NYS Music 202​1

Category: Hip Hop/Rap

  • Lil Cease performs at Alien Opera House, Reflects on the Moment

    The Alien Opera House hosted a Sunday farmer’s market with live music throughout the day on Sunday, December 12. The holiday festive green Sunday on the north side featured performances by Lil Cease, Ryan Mackie, Ebb n Flow with Mozay Calloway, Joe Driscoll, and DJ R Hop. Sound beats by Scott Gagnon.

    The Sunday matinee headliner was the Frank White Experience with special guest Lil’ Cease of the original Bad Boy Record label. The ensemble consisting of Deyquan Bowens, Thomas Carter, Danielle Mitchell, Jay Lock, Emanuel Washington and Skribe Da God laid down a live studio session vibe to the music of Notorious B.I.G. Skunk City’s Emmanuel Washington held down the neo-soul beats on drums for the holiday event. He even had Byron Cage carry the groove on the kit for the encore.

    Lil Cease has been in the studio for countless legendary sessions with Brooklyn artist Notorious B.I.G. He took some time before his set at The Alien Opera House to speak with NYS Music about the surroundings:

    Matthew Romano: There’s a lot of artists here today all inspired by having you in the building on this 12 21 Sunday. Do you remember a specific session that just came out of nowhere to form something significant?

    Lil Cease: Yea that happened to me while working with producer Harry Fraud and French Montana. It was the first time I started recording records on the spot. I would write my rhymes right there and they’d have the music ready to go. We cut a track in two hours tops. You got to take advantage of the moment, ya know? If I went home and messed with it I’d try to refurbish it and wouldn’t be the same. I did my best records like that. Sometimes you gotta take the energy of something around you and run with it. BIG used to do that with songs all the time, he would listen to people and conversations around him and bring it to the booth. We’d be in the studio smoking and he would just go record on the spot… Plans to leave, throw the keys to Little Cease (uh-huh) Pull the truck up front, and roll up the next blunt. It’s like yo we just did that… (laughter)

    Writing about your surroundings is really powerful.

    Lil Cease
    Lil Cease

    MR: What kind of funk music is an influence on you?

    LC: I mean I listen to a bunch of stuff. Is Earth Wind and Fire considered funk? I mean it’s all just music. I listen to music. Once I started learning to DJ I realized how music works. You want to say every rapper is a jazz artist?  I have sampled jazz music before. It’s just beats that play, they run, Like Rain Dance.. that’s Crush on You! I didn’t know we sampled other people’s music, I was fifteen years old just thinking the producer made the beat. After I heard the original I said damn we should have left the horns in it.  

    Lil Cease
    Photo by Ryan Mackie

    Lil Cease joined the experience on the spot for a live “Crush on You” at the Opera house in 12 21. The Frank White Experience also brought “Machine Gun Funk” and “Dead Wrong” among many other B.I.G record classics to the masses. Deep Cuts like “One More Chance” and “Sky is the Limit” really hit hard in the Sunday crowd. Whatever art you dabble in you can guarantee to have a meeting of the minds at this space on Syracuse’s north side. You never know what what will happen in the Alien opera house world. Stay Tuned.

    We Love Ya”ll Syracuse. The Vibe here is great. RIP B.I.G. Life is short, lets try and bring some peace in this world. Love and appreciate Ya’ll

    Lil Cease
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIn9InatFY

     Photo Gallery by Ryan Mackie

  • Burna Boy Announces One-Night Only Show at Madison Square Garden: One Night in Space

    Grammy-winning Afrobeats artist, Burna Boy, is on the verge of making history with the announcement of his one-night only show at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Set for April 28, 2022, the performance will see the “African Giant” singer become the first Nigerian artist the headline the iconic venue. 

    Burna Boy

    One Night in Space Follows several sold-out performances by Burna Boy at some of the world’s most renowned arenas and music festivals. As part of his 2021 Space Drift tour, Burna Boy has performed in front sold-out crowds at LA’s The Hollywood Bowl, he delivered electrifying performances at the 2021 Global Citizen Festival and The Governor’s Ball, as well as sold out international shows at London’s O2 Arena, Paris’ Accor Arena, Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome and more venues around the globe. 

