NYS Music 20​19

Author: Alain Clerine

  • Universal Hip Hop Museum Receives 3.7 Million from NY State, Set to Open in 2023

    New York state governor, Andrew Cuomo, has officially signed off on a grant to help sponsor the impending construction of the first-ever museum dedicated solely to rap music – The Universal Hip Hop Museum.

    The Universal Hip Hop Museum is slated to open its doors in the South Bronx (it’s birthplace) in 2023. It is seen as a profitable venture for the state, looking to bring in additional tax revenue, as well as plenty of tourists looking to learn about what is now the world’s most popular genre. As of right now, the museum currently operates as a pop-up exhibit in the Bronx Terminal Market until construction begins in 2020.

    Bronx Native Rocky Bucano serves as the executive director of the board of trustees with hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow – whose 1980 single “The Breaks,” is recognized as hip-hop’s first ever gold record – is among the board of founding members while Public Enemy’s Chuck D, serves as the chairman of the celebrity board. “The credibility he brings to our team is mammoth,” Kurtis Blow says of Chuck D. “He also understands the importance of the UHHM and vows to let the world know via a star-studded celebrity board in the near future. Flame on!”

    The likes of LL Cool J, Q Tip, Nas, Fab Five Freddie, and Rakim also serve as cultural ambassadors, according to the UHHM official website.

    “We knew it was important because the Bronx is where hip-hop started,” Bucano told CNN. “It’s crazy to think of how hip-hop — which has such an influence on pop culture, advertising, politics — doesn’t have a place to call home.”

  • Vevo and Fabolous Present Live Performance of “B.O.M.B.S.”

    Vevo announced rapper, Fabolous, as the next artist in their Ctrl series, with a performance of “B.O.M.B.S.”

    Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians, both emerging and established, making an impact on today’s music scene. These artists demand attention and Vevo’s Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Shot in Vevo’s Brooklyn studio, Fabolous’ performance of  “B.O.M.B.S.” follows sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Jeezy, Jadakiss, A$AP Ferg and more, according to their official website.

    The record is the second track from his latest project, Summertime Shootout 3: Coldest Summer Ever. It is a sample of “Sirius,” the opening composition of British rock-band — The Alan Parsons Project, and their 1982 LP — Eye in the Sky. While it samples a rock-band, the song is undoubtedly an ode to Michael Jordan and the 1990’s Chicago Bulls (with the title serving as acronymic reference), who used “Sirius” as part of their entrance music, making it synonymous with Jordan and their 1990’s dynasty.

    Fabolous spends roughly three-minutes delivering one punchline after the other, with plenty of NBA and other pop culture references alike. Reminding the listener that his relevancy in hip-hop is everlasting. Similarly, to how the Chicago Bulls have been a mainstay of pop and sports culture, despite their run happening over two decades ago.

    A veteran of the hip-hop scene, The Grammy-nominated emcee has been a force since the early 2000’s. With his first big hit, “Can’t Deny It,” coming in 2001. His mix of lyricism, pop-friendly records, and implementation of nostalgic references has kept him in demand, nearly twenty-years after his debut.

    Despite taking a step-back from commercial releases he has managed to stay relevant, and in “B.O.M.B.,” he signals a return to his dominant status in the rap game, rapping “I feel like Michael in ’95, back on my bull sh*t this summer ya’ll.”

  • Grammy’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Announced – Isaac Hayes, Public Enemy and Others to Be Honored

    The 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients have been announced by the Recording Academy and it features a heralded list of singers, songwriters, rappers and performers.

    The recipients include, rock band Chicago, who is known for bringing jazz band-style horns into rock music, as well as numerous number one albums, one of which – Chicago Transit Authority – has been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.

    lifetime achievement awardFourteen-time nominee, and four-time Grammy-winner, Roberta Flack, will also be a recipient. The songstress is known for number one records like “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”

    Soul singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes, already a member of the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will collect another nod to his legendary career.

