verizon has the iPhone, AT&T has the iPhone, T-Mobile has the Nexus S, what flagship phone is Sprint coming out with to compete with these phone juggernauts? Sprint decided to enter the ring with the HTC EVO Shift 4G.
The HTC EVO Shift 4G is the 3rd phone released on Sprints 4G network. The name itself makes you think that the Shift is the big brother of the popular EVO, but the EVO Shift is more like the little cousin.
Some may see the EVO Shift more as a business device, with a full qwerty keyboard and more of a professional design. The EVO Shift is powered by Android 2.2, but only has a 800MHz processor which is a downgrade from the original EVO’s monster 1000MHz Snapdragon processor. If you know anything about computers you will know that the megahertz don’t really matter it’s the architecture that does. In all benchmark tests the Shift is beating out the EVO and even T-Mobiles Nexus S.
Enough about the nerd stuff, lets get to what you really care about in your phone. First the camera, HTC Shift has a 5MP camera with LED Flash. What that means for you is that you can take good quality pictures of yourself in the bathroom mirror to upload to Facebook. The video camera is capable of recording 720p, the quality isn’t going to win you any major awards, but you can still post yourself Douging on YouTube.
The screen size was downsized on the Shift. I personally think that the 4.3-inch screen on the EVO is the perfect screen size for a cell phone; I guess HTC doesn’t care what I think. The Shift’s screen is a 3.6 inch Super LCD, which is almost the same size as the iPhone 4 (3.5’’).
The call quality on the Shift is crisp and clear; both sides of the conversation are heard very well. The speakerphone on the other hand isn’t that great, your best bet is to get a Bluetooth headset.
All in all I think the HTC EVO Shift 4G is a welcomed addition to the Sprint line up, Sprint has set the price at $149.99 after a mail in rebate and a 2 year contract, $399.99 with no contract for you ballers out there. I don’t think the Shift will have Sprints doors busting down like its cousin the EVO, but it will hold its own in the Android marketplace .
WRITER’S NOTE: Please visit this site right away to learn more about Kool Herc and how you can support him during his time of medical challenges: http://www.djkoolherc.com/
I can’t even remember the first instance I heard the name “Kool Herc,” but I am fairly certain it was during the mid to late 1980s. Ronald Reagan was president, Jesse Jackson was, well, different, a new jack filmmaker named Spike Lee was stirring the pot called Hollywood, and I was a young and avid “hiphop head.”
Ever since I digested the boom-bap strands of hiphop in the late 1970s in my native Jersey City, New Jersey (my hometown’s local hiphop heroes was a crew called Sweet, Slick, and Sly) I was hooked. The Sugar Hill Gang’s landmark song “Rapper’s Delight,” which I would later learn plagiarized lyrics from Grandmaster Caz of the legendary Cold Crush Brothers, was the shot heard ‘round the world. Kurtis Blow was hiphop’s first solo superstar. Afrika Bambaataa was the spiritual and musical emissary from funk and soul to hiphop. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five spoke so poignantly to my then-ghetto existence that I cried, hard, the first time I heard “The Message.” And Run-DMC was for us bboys and bgirls what The Beatles had been for screaming White teens two decades earlier.
Fitted Lee Jeans with stitched creases, suede Pumas, Le Tigre shirts, Kangols, name belts, baseball caps with sketched designs in the front folded on top with paper stuffed inside thus the caps floated on our heads like royal crowns, magic markers in our front or back pockets so we could tag our names here there everywhere (my tag was my nickname, “kepo1”), and so many of us popping locking breaking moonwalking doing the Pee Wee Herman the trot the wop the smurf the running man. We had no idea we were in the middle of a cultural revolution, but that is exactly what it was. And I am sure most of us did not know it was Kool Herc who kick-started the whole thing.
Right after my high school years I left Jersey City and went to college at Rutgers University where I would stumble upon the anti-apartheid movement, Black and Latino history in ways I had never contemplated previously, an upper class student named Lisa Williamson who would later change her name to Sister Souljah, and a spirit of activism that has been with me ever since. Indeed, we did not call it “hiphop activism” back then, but that is precisely what folks like myself, Souljah, Ras Baraka, April Silver, and many other Black and Latino babies of the Civil Rights Movement were doing, to a hiphop beat. Organizing in welfare hotels in mid-town Manhattan; building a summer camp for poor youth in North Carolina; re-registering voters in the Deep South; marching against police brutality here there everywhere; and staging state of the youth rallies and concerts in Harlem and Brooklyn.