    Burna Boy is also on a musical high as his last two projects, 2019’s Grammy-nominated African Giant and 2020’s Grammy-winning Twice as Tall, have seen him go from a star within the afrobeats community to a legitimate mainstream headliner. While he hasn’t released a body of work in 2021 after releasing projects in consecutive years, he has kept his sound in circulation, collaborating with several diverse and well-known artists. 2021 saw him on the records “I Feel It” with Jon Bellion; “Want It All” featuring Polo G, “Question” ft Don Jazzy, and “Rotate” with Becky G, which featured in Pepsi’s global football campaign “Music Keeps Us Fizzing.” The African Giant also allied with Justin Bieber on the 8x Grammy-nominated album, Justice, and with 9-time Grammy-nominee Sia for “Hey Boy.” 

    Tickets for One Night in Space will go on sale to the general public at 12pm ET on Friday, December 17th at Ticketmaster.com.  

  • Troy Pop-Punk Band Playoffs Release “Lickety Splitz” off Forthcoming Debut Album

    Hailing from the Collar City of Troy, pop-punk band Playoffs have released “Lickety Splitz,” the first single off their upcoming debut album, due out on December 20, 2021.   

    Playoffs Lickety Splitz

    Formed out of a cover band that ran face first into the year 2020, Playoffs band members Cody Sargood (guitar/vocals), Alex Foster (vocals), Daniel Livermore (drummer) Bill Milhizer (keys/guitar) and Neal Makela (bass) found themselves like many of us, stuck inside and only able to create their sound from virtual messaging.

    With all their powers combined, Playoffs was able to come to the table to record their first self titled album with producer Neil Schneider. While navigating the worst year and strangest times, Playoffs became more than just an idea, they became a goal. Schneider also served as producer, engineer, mix/masterer, and collaborator on the album, drawing on a relationship he has had with Cody since grade school.

    Like many songs on the upcoming Playoffs LP, “Lickety Splitz,” released on November 22, draws from from the inner perspective of someone’s mental health. The song tells of relationship troubles by addressing self-struggle and the outward projection of those struggles. Mental health issues can suffocate and ravage an individual’s mind, like a troubled relationship that cannot get out of its own way. “Lickety Splitz” became a typical relationship song, but to deal with and address mental health issues that plague so many individuals today. Playoffs hope that people can connect with the song and realize that no mental health issue is too big or small to ask for help, and that there are people in your life that love you and will help you.

    I think each one of us — whether a father, expecting father, newlywed, or just human — had an eye-to-eye mindframe. We were all able to see how awful things were for everyone. This project allowed Cody and myself to write what we were feeling while embracing the style of music we already liked playing. Everyone kind of got it. It worked, and everything came together. Whether it was writing the lyrics one-on-one at someone’s house, or going through the recording process, we maintained communication with one another and having that outlet for ourselves is truly beneficial and hopefully transfers to the people who listen to it. 

    Alex Foster

    Prior to forming Playoffs, the band members were involved in a pop punk/hip hop/90s musical jukebox cover band performing at bars under the name kidbilly. Playoffs started just before the world shut down from COVID, but with the uncomfortable and disconnected feeling that grew from having to sit home and see no one and do nothing, the group recorded the album in pieces and parts, some even from across the country with the help of Makela.

    Playoffs Lickety Splitz

    Being able to meet online, play music virtually, embrace the hardship that literally the entire world was facing, and turn it into a reflective piece of art was an amazing experience for the group, especially as they are able to highlight mental health amid the frightening state of affairs of 2020 and having to watch the world slow to a crawl.  

  • Catching Up With Irv Da God: Talks Come Up, Upcoming Project, Verzuz Battles & More

    In our current social-economic climate, many gage an artist based on their mainstream success. Did they have a big hit record? Top-selling album? Never mind the fact that outside of the music industry’s true 1%, streaming is a non-factor.

    Hence, despite our emotional attachment to art, the music industry is a business and should be handled as such. Take Queens native, Irv Da God (Born Derrick Duke Irvin), for instance. His foray into the music industry was not based on a pipe dream of having a chart-topping hit or selling a million units. Rather, steadily establishing himself through various ventures and building a following. 