    Influential rocker, Iggy Pop, also known as the “Godfather of Punk,” is best known for his illustrious solo career, while also serving as the lead singer of proto-punk band, The Stooges. He will be on the receiving end of his very first Grammy-award, as a 2020 Special Merit recipient.

    Folk singer/songwriter, John Prine, known for his humorous style of country music – will be collecting his third Grammy, the influential songwriter has also had his eponymous debut-album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

    Hip-hop pioneers, Public Enemy,  known for their hard-hitting politically conscious lyrics and social commentary – will be awarded their very first Grammy win. The legendary group is best known for its classic LP It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in addition to the renowned protest anthem “Fight the Power,” which has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

    Sister Rosetta Tharpe, being awarded posthumously, was a gospel singer, with innate skills on the electric guitar. The singer-songwriter, somewhat under-appreciated, with only one Grammy nomination before her death in 1973, but not any less legendary, was also recognized as having the first gospel record to crossover on the R&B charts.

    The Special Merit Award – also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award – is decided on by vote of the Recording Academy’s National Trustees, to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording, according to the official Grammys website, with past recipients including the likes of – Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Miles Davis.

  • Grammy-Nominated Guitarist Julian Lage Announces Vanguard Stint; Winter Dates

    Acclaimed jazz guitarist – Julian Lage, has revealed a new set of performances to end the year and bring in the new decade, in celebration of his latest Grammy nomination. A five-time nominee of the prestigious award, Lage has been a universally renowned composer for almost two decades – having first performed at the 2000 Grammy awards, at only 12 years old.

    The tour, which has included performances alongside fellow guitar icon Bill Frisell, will see him and his bandmates – The Julian Lage Trio, featured in his 2019 album Love Hurts – perform throughout the East Coast. Beginning with a stop at Philadelphia’s Jonny Brenda’s, Lage will also make stops in Washington, DC and Old Saybrook, CT, before finishing off with a six-night set at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

    Julian Lage’s slate of performance can be found below, while tickets can be purchased here.

    Dec. 18 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA

    Dec. 19 – Union Stage – Washington, DC

    Dec. 20 – Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center – Old Saybrook, CT

    Jan. 14 – 19 (Tuesday through Sunday) – Village Vanguard – New York, NY

  • Greensky Bluegrass Announces Winter Tour

    American bluegrass/rock band Greensky Bluegrass has announced a new winter tour that will span the first two months of 2020. The band – known for bringing a rock-and-roll feel to bluegrass music – will be touring in support of their 2019 album All For Money.

    Comprised of dobro player Anders Beck, Michael Arlen Bont on the banjo, guitarist, Dave Bruzza, Mike Devol on the upright bass, and Paul Hoffman on the mandolin, Greensky Bluegrass has been touring for the last 18 years, taking pride in their unique sound.

    “We’re a rock-and-roll band that plays bluegrass instruments. Bluegrass is such a finite thing. Because you have a banjo and a mandolin, you’re supposed to do it a certain way. But we’ve always been ourselves,” said Beck.

    This latest expedition will begin on January 15 and will see them tour throughout the Midwest and the East and West Coasts before finishing off in the South, with a performance in Atlanta, GA, on February 7 and 8. The East Coast swing contains several stops in New York in January at venues like the State Theater in Ithaca, NYC’s Beacon Theatre, and Albany’s own The Egg.

    Greensky Bluegrass’ remaining tour dates can be found below. While tickets can be found here.

    Jan. 15 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO

    Jan. 16 – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall – Louisville, KY

    Jan. 17 – Agora Theatre – Cleveland, OH

    Jan. 18 – The Met – Philadelphia, PA

    Jan. 19 – Roxian Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA

    Jan. 22 – State Theater of Ithaca – Ithaca, NY

    Jan. 23 – The State Theatre – Portland, ME

    Jan. 24 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY

    Jan. 25 – House of Blues – Boston, MA

    Jan. 28. – Flynn Center – Burlington, VT

    Jan. 29 – The Egg – Albany, NY

    Jan. 30 – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe, PA

    Jan. 31 & Feb. 1 – The Anthem – Washington, D.C.