It was somewhere between my trips to clubs with names like The Rooftop, Union Square, and Funhouse, and that work as a youth and student organizer, that his name first pushed its way into my consciousness:
Kool Herc, the father of hiphop—
But the details were sketchy at best:
Born in Jamaica as Clive Campbell.
Came to America in the late 1960s, on the heels of the Civil Rights Movement.
Heavily influenced by great artists of the funk and soul era, including James Brown.
Lived in The Bronx, one of New York City’s five boroughs, and the birthplace of hiphop culture.
Earned his nickname, “Hercules,” because of his height, frame, and demeanor on the basketball court as a youth. It was later shortened to Herc. And DJ Kool Herc & The Herculoids would become one of the early groundbreaking hiphop acts.
Along with Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash widely considered the founding fathers, and the holy trinity of hiphop.
Generally credited with creating “the break beat” in the early 1970s, a djing technique that forms a critical foundation for hiphop music.
And that is essentially what I would know until far into the 1990s, when I first met Kool Herc in person at one or another hiphop program attempting to make hiphop into the political movement it never was, and that it will never be.
For hiphop is a cultural movement with political roots and political overtones, no question, but I have always been clear, even as a youth, that leaders have to emerge from hiphop’s multiple generations who, while nurtured on hiphop culture, must engage and work with the artists and iconic figures of our day just the way, say, Malcolm X engaged Sam Cooke, Maya Angelou, and Muhammad Ali or Martin Luther King, Jr. engaged Aretha Franklin and Harry Belafonte. Artists, cultural icons, can highlight, reflect, and support a movement, but those of us with real organizing skills and consistent activist mindsets must be the ones to make movements happen. The artists inspire activists to do what we do, and we activists inspire the artists to do what they do. And every now and then a great artist also happens to also be a great activist. (Think of Bono of the rock group U2, or Chuck D, front man for Public Enemy.)
That, for sure, is what we were doing in the late 1980s and early 1990s here in New York City, and in other parts of America. Making a movement go as we connected with everyone from LL Cool J and MC Lyte to Doug E Fresh and Ice Cube. But somewhere things went awry, many of us young activists fell off and out of the work for the people, and what we thought was a burgeoning social movement for change, fueled by hiphop, got decimated by a shift in what the corporations were suddenly permitting to be marketed and sold, with enthusiasm. Or not. In other words, ever since the early 1990s we’ve had those of us who represent hiphop culture, with its five core elements (djing, mcing, dancing, graffiti writing, and knowledge). And then there is the hiphop industry, the bastard child of the culture, manipulated, twisted, and bent out of shape by a few corporations more interested in a dollar bill than the holistic development and natural growth of this art form. That is why we’ve been bombarded with over-the-top cursing and use of the N word, glorified violence, sexism and a ruthless disrespect for women and girls, excessive materialism, and soft porn and gangsterism passing as music videos for far too long. I am a writer, an artist myself, so I do not believe in censorship in any form. I am also a history buff, so I know full well our society is riddled with racism, sexism, violence, anti-intellectualism, and materialism, and that hiphop did not create any of these things. Hiphop, being the dominant cultural expression it is, simply is the most immediate and accessible frame flashing, 100 beats per minute, what is very wrong in too many to count American ‘hoods, both urban and suburban.
Likewise, what I do believe is missing is balance. Yes, I am absolutely clear that hiphop is a multicultural movement, belonging to people of all races, ethnicities, cultures, throughout the globe. And I love that I have come across, say, Israeli and Palestinian hiphoppers using the music to talk peace, or Italian, German, or French hiphoppers learning English via the music, or South African or Latin American hiphoppers using it as a tool for social change, or Asian American hiphoppers in California who love, embrace, and represent the culture far more than the offspring of the founders do. But the harsh reality is that the images we see, the sagas of mayhem we hear most, are of Black and Latino people. This is not just damaging to our psyches, just as crack cocaine was, but it is damaging to our spirits. And we’ve become stuck in a very vicious cycle where I sometimes wonder how many of us truly grasp that there is nothing wrong with rhyming about the ghetto, about parties and material things, if we also are expanding our worldviews enough to discuss other concerns, too. But that can’t happen if specific gatekeepers in the industry game block that kind of personal and cultural evolution from occurring. A Lil’ Wayne, talented and fascinating as he is, is put on a mighty big pedestal because he is not really saying much at all and has become a cartoonish figure merely there for entertainment and shock value. Meanwhile, someone as intelligent and insightful as a Talib Kweli has to grind, hard, just for airplay, gigs, and our Twitter attention spans. As long as that kind of awful imbalance exists, then you can bet your bottom buck that Kool Herc and every other hiphop pioneer are not a part of conversations around the state of hiphop, the culture or the industry.