    Fortunately, Irvin’s upbringing during the rugged 90’s era Queens prepared him for an equally — for different reasons — cutthroat world. 

    As we got older, we all dealt with the obstacles as everyone’s trying to survive, get money. You just had to be always on point [and] never be caught slipping. 

    As he sheds light on his days as an aspiring hooper running the streets of Queens, it becomes ever apparent that Irvin is a by-product of his environment. 

    His production company, Block Boy Media, LLC, has directed, filmed, and edited productions for the likes of Dave East, Cam’ron, Chubbie Baby, Coi Leray, Lil Durk, Avianne & Co. Jewelers, among others. Yet, it is a passion that can be traced back to his childhood. 

    I was really into films since a kid. We had the VHS tapes and I used to drag my mom to the Africans and make her buy all the bootlegs. Back then we didn’t have cellphones, so I would just watch a lot of VHS tapes, I had at least 100 movies. 

     After being inspired by the countless hours of film study and the budding acting career of his self-admitted “rap superhero” and fellow Queens MC, Sticky Fingaz, Irvin took his hustle to the next level. He saved and enrolled himself into a six-month course at New York Film Academy where soon after he was making money recording and editing music videos for artists, as well as his own productions. 

    Irv Da God

    While admittedly a basketball head for large portions of his upbrining, the influence of hip hop is never too far away from inner-city youth. 

    His label, Block Boy Mafia, Inc, was home to his first studio album, Thirty 3, in 2019 and in 2020, B.B.M. released their first studio collaborative album, Son Day. 

    Irvin speaks of his Block Boy Mafia family with great hubris, acknowledging their status as family rather than business associates, yet lamented the fact that he seemed to care more about the preparation and overall success of the collective than others. As he matures in the industry, he’s made the conscious decision to prioritize Irv Da God and lay the foundation which he hopes his crew will build upon. 

    I can keep the family together, but I can’t make the decisions for the family all the time. When everybody has opinions, I have to let everybody be who they want to be.

    In Irvin’s eyes, it’s all for the greater good, as he embodies the Block Boy moniker. On the block one would typically hang out with family, close friends and acquaintances and that is how he envisions his long-term success. 

    I just want to do it with my friends, the people I looked up to, [spent time] around and people we came across in our lifetime. 

    As he continues to spotlight, Irv Da God, it’s clear that “the block” is never too far away. It was only earlier this year that Irvin teamed up with Onyx’s own, Sticky Fingaz, and Bizkit of B.N.B. to release “Fearless,” a collaborative track made for the Vitor Belfort vs Evander Holyfield boxing match on Triller Fight Club. 

    Tasked with leadership for long periods of time, Irvin’s relationship with Freddo Starr and Sticky Fingaz feels like a breath of fresh air for the Hollis, Queens native, as Sticky and Freddo are two of hip hop’s most successful rappers-turned-actors.

    They’re such good people man and show a lot of brotherly love,” Irvin says of the duo. “I’m a rap artist now and they’re my first rap brothers in the game.

    His latest endeavor, a red-carpet appearance at the TrillerVerz battle in Hollywood, CA between Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony and Three 6 Mafia to promote the “Fearless” record, reiterated why he has stood on his family-oriented principles. After a chippy contest, that even included a near-altercation between the two legendary hip hop groups, it was Three 6 Mafia’s camaraderie that won Irvin over, despite being a bigger fan of Bone-Thugs. 

    Irv Da God

    People are big into energy nowadays. You can tell which groups are organized and you can tell which ones don’t really deal with each other anymore. You grow together, you have to keep the synergy in alignment, I feel like Juicy J and Three 6 Mafia definitely had the energy, they had the crowd jumping. It was like they were back in time to when the records first hit the club.

    As he enters the next phase of his development, Irv Da God is preparing to independently release his sophomore project, Irvin Jackson. A soundtrack album set serve as the score for an upcoming tv series aptly named, Block Boy: Behind The Lights, Irvin is looking to showcase some of the very best from Block Boy Mafia. 

