Lauded as the greatest performer of all time, Michael Jackson was a dancing, singing, performing phenomenon, and we are not likely to see another performer of his caliber ever again. The life of Michael Jackson is well documented, his struggles, imperfections and sometimes bizarre behavior, but one thing that has…
It’s Mardi Gras week at Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge, and what better way to indulge in all your favorite past times than with a few drinks, some great food, a ton of jazz and a lot of celebrating.The party kicks off tonight and runs until Fat Tuesday, February 21 with…
Gil Scot-Heron is the modern day god-father of rap, although he held the title with ambivalence while he was still alive, insisting he was rather, a “bluesologist,” someone who is concerned with the origin of the blues. Regardless, hip-hop, soul, funk and acid jazz were all influenced by the reality…
Parliament-Funkadelic gave birth to every single motley crew of funk and don’t-give-a-fuck all-stars we love so much. Funkadelic, of course, begat Public Enemy, which then begat the Wu-tang Clan, which then begat Odd Future, etc. Ask not what the funk can do for you, but what you can do for…
Happy Valentine’s Day! In this heart-shaped edition of That’s a Rap, we have a ton of local hip-hop goodness for you to fall in love with, including a DJ Chonz mixtape entirely dedicated to Valentine’s Day, new joints from Mane Rok, Iman S., Myke Charles, A. Fox and Boy Davey,…
The Foodchain released Brunch last November and has been on a steady pace ever since. With its collection of musical all-stars, the Foodchain is more than a crew; it’s a conglomerate. Consisting of a complete live band, four monster MCs and two of the hottest sample-chopping, heat-making producers out there,…
Pries is known for writing catchy hooks that drive his pop-style production with ease. For No Glue 2, though, he focuses more on vibrancy in his verses and brings a more polished, grown-up production style. On the track “Venetian Lobby,” the vocals of J. Carey weave through the silky beat…
Wale has come a long way from the enthusiastic bounce-rap style that introduced him to the masses. A determined new signee to Maybach Music Group, the Washington, D.C., native sharpened his vernacular and defined his appeal with the release of his widely respected 2011 album, Ambition. He struck gold with…
Trying to think with structure about an artist like Whitney Houston’s ability to influence the entire world is as difficult as trying to squeeze your head in a jar. Her voice had a soaring power that transcended pop appeal and packed the gusto of an entire gospel choir. Houston’s contributions…
Born Yvette Marie Stevens in March 1953, Chaka Khan sang songs written by Stevie Wonder and Prince as though they were crafted from her own pen. The Queen of Funk has a fiery soul about her and an undeniable rhythm that oozes from her pores. With hits from her collaborative…
What are you getting into this weekend? Might you be interested in a party or two? Thought you’d say that. You’re in luck. There’s a bunch of cool things happening. Tons of reggae, a live hip-hop soiree and even an anti-Valentine’s Day themed party. There’s a little something for everyone…
Mane Rok is continuing his quest to work with each producer who crafted sounds for his album, The Ugly Truth, released last year. The remix for “Mama Said,” originally featuring Zome and produced by Mr. Bostic, has taken on an entirely different feel and sound. The addition of Bravo One…
Aretha Franklin is the greatest soul singer to ever live. She’s the reason we have Mary J. Blige, Cee-Lo Green, Adele, you name it. The singer, born Aretha Louise Franklin in March 1942, paved the way for all of the artists who followed. The Queen of Soul sang on a…
Project Safeguard, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to victims of domestic violence, has partnered with former Bronco Reggie Rivers on its Valentine’s fling. “We’re so excited to have Reggie Rivers joining our event,” says Shelly Schreiner. “With incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault so highly publicized…
What do you know about Jay-Z? Born Shawn Corey Carter in December 1969, the Brooklyn corner boy from the Marcy Housing Projects, who used to flip kilos of coke as fast as he flipped rhymes, turned his life of trial and tragedy into one of triumph and success, making a…
Ah, J Dilla. His influence and production style brought forth beat-makers carrying their backpacks filled with treasures from the basement into the mainstream. Even more so after his death. A cult-like following surrounds his legacy. Born James Dewitt Yancey in February 1974, Dilla grew up in Detroit and made his…
DJ Cavem, the local O.G. (organic gardener), has been literally feeding the community through events geared toward the “green” movement for years. Using a hip-hop agenda (even rocking with a children’s choir), Cavem has broadened his audience to include discussions that involve enhancing the community through the one thing that…
Sometimes an artist has to go deep into himself in order to produce a product built from pain, tragedy, triumph, motivation and creativity. Whenever this watershed moment happens for the greats who make and love music, the explosion is ground-shattering and usually changes the artists’ repertoire forever. Turner Jackson is…
BLKHRTS are on a pretty solid run right now. Just before the first of the year, Yonnas Abraham released Sextape, and here we are barely into the new year and the trio has prepared an onslaught of material poised to color the entire first and second quarters BLK with their…
Jimi Hendrix is widely considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in history. Before being gifted with a guitar at the age of fifteen, Hendrix used a broom stick in place of the instrument that would later become his most beloved method of communication. Born Johnny Allen Hendrix in November…
Celebrating the life and legacy of J Dilla, the super producer from Detroit, has become a yearly occurrence since his passing from Lupus in 2007. Started by New York DJ Dee Phunk, the Donuts are Forever parties have been going strong for the past five years. Recent Denver transplant, audio…
Fishbone, the self-described “disparate, all-black oddball crew,” has released a documentary in honor of Black History Month. Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is a brutally honest portrayal of one of the wildest and most influential black alternative bands in our culture. Fishbone began as a reggae/ska band but later…