And just as there is a huge gap between older folks who know and can speak to the social struggles of bygone eras and the youth who often do not know those tales, there too is a huge gap between we heads who understand the history and traditions of hiphop, and those who actually believe it must’ve begun with Tupac or The Notorious B.I.G. I wish I were exaggerating, but the things I have heard in my travels across America about what hiphop is or is not are often, at best, numbing. No fault of our own, it is simply not taught in the schools, as it should be at this point. And God knows very few grade or high schools, or colleges or universities, ever consider bringing a living, breathing hiphop legend in to guest lecture, to be an artist in residence, especially given how much hiphop music and culture have penetrated every single crevice of American society.
And that is why quite a few who claim to love and be hiphop do not even know who Kool Herc is. And why those who have benefited, culturally, spiritually, and, yes, monetarily, have rarely engaged him from this thing we call hiphop. And this thing called hiphop, which was, for the most part, created by poor, working-class African Americans, West Indians, and Latinos in New York City, with a parallel energy generated by Latinos and Black on the West Coast in the 1970s, is now a multi-billion dollar global industry, and the dominant cultural expression on the planet for 30plus years and counting.
That, I imagine, is why Kool Herc and other pioneers of hiphop have always made it a point to stand up at various hiphop-related events and state who they are—sometimes with love and respect, sometimes with shades of bitterness and resentment framing the edges of their mouths—because if they do not, then they would remain largely invisible, or completely ignored. Think about how, for example, Black basketball trailblazers from back in the day, the ones documented in that great ESPN film “Black Magic,” must feel when they hear of the millions a LeBron James can command because of the sweat and blood equity they put in when there was no cable television, no endorsement deals, and these players were just as likely to be the victims of racial injustices as cheers.
As a matter of fact, I recall when I curated the very first exhibit on the history of hiphop culture in America, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1999, I encountered this kind of weariness, born of years of neglect, on numerous occasions. But I also remember the great joy many of these hiphop legends displayed because they were being recognized for their contributions. Unfortunately, that exhibit was so woefully under-funded, that we had to scrape together sponsors as best we could just to mount the show and fly pioneers there. For all the billions of dollars hiphop has made our economy and certain corporate giants, the great irony is how some still don’t view it as a legitimate art form, then and now. Regardless, as you can imagine, it was profoundly moving to meet, one by one, the architects of hiphop. Folks with names like Lady Pink, Popmaster Fabel, Lee Quinones, and an army of others. But the one person who always had the greatest mystique around him, without question, was Kool Herc.
For the record, we need to understand that Kool Herc is to hiphop what individuals like Big Mama Thornton, Louis Jordan, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard are to the history of rock and roll. Or what Jelly Roll Morton and The Creole Band are to jazz: visionary figures that far ahead of their time that they have been taken for granted, save a handful of diehard fans and historians.
And therein lies the enormous dilemma of Kool Herc’s current health condition. According to his sister Cindy Campbell who, as long as I can remember, has always been there supporting the legacy of her brother, Herc was hospitalized last October. He has serious kidney stones and they must be removed. $10,000 worth of medical bills have been piled up, and there is a need, according to Cindy, to raise at least $25,000 to cover expenses tied to this very necessary surgical procedure.
And Kool Herc, founding father of hiphop, is like so many dwelling in America: He does not have health insurance. Kool Herc makes his living djing and speaking, but he undoubtedly has not been treated in the way rock and jazz heroes and sheroes are treated.