     I’m just giving people different styles of me. I’m really just showing people the growth of my career and my music. When I first came out, I might have been a little hard and aggressive on my Thirty 3 album. The traction was great, but it doesn’t show my diverse side. I’m not giving people pain, but I’m giving people experience.

    As he comes up in the game, Irvin doesn’t seem mystified by the thought of bright lights. Despite being a Las Vegas resident, he keeps his city close to heart and speaks of the relationships he’s made along the way with gratitude. Whether it be Boston Rob for connecting him to Sticky Fingaz, Bronx MC Haddy Racks, A$AP Ferg and Dave East as old friends whose success have inspired him. 

    One thing people got to understand is that we made it already, everything else is just understanding the business and getting with the right people. These videos and these movies are edited, real life ain’t.

  • Twenty One Pilots “The Icy Tour 2022” Coming to New York Next August

    Grammy Award winning duo Twenty One Pilots have announced “The Icy Tour 2022,” which will find the band headlining arenas across North America next summer, including a stop at Madison Square Garden on August 23 and the new UBS Arena in Belmont Park on August 24.

    The coast-to-coast 23-city outing will kick off on August 18th in St. Paul, MN and make stops in New York City, Toronto, Nashville, Anaheim, and more before wrapping up with a performance at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on September 24th.

    Twenty One Pilots quietly emerged as one of the most successful bands of the 21st century and redefined the sound of a generation. After billions of streams and dozens of multi-Platinum certifications around the world, the history-making Columbus, OH duo—Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun—ascended to a creative and critical high watermark on their new full-length album, Scaled And Icy. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top “Rock Albums” and “Alternative Albums” charts, while landing at No. 3 on the “Billboard 200,” marking the biggest opening week for a rock album in 2021.

    In celebration of the upcoming tour, Twenty One Pilots have also surprise released a digital deluxe version of their acclaimed new album, Scaled And Icy. Scaled And Icy (Livestream Version) includes never before released performances of fan favorite tracks from the group’s pioneering global streaming event, “Twenty One Pilots – Livestream Experience”.

    Written and largely produced by Tyler Joseph in isolation over the course of the past year at his home studio, with Dun engineering the album’s drums from across the country, Scaled And Icy is the product of long-distance virtual sessions and finds the duo processing their upended routines along with the prevailing emotions of 2020 – anxiety, loneliness, boredom, and doubt. The duo had to forgo their normal studio sessions but reached a new of level of introspection in the process, adopting a more imaginative and bold approach to their songwriting. The result is a collection of songs that push forward through setbacks and focus on the possibilities worth remembering. Scaled And Icy is Twenty One Pilots’ first studio album in three years and follows their RIAA Platinum certified LP, Trench.

    Twenty One Pilots “The Icy Tour 2022”

    Aug 18 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

    Aug 20 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

    Aug 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center

    Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

    Aug 24 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

    Aug 26 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

    Aug 27 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

    Aug 30 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

    Aug 31 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

    Sep 02 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

    Sep 03 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

    Sep 04 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

    Sep 07 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

    Sep 09 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center

    Sep 10 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center

    Sep 13 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

    Sep 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

    Sep 17 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

    Sep 18 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

    Sep 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena

    Sep 22 – Portland, OR – Moda Center

    Sep 24 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

    Tickets and more info available here.

  • Watch Saweetie ‘Tap In’ to SNL while Pete Davidson pays Tribute to Staten Island

    SNL returned last night with first-time host Simu Liu accompanied by musical guest Saweetie. The juggernaut rapper, fresh off her own McDonald’s Meal and a newly inked deal for a Netflix series, performed favorite hits and a brand new single for the crowd. 

    Saweetie Simu Liu SNL

    The episode opened with Cecily Strong parodying Judge Jeanine Pirro of Fox News discussing the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Chloe Fineman played a white female analyst discussing the shocking nature of the exoneration, while Chris Redd’s Howard University professor notes the American justice system has behaved this way before. When Fineman mourned “This is not who we are!” a sarcastic Redd responded, “I kind of feel like it is though…” James Austin Johnson returned with his pitch-perfect Trump impression. Above all, the sketch was a strong, hilarious opening.