    Feb. 4 – Madison Theater – Covington, KY

    Feb. 5 – The Mill and Mine – Knoxville, TN

    Feb. 6 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC

    Feb. 7 & 8 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

  • On Late Rapper’s Birthday, Consequence releases New Recording Featuring Phife Dawg

    “No Place Like Home,” a new track from rapper Consequence, was released today to commemorate the birthday of the legendary A Tribe Called Quest Emcee – Phife Dawg.

    The 3-minute song was recorded around the same time as A Tribe Called Quest’s final posthumous album, We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service.

    Produced by Consequence and Mike Cash, the record sees Consequence rap about the nostalgia of missing his hometown of Queens, NY—something he shares with the departed rapper. In between Consequence’s verses, Phife comes in and recites some of the legendary figures that have come from Queens, while rattling off some of the more well known Queens neighborhoods, with looping vocals in the background serving as the chorus.

    Having passed away in 2016 due to complications from diabetes, the record was released on what would have been the late rapper’s 49th birthday.

  • Airborne Toxic Event announce New Tour and Book

    American rock band Airborne Toxic Event have announced a new North American tour that will coincide with the release of their upcoming album Hollywood Park (their first since 2015’s Dope Machine) and a book by the same name, penned by front man Mikel Jollet.

    Formed in 2006, Airborne Toxic Event consists of former journalist Mike Jollet as lead vocalist and songwriter, Steven Chen on guitar and keyboards, Adrian Rodriguez on the electric bass and backup vocals, and Daren Taylor on drums.

    The Hollywood Park memoir sees Jollett chronicle his extraordinary personal journey, from his early childhood in one of the most infamous cults of the ’70s, through a teenage life of poverty and emotional abuse, before finding his voice first as a critically acclaimed writer and then literally as singer and songwriter of The Airborne Toxic Event, according to their official website.

    The new LP along with the accompanying book will both be released in May of 2020, with the tour to begin on May 27th. They kick off in Phoenix, AZ and tour throughout the West Coast, the Midwest, and the East Coast, before heading back west and closing out in San Francisco, CA.

    Tickets for Airborne Toxic Event’s North American Tour can be purchased here.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters to Headline Boston Calling

    The headliners for the 2020 Boston Calling Music Festival have been announced—and they include Grammy-winning rock bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters. The annual extravaganza, set to take place on Memorial Day Weekend between May 22-24 at the Harvard Athletic Complex, will also have over 60 other artists and bands performing.

    The Boston-based music festival began in 2013 and previously took place during the spring and fall, before switching to their now once-a-year format. Always a popular event, the festival has drawn as many as 40,000 people and has seen the likes of Eminem, Travis Scott and Twenty-One Pilots headline previous events.

    Aside from the performances, the festival will include the best food in Boston. A 100-foot Ferris wheel, art installations, life-size games, exciting partner activations, 30 all-star food vendors, local and international brews, wines and seltzers and platinum menus curated by Boston’s most prestigious chefs, according to the Boston Calling official website.

    “Boston is such a great city for rock music, and we are so proud to bring some of the most important rock artists of all time to Boston Calling next Memorial Day Weekend,” said Boston Calling CEO Brian Appel in an official release.

    Limited pre-sale tickets will be made available on, Thursday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 a.m. General admission tickets will be priced at $239, VIP passes will be $549 and platinum passes will be $1049.

  • Vevo and Jadakiss Release Performance Videos for “ME”