Moreover, such a twisted paradox, this theme of Kool Herc’s lack of healthcare coverage, as we watch lawsuit after lawsuit being filed, throughout our nation, to dismantle President Obama’s historic legislation. And the Republican-dominated House of Representatives has already voted to repeal the president’s healthcare reform. Although that will not happen in the Democratic-controlled Senate chamber, the House vote is, assuredly, part of a long-term strategy aimed at undermining and derailing our president’s legislation.
To put this in a different context, as Kool Herc was setting foot in America in the late 1960s, Dr. King was publicly condemning the war in Vietnam and ultimately calling for “a poor people’s campaign.” For Dr. King understood that true democracy could never be fully realized in America if each and every one of us did not have access to the most basic of needs, including a quality education, a decent place to live, an opportunity to work, and the ability to get help if we were to take ill.
Dr. King was assassinated, and as quickly as major civil rights victories were won, conservative forces moved to dismantle or destroy them. That is why I always say to those critical of hiphop to keep in mind that if Kool Herc and others had not created this art form in the first place, there would be even more Blacks and Latinos, especially, who are unemployed, on the streets committing crimes, in jail, and without healthcare, or without anyone to petition for us to get help as hiphop icon DJ Premiere initially did for Kool Herc.
“Herc wants to use this to bring awareness, not just about healthcare,” says Cindy Campbell. She adds: “There are so many other hiphop legends in similar situations, but they are not Kool Herc, so no one is going to rally around them. We want to create a foundation, a union, a fund, that makes sure these pioneers are protected in their time of need.”
And that is what we who truly care need to do. I have been bombarded with facebook messages and tweets from individuals not only angry and disturbed that Kool Herc is in this position, but also that certain hiphop luminaries are not moving, quickly or at all, to cover Herc’s medical bills. Names are being called. And hiphop moguls and superstars are being denigrated publicly. I personally don’t think that is the way to go. If the wealthy in hiphop America want to step up, they will. I hope they do, but I am not expecting much at this point given how much our culture has deteriorated into a space of spiritual imbalance and extreme individualism at the expense of the larger hiphop world. When any people, community, or culture has been dumbed down that much by forces beyond our comprehension, then it is not difficult to get why someone as valuable as a Kool Herc is as easily discarded as one’s last text message, or one’s last order of fast food.
Thus, what would be much more effective is, again, that permanent fund or foundation to support hiphop pioneers and classic hiphop artists just like we see with other genres of popular music. That way we never again have one of our legends sitting without healthcare as they make their way through their 50s, 60s, and beyond.
Additionally, I echo Cindy’s contention that hiphop, after all these years, needs to be recognized by our country, on a federal level, for the great cultural contributions it has made to America, and to the planet. No Kool Herc, no hiphop, and there would be no Queen Latifah, no Will Smith, no Jay-Z, no Russell Simmons, no Eminem, no mass popularity of professional basketball, no swagger to President Obama’s walk, no street teams as a marketing concept, and no spice to our American vocab (Do we really think catchphrases like “I’m good” just fall from the sky?).
Similarly, my friend, Toni Blackman, is not only one of the best freestyle rappers in the world, but she has made a career of being an American cultural ambassador, traveling from nation to nation, as a hiphop artist, crossing boundaries in the same way that American jazz musicians, for years, have done with the U.S. State Department.
Imagine if someone in Washington acknowledges our hiphop legends for their cultural contributions. It would be the path to truly honoring and recognizing a Kool Herc, an Afrika Bambaataa, a Grandmaster Flash, a Cold Crush Brothers, a Rock Steady Crew, a Universal Zulu Nation, an Ernie Paniciolli (the dean of hiphop photographers), and the numerous founding fathers and mothers of hiphop culture.
By treating them like the national treasures that they are—
Kevin Powell is a public speaker, activist, and author or editor of 10 books, including Open Letters to America (Soft Skull). Kevin was a 2010 Democratic candidate for the United States Congress in New York City. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and can be emailed at
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 February 2011 21:19 )
1st Annual NW Gospel Fest
Monday, 31 January 2011 04:33
2011 GOSPEL FEST WINNERS (r to l) Bethel Christian Church (3rd Place), University Presbyterian Church (2nd Place), DaNell Damond and Greater Works Chorale (1st Place)
By Nyoka Jeffery
On Sunday, Janury 23rd, 1,100 people attended the first annual Gospelfest Northwest in the grand hall at Benaroya Hall. Those who attended were witness to a historic event in our city! For the very first time, gospel music in the northwest was given a chance to showcase itself and prove that we are not to be over looked. Our gospel choirs, soloists, and musicians are a force to be reckoned with. The competition consisted of five choirs from the Seattle and Tacoma area. Each choir represented its own style, denomination, and diversity. We showcased choirs in all sizes and with all ethnicities. But, in the end the grand prize of $5,000 was handed to DaNell Damond and Greater Works Chorale who won the crowd with it’s incredible in sync performance! Second place went to University Presbyterian Church and third place went to Bethel Christian Church.