    Simu Liu, star of Marvel’s Shang Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings, brought energy and ease to his monologue. He joked at his status as the first “openly Chinese superhero,” and a strong later sketch between Liu and Bowen Yang expanded the joke. In his opener, he mainly skewered his Canadian heritage and the uniquely polite way he obtained his breakout role. Spoiler alert: he tagged them on Twitter, and got about ten likes. 

    Firstly, Saweetie hit the stage with a montage of “Tap In” and “Best Friend.” Dressed in old Hollywood glam and flanked by dancers in tutu’s, she introduce a jazzy rendition of “Tap In.” In a floor-length gown, she performed a gracefully choreographed routine. As the whistle-heavy beat faded in, her backup dancers removed the train on her dress.

    With her blood-red curls serving Jessica Rabbit, Saweetie cemented her status as a classic R&B girl with a diverse catalog. Dance, fashion, rapping, singing; all of it is in a day’s work for Saweetie. Above all, the montage was a celebration of Saweetie at her peak, highlighting her greatest hits.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOItdP6ZjU8&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=5&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Throughout the night, standout skits included a “karaoke recap” from a dive bar, aptly parodying many types of karaoke singer. From “Guy Who Was Doing Great Until The High Notes Came In” to “Girl Who Claimed Her Friend Signed Her Up But We All Know The Truth,” each was spot on. Later on, Simu Liu perfectly embodied a crotchety professor in a skit of a 420-friendly Friendsgiving celebration. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyKnQPpLR2I&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=3&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Later, Saweetie returned to the stage to perform a brand new single, “Icy Chain.” On the track, she bodies an opportunity to flex her harder flows. She impressed with her breathless flows, never missing a beat even in the midst of a high kick or twerk. Clearly, Saweetie takes her craft seriously. However, the rapper wasn’t afraid to have fun during “Icy Chain,” laughing and smiling through the number. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx0Ag3fEeDE&list=PLS_gQd8UB-hJ_skvlwzfzWQSdOpi13UJM&index=10&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

    Pete Davidson recruited fellow Staten Islander Method Man and rapper Big Wet for “Walkin in Staten,” a parody of Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis.” Cohn was at first reluctant to join the video, but then appeared with the trio, adding to the hilarious take on the outer borough. Davidson and company sang about the unique attractions found in Staten Island – pizza places on every corner, bagel shops, and pizza places within bagel shops, among others.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W62Vmju18Vw

    SNL will return on December 11th with Billie Eilish serving double duty as host and musical guest. Later next month, Charli XCX will perform alongside host Paul Rudd on December 18th.

  • Thundercat Keeps It Weird At Higher Ground

    Thundercat brought his grooves to Higher Ground last Wednesday night, performing a jam-heavy set interjected with thoughtful musings on his friends, his passions, and his career. 

    Known for his mind-bending bass riffs and soulful, high vocals, Thundercat brought an inventive, jam-heavy set elevated by his classic comedic flair. Playing to a mesmerized crowd, he encouraged the Ballroom to fall into the music the same way he does. 

    thundercat
    Thundercat. Photo by Hattie Lindert.

    Compton producer Channel Tres opened for Thundercat, melding glitzy club beats with deep, emotive vocals. At first, Tres rose to fame crafting beats for hip-hop stars like Wale and Kehlani; now he’s forging a name for himself. Although initially the crowd seemed underappreciative of his set (he deserved a Brooklyn Steel crowd), by the end he had converted fans jumping at the barrier. By the time he closed with the pulsating “Topdown,” the crowd was screaming as he performed original choreography. At one point, he wiped his brow with a merch t-shirt, then tossed it into the crowd. 

    “Hey, I’ll sign it for you,” he called out the lucky winner. “I mean you never know, I might be famous one day.” 

    thundercat
    Channel Tres. Photo by Hattie Lindert
    Channel Tres. Photo by Hattie Lindert

    Thundercat’s comical and outlandish style precedes him, and he did not disappoint when he took the stage in an oversize, sparkling Gucci barrette. Even more outsized than his style is his mythical skill on the bass guitar. Before he even stepped on stage, tour staff came out to carefully lay the instrument by his mic. 