    Vevo has announced rapper Jadakiss as the next artist in their Ctrl series, with a performance of “ME.” Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians, both emerging and established, making an impact in today’s music scene . These artists demand attention and Vevo’s Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Shot in Vevo’s Brooklyn studio, Jadakiss’ performance follows sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Jeezy, A$AP Ferg and more, according to their official website. Veteran hardcore rapper Jadakiss—known for his distinctive gravelly voice—made his mainstream debut in 1994 as a member of the East Coast rap trio The LOX.  Born Jason Phillips in Yonkers, NY, he got his start as a teenage freestyle rapper before joining with fellow emcees Sheek Louch and Styles P to form the Warlocks. After signing with Bad Boy Entertainment, they simplified their name to The LOX, as label head Sean Combs thought it would be more marketable. After the release of their debut, they jumped from Bad Boy to Ruff Ryders as a result of contractual disputes. They issued the sophomore effort We Are the Streets in 2000, before Jadakiss released his debut solo album, Kiss tha Game Goodbye in August 2001. Since then, Jadakiss has gone on to release four solo studio albums and four more as either a member of The Lox or or alongside the rapper Fabolous. In addition, he has released seven total mix tapes, as well as two extended plays, alongside Sheek Louch and Styles P. He is not only known for his voice but for his for his hard-hitting lyrics about life in the inner-city, exemplified in his highly successful protest song  “Why,” off of his sophomore effort Kiss of Death, making him a prime candidate for this series. Vevo is the world’s largest all-premium music video provider, which connects artists with their audience globally via music videos and original content. Artists work with Vevo to find unique ways to bring their music to life. Vevo also works with emerging artists, providing them with a platform of global scale and reach, to find and grow their audience.

  • Pink Talking Fish Announces Nationwide Winter Tour

    Hybrid Tribute Fusion Act; Pink Talking Fish, has announced a new tour that will span a total of two months and take them from coast-to-coast. The Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, tribute band is currently touring throughout the country, with these new dates giving an opportunity to those who haven’t gotten a chance to enjoy a live show.

    After a two-week break from their last performance of 2019, the tour resumes at Pickle Barrel Nightclub in Killington, VT, and will see them perform throughout the West-coast, the South-west, and the Mid-west, with the tour ending on the East coast.

    Pink Talking Fish’s entire slate of tour dates for the remainder of 2019 and 2020’s winter tour can be found below and tickets can be purchased here.

    Remaining Pink Talking Fish 2019 Tour Dates: 

    Nov.13 – The Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC

    Nov.14 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC

    Nov.15 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL

    Nov.16 – Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Nov. 21 – Winstons – Ocean Beach, CA

    Nov. 22 – Winstons – Ocean Beach, CA

    Nov. 30 – The Strand Ballroom – Providence RI – Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 4 – The Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA – Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 5 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

    Dec. 6 – Otis Supply – Detroit, MI

    Dec. 7 – The Ludlow Garage – Cincinnati, OH

    Dec. 13 – The Caribou Room – Nederland, CO

    Dec. 14 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO – PTF Are Beastie Boys w/s/g DJ Logic

    Dec. 27 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

    Dec. 28 – The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY – Dark Side Of The Moon Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 29 – The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY – PTF Are Beastie Boys Phish Afterparty w/s/g DJ Logic

    Dec. 31 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston MA

    PTF 2020 Tour Dates: 

    Jan. 16 – Pickle Barrel Nightclub – Killington, VT

    Jan. 17 – Nectars – Burlington, VT

    Jan. 18 – Nectars – Burlington, VT

    Jan. 30 – Terrapin Crossroads – San Rafael, CA

    Jan. 31 – Crystal Bay Casino – Crystal Bay, NV

    Feb. 1 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA

    Feb. 4 – Crazy Horse Saloon – Nevada City, CA

    Feb. 5 – Humbolt Brews – Arcata, CA

    Feb. 6 – Volcanic Theatre – Bend, OR

    Feb. 7 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR

    Feb. 8 – Nectar Lounge – Seattle, WA

    Feb. 9 – Wild Buff House Of Music – Bellingham, WA

    Feb. 12 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT

    Feb. 14 – Last Concert Café – Houston, TX

    Feb.15 – ACL Live – Austin, TX

    Feb.16 – Deep Ellum Art Co – Dallas, TX

    March 5 – The Vogue Theatre – Indianapolis, IN

    March 6 – Park West – Chicago, IL

    March 7 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH

    March 13 – Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH

    March 14 – Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY

    March 15 – Infinity Music Hall – Norfolk, CT