Members of the University Presbyterian Church Choir coming off stage
A surprise guest judge Crystal Aikin blessed the stage and belted out a song that sent the audience into praise and the renowned Kenny Lattimore sung an old school melody that put the crowd on their feet at the finale of the show. Needless to say this is an event that you do not want to miss next year. Gospelfest is not just a choir local competition; this event is going to change the face of Gospel music not only for our city but for the northwest as a whole!
SEATTLE MAYOR MIKE MCGINN RECOGNIZES NOVEMBER AS HIP-HOP HISTORY MONTH
Monday, 01 November 2010 17:37
The 206 Zulu Chapter of The Universal Zulu Nation recently petitioned the City of Seattle’s Mayoral Office to support and proclaim November as the recognized Hip-Hop History Month… The mayor jumped on board – here’s how.
SEATTLE, Wash., November 1, 2010 - 206 Zulu announced today that Seattle Mayor, Michael McGinn, issued an official proclamation recognizing November as Hip Hop History Month, honoring both the birth month of Hip Hop culture and the important contributions made by Seattle Hip Hop artists in the areas of Deejaying, Emceeing, B-Boying/Girling, Graffiti Art and Knowledge. 206 Zulu petitioned the Mayor in early October for the acknowledgement.
“206 Zulu is excited that Mayor McGinn recognizes the many contributions made by hip hop artists in the Seattle community", said King Khazm, chair of 206 Zulu. “Being able to celebrate Hip Hop History Month in Seattle is a celebration of all of the hard work, sacrifice, innovation and dedication of local artists whether famous or nameless. Moving forward, this annual occasion will facilitate additional education programs to celebrate the culture in a positive manner.”
Hip Hop Culture began in the neglected and poverty ravaged New York City Burroughs, the South Bronx, in November of 1974. Hip Hop has since become a global culture and has made a profound impact on Seattle's arts and music community. Hip Hop in Seattle was pioneered in the early-to-mid 1980's and has grown across all its artistic mediums, known as the "Five Elements" gaining local, national and international recognition.
The official birthday of Hip Hop is November 12th, 1974. Within the past 35 years, Hip-Hop culture has greatly influenced the entertainment world with its creative contributions in music, dance, art, poetry, and fashion.
Steelo Signs One Album Deal with Japan’s P-Vine Records
Monday, 25 October 2010 19:42
Steelo Signs One Album Deal with Japan’s P-Vine Records, Album in Stores now!
Seattle, WA / October 12, 2010 – Seattle-based R&B/pop/hip hop duo Steelo, has signed a one album record deal with Japan’s P-Vine Records and released a special version of their album “Music” exclusively in Japan. This version contains the new single “We On It,” which features super producer Fingazz of Streetlight Music and is also available on iTunes worldwide.
"Japan is a great market for us especially since Fingazz has established such a great following there, that this really made sense. We look forward to making our way out there and working with P-Vine in 2011," says A. Uno of Steelo.
Steelo is comprised of MC A.Uno, who is Iranian and Mexican and is known for delivering rhymes in English, Spanish and Farsi, and singer Bobby K, who’s noted for his musical range and smooth delivery. Steelo released their debut album “Music” on June 16, 2009 and has appeared on the 2009 National Sneaker Pimps Tour, the largest traveling hip hop lifestyle and sneaker exhibition in the world, sponsored by Xbox and Verizon Wireless; at Seattle Fashion Week, and a BMI showcase at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, which aired as part of a special on NBC Mun2’s “One Nation Under Hip Hop.” In addition Steelo is working on a new EP scheduled for release in November 2010.