    “There it is,” an audience member in the front row whispered in awe. “There it f*cking is.” 

    thundercat
    Thundercat. Photo by Hattie Lindert

    Throughout the show, Thundercat spoke continually about beloved friends and coworkers he’s lost. Thundercat has often spoken about the pain of losing close friend Mac Miller to an overdose in 2018. That loss had a deep effect on the artist himself, and the formulation of his critically acclaimed latest album, 2020’s It Is What It Is. Thundercat also shared stories of his childhood best friend, pianist Austin Peralta, who has since passed. As he dove into a racing rendition of “I Love Louis Cole,” Thundercat credited Peralta with introducing him to the artist’s music. 

    “Mac, MF Doom, DMX, Austin… they changed my life,” he said. “And I’m still here.” The following performance was nothing if not a celebration of life. Afterwards, he performed “A Message for Austin,” the track he wrote dedicated to Peralta, falling into an insane acid jazz jam session.  

    thundercat
    Thundercat. Photo by Hattie Lindert

    Thundercat’s personality is defined by his passions, and he mused on them all: fashion, anime, his cat, Tron. He assured the crowd he’s working on new music, though a wide berth of tracks from his extensive catalog, along with Flying Lotus and Knower covers. Mostly, he jammed, disappearing into the eyes of keyboardist Dennis Hamm and drummer Justin Brown. 

    Thundercat knows his audience, and how long they’ve waited to see him; he gave fans a treat closing with crowd-pleasers “Them Changes” and “Funny Thing.” Though he remained faithful to the hits, Thundercat still experimented. Tracks like “Nowhere,” a Knower cover, and “Existential Dread,” found him switching things up and sometimes even extending runs beyond the crowd’s content. After all, as he playfully called out, many of them were still underage. 

    thundercat
    Thundercat. Photo by Hattie Lindert.

    Thundercat’s expressive, masterful skill on the bass translates well to storytelling, be it comedic or serious. His graceful hands, adorned with tattoos, fly as he describes a night out drunken of Jameson with friends or a scene from Death Note. Above all, he wanted to share pieces of himself with the crowd: music, stories and laughs.

    “I know you guys know the power of music,” he said to a cheer. That night, the power of live performance felt just as meaningful. 

  • In Focus: Tech N9ne Reigns Supreme at Empire Live in Albany

    Tech N9ne brought his Strange New World Tour to Empire Live in Albany, NY on Wednesday, November 11. Opening the show were rappers Jhery Robinson, King ISO and Rittz.

    Tech N9ne

    After King Iso seemlingly died on stage from rapping too hard, Tech N9ne took the stage to a roaring crowd. Donning a crown or clown mask, he mixed old with new, finally ending the night with a heavy slew of classics. He spoke afterwards of recently turning 50 and gave a surprisingly elliquent speech about just being yourself and always moving forward.

    Tech N9ne

    TechN9ne takes this tour south before heading out midwest to end in Kansas City, MO at the beginning of December.

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  • Will Smith Talks Through His Journey at Kings Theatre

    Will Smith, the world-famous actor, musician, and producer, stopped by Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on November 9th for his book tour to promote his self-titled memoir “Will”. Moderated by legendary film director Spike Lee, Smith elaborated on parts of his unusual path to super-stardom for a sold-out audience. What makes Will Smith such a compelling actor and public figure was on full display that night.

    will smith
    Will Smith & Spike Lee at Kings Theatre, 11/09/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

    Will Smith is a legendary figure in Hollywood, having been only actor to have starred in eight consecutive films which grossed over $100 million in the United States box office. He’s a blockbuster legend and a huge cultural figure for a wide variety of age groups. The sold-out crowd was filled with people from various ages and backgrounds, just showing how wide of a reach Will Smith’s films have had on all of us, which doesn’t even include his big break, the hugely popular 90’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

    will smith
    Will Smith & Spike Lee at Kings Theatre, 11/09/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