Long Awaited New Album, The Sun Shines Again, Available Everywhere Tuesday, November 2
Verve Forecast is proud to announce the upcoming release of The Sun Shines Again, the highly anticipated and eagerly awaited new studio album from the chart-topping sensation Sunshine Anderson. The Sun Shines Again will be available online and in stores on Tuesday, November 2 as Anderson reunites with hit-maker producer, Mike City (Unsung Records). City, as then A&R for Soulife Records, signed Anderson to her first recording contract in 2000 and most recently to Unsung Records who brought Anderson to Verve Forecast.
The contemporary R&B artist and soul singer Sunshine Anderson is verging on her hottest record ever as her eagerly-anticipated new single, “Lie To Kick It,” a key track from her forthcoming new album, becomes the nation’s #1 Most Added track on the Adult R&B and UAC formats.
Beginning Tuesday, September 21, fans can stream the full song on Sunshine’s website or download the single on iTunes.
The immediate impact of “Lie To Kick It,” an old school take on new school rules, provides a tantalizing first taste of The Sun Shines Again, Sunshine’s much-awaited premiere album for Verve Forecast, available everywhere on Tuesday, November 2.
The Sun Shines Again reunites Anderson with producer Mike City, who’s worked with the artist since she arrived on the scene with her breakout debut album, Your Woman. A successful crossover smash, Your Woman signaled the arrival of a major new voice in American soul music. A certified crossover victory, the album debuted on the Billboard 200 (later peaking at #5) and #2 on the R&B Albums chart and kicked out hit singles “Heard It All Before” (#1 Hot R&B/Hip Hop, #18 Hot 100, #3 R&B) and its follow-up “Lunch Or Dinner” (#54 R&B) before achieving RIAA Gold status in May 2001.
Sunshine’s sophomore album, Sunshine at Midnight, was released in January 2007, and generated the charting R&B singles “Something I Wanna Give You” and “Force of Nature” as well as the bubbling-under “Wear The Crown.” The album was release on Music World Entertainment but Sunshine amicably parted ways with the label soon thereafter.
In February 2007, Anderson became pregnant and got married in July of that same year. Soon thereafter, Sunshine decided to take a brief break to concentrate on motherhood and devote time to her daughter. Although the marriage came to an end, Sunshine used the trials and hardships that the relationship had undergone as fuel to create her new body of work. “You give up so much as a wife, and a mother, and a girlfriend; that sometimes you forget who you are. And so when you finally have the time to sit with yourself, and figure out who you are – it’s a great day. Can’t nobody take my shine right now!” Sunshine says with conviction.
The Sun Shines Again brings the welcome dawning of a bright new day for Sunshine Anderson and her fans.
Check out Sunshine’s smokin’ new track. This one is definitely a winner, no lie!
AVANT TO RELEASE HIS SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM ON DECEMBER 7
Tuesday, 21 September 2010 10:10
First Single “Kiss Goodbye” To Debut on The Mo’Nique Show and Hits Radio on September 28
SANTA MONICA, California—Sept. 21, 2010— Singer and songwriter Avant will release his sixth studio album The Letter on December 7, 2010 from Verve Forecast. Avant will perform the album’s first single, “Kiss Goodbye” on September 28th on The Mo’Nique Show with the single also impacting radio on the same day. “Kiss Goodbye” is available for download at iTunes today. “A letter is what you write to people to tell them what’s going on in your life,” says Avant. “This album is a letter from me to my fans of what’s going on in my life, what’s going through my head and my struggles as a man.” After becoming the first artist to sign to NBA legend Magic Johnson’s Magic Johnson Music, a then 22 year old Avant released his debut album My Thoughts which went platinum and featured the top 5 Billboard R&B Hip Hop single “Separated.” Avant followed up the success of My Thoughts with the release of his sophomore album Ecstasy in 2002, which went platinum as well. His string of platinum success continued with 2003’s Private Room and the release of The Director in 2006; which featured “Lie About Us” with Nicole Scherzinger and “You Know What,” featuring Lil Wayne. Avant has also seen several Top 5 R&B singles including “Making Good Love,” “4 Minutes,” and “Read Your Mind.”