    Accompanied by a massive visual board, Will and Spike walked through some of his biggest moments, ranging from Will’s impromptu audition for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for producer Quincy Jones to the recent death of his father. Will’s father, Will Smith Sr., casts a shadow over the whole book and the conversations he had on stage. Will has referred to his father in the book as “his biggest ally and his biggest enemy”, which only sheds a little light on how complex their relationship was. While Will spoke about how grateful he was for the lessons his father bestowed on him about hard work, there was still intense resentment due to Will Smith Sr. having been an alcoholic abuser for most of Will’s childhood. Watching the famously guarded Will Smith work through his traumatic experiences on stage was fascinating.

    will smith
    Will Smith & Spike Lee at Kings Theatre, 11/09/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

    In spite of the dark subject matter, Will really showed why he is who he is. I’ve rarely ever seen anybody so charming and naturally humorous. Even as an audience member, his charisma was too bright to ignore. You couldn’t help but fall under his spell, which is a testament to Will Smith’s ability as both a showman and a storyteller.

    After having spoken to the audience about his life, Will unveiled a surprise and brought out DJ Jazzy Jeff, his old partner during his rapper days, to perform some of the old hits they were both famous for. They ran through classics like “Summertime,” “Switch,” and even the famous “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song. I would not have guessed that in 2021 I’d see Will Smith perform these hits live, which was quite the experience.

    will smith
    Will Smith & Spike Lee at Kings Theatre, 11/09/21. Photo by Kunal Khunger

    Will Smith has one last stop of his book tour in London on Thursday, November 18th. You can see more details here. Be sure to check out the full photo gallery below!

  • Cazwell Commemorates Transgender Day Of Remembrance with “Taser in my Telfar Bag”

    Transgender Day Of Remembrance, celebrated annually on November 20th, honors transgender individuals who have lost their lives to bigoted violence. Trans people face some of the highest levels of harassment, assault, and violence of any minority group. This year alone, the Human Rights Campaign reports 42 murdered trans people. As political rhetoric criminalizes trans people, legal discrimination traps them, and violence endangers them, too many face roadblocks to their best lives. Even walking down the street trans can be a risk. 

    In honor of the commemorative day, trans icons Trace Lysette and Chanel Jolé speak to all this and more in a new track with Boston rapper Cazwell, “Taser in my Telfar Bag.”  The single places the focus on trans people not as victims, but as empowered individuals society must do better to protect. The trio shared a new video for the track today. 

    Cazwell, who is queer, materialized the song after learning of a brutal attack on Trans women Eden the Doll, Jaslene White Rose, and Joclyn Flawless in 2020. Amidst a social media outcry of trans women sharing stories of harassment, Cazwell remembered one tweet about keeping a taser in a Telfar bag for protection. 

    “It just kind of clicked,” Cazwell shared. “That along with the need to protect Trans women while shouting out an ally like Telfar made the song feel current and relevant.”

    Trans Day Of Remembrance
    Chanel Jolé, Cazwell, and Trace Lysette.

    Cazwell brought on Lysette and Jolé to drop bars over the addictive beat, built off the zap of a taser. Trace and Chanel shared with Cazwell they feel most unsafe during the day, inspiring a daytime video shoot. The glitzy music video paints them having fun before placing tasers, “one for my purse and one for the Mercedes,” at an aggressor’s neck. 

    Dolled up in nails, lashes, and the eponymous Telfar bags, Lysette and Jole aren’t to be messed with. The video brings to life a comical skit where Cazwell sells the ladies their electric shocker of choice. Lysette and Jolé are clear about their intentions with the tasers. 

    “Just give me a taser and I’ll zap his dick quick/ Then use a flashlight to apply my lipstick,” they spit. Cazwell sells them pink tasers pointedly labeled “Police.” Trans women not only face violence on the street, but from law enforcement as well.

    “I’ve been the victim of many hate crimes so this is more than just a song for me,” Lysette shared.  “This is a statement to all those weirdos who not only hurt Trans women but all women.”

    Trans Day Of Remembrance
    Cover art for “Taser in my Telfar Bag.”

    Cazwell hopes the single released ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance will inspire listeners to donate to Trans Defense Fund LA. The mutual aid group is dedicated to creating remedies (like protective safety kits) to the disproportionate violence Trans women face. Listeners who share proof of donation will receive an exclusive remix of “Taser in my Telfar Bag.” To donate, visit here.