The Letter - Track Listing 1. Graduated 2. Hot 16 3. Kiss Goodbye 4. Had Enough 5. Body Police 6. Nightlife 7. Your Body is the Business 8. Wake Up 9. That Dude 10. Where Did We Go 11. Walking On Water
DJ Drama also known as Mr. thanksgiving, graces us with his presence at the Hotel 1000, in downtown Seattle, spinning the sounds for the Brandon Roy, Tre simmons birthday bash, SeaSpot Media caught up with the Mix-Tape King and he had this to say:
I got started making mix tapes because I love music. I would be in my room making music and it blows my mind that now I have been all over the world, and people know who I am. That’s why I wish there were more young people here today, because I tell all the youth that they can make their dreams come true, by being true to themselves and learn the industry. Stay in school so you are educated and have a good foundation and keep your head up and your eyes open. I knew that I loved music and so while I was in school I kept my focus going in that direction. The secret to my success is that I keep moving and keep grinding. I am always open to work with artists and any Seattle artists willing to step up, I’m ready.
I love all Philly artists, all the sports, and basically everything Philly. I would have to say that DJ Jazzy Jeff is my favorite DJ. I also like Frank 151, and Mix-Master Mike and DJ Scratch. I didn’t get a record deal but kept pushing my tapes and created a name for myself. I had my tapes at the house parties, the skating rinks, basically anybody who wanted to hear and play my music, I would get them my music. I listen to all types of music, whether it’s from the South or the East Coast, I listen to it all to keep up on what is out there. Terrrence Martin is someone I’m working with, so look out for his new stuff.
As far as Seattle artists, I hear a lot of people saying that Seattle artists don’t or won’t work together, but we have to get out of that crabs in a barrel mentality! If I can come to town and be willing to work with you, you all should be willing to work with each other!
I would love to do some acting for films and television, so my eyes and ears are always open!
Well Mr. Drama, we look forward to hearing more and more form you in the future!
Special Thanks to R. Networks and Kicks and Tee's.
Adonai clothing is proud to announce the 7th annual Adonai Hood Classic basketball tournament to be held at Garfield high school on July 10th and 11th 2010. This years tournament will feature the all time great basketball players from Garfield, Franklin, Rainier Beach, and newly added Seattle Prep. Rosters from this tournament will include current NBA players,NCAA college athletes, street legends, and emerging high school stars competing for their alma mater. Among the players who are scheduled to participate are Brandon Roy, Jamal Crawford, Aaron Brooks, Jason Terry, Terrence Williams, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes, Martel Webster and many others. Because of the success of the last six tournaments, the Hood Classic was recently featured in a four page article in Sports Illustrated. With the departure of the Super Sonics, the Hood Classic gives Seattle Basketball fans an opportunity to witness some of the northwests top basketball talent up close and personal. So whether it's to get autographs for the kids, or because you love rivalries, come out and enjoy the 7th Annual Adonai Hood Classic!
Music By: The World Famous DJ-D'Doxx (All Weekend Long)
The 7th annual Adonai Hood Classic basketball tournament at Garfield high school on July 10th and 11th 2010 was a sucess ! The tournament featured some of the all time great basketball players from Garfield, Franklin, Rainier Beach, and newly added Seattle Prep. Rosters from the tournament included current NBA players,NCAA college athletes, street legends, and emerging high school stars competing for their alma mater.
Because of the success of the last six tournaments, the Hood Classic was recently featured in a four page article in Sports Illustrated. With the departure of the Super Sonics, the Hood Classic gave Seattle Basketball fans an opportunity to witness some of the northwests top basketball talent up close and personal. Check out the video below, courtesy of the Seattle Times. At the end you'll see a monster dunk by Kevin Kemp from Lincoln High.
ARTICLES 
Black Art Show, Car Show, Gospel Fest, and appearence from Rapper WALE all scheduled to take place this weekend at the annual Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest
The Universal Zulu Nation recently petitioned the City of Seattle’s Mayoral Office to support and proclaim November as the recognized Hip-Hop History Month… The mayor jumped on board – here’s how.
Adonai clothing is proud to announce the 7th annual Adonai Hood Classic basketball tournament to be held at Garfield high school on July 10th and 11th 2010. This years tournament will feature the all time great basketball players from Garfield, Franklin, Rainier Beach, and newly added Seattle Prep. Rosters from this tournament will include current NBA players,NCAA college athletes, street legends, and emerging high school stars competing for their alma mater. Among the players who are scheduled to participate are Brandon Roy, Jamal Crawford, Aaron Brooks, Jason Terry, Terrence Williams, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes, Martel Webster and many others.