Promising Young Woman actress Carey Mulligan hosted this week’s Saturday Night Live, with rapper Kid Cudi joining her as musical guest. Cudi released his most recent album, Man on the Moon III: The Chosen in December of 2020, concluding the trilogy he began in 2009.
Mulligan’s husband Marcus Mumford appeared during her opening monologue, offering to be the night’s musical guest. After Mulligan informed Mumford that Kid Cudi was performing already, he pulled an acoustic guitar out of thin air and accompanied her closing remarks. Of course, Mumford is the front-man of folk rock band Mumford & Sons, who previously played SNL in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-BfpGLs0Cs
Before his performances, Kid Cudi first appeared in a sketch with Pete Davidson and Chris Redd, “Weird Little Flute.” It parodied flute rap, a burgeoning subgenre including songs like Future’s “Mask Off.” Previous SNL host Timothee Chalamet made an unexpected cameo, endorsing the weird little flute as a musical asset.
Kid Cudi chose “Tequila Shots” as his first song of the night, with lyrics about alcohol-induced anxiety and depression: “It seems I’ll never learn / I won’t stop ‘til I crash and burn / Tell my mom I’m sorry.” He wore a t-shirt depicting late SNL cast member Chris Farley, who famously struggled with addiction.
Cudi closed out the episode with “Sad People,” a toast to contemplative night owls. Following in the footsteps of Kurt Cobain, he wore a floral dress. Cobain died by suicide this week in 1994, and Cudi has been open about his own experiences with suicidal ideation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsagiYnmN_4
As for Kid Cudi’s 2021 plans, an album is likely on the horizon for his supergroup, The Scotts. Made up of Cudi (whose first name is Scott) and Travis Scott, The Scotts formed in 2020 and debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 with single “The Scotts.”
The episode ended with an in memoriam tribute to rapper DMX, who played SNL in 2000.
An iconic song title and hook from a rapper whose career was made off of distinction. From his voice, to his aesthetic, to his simultaneously vulnerable and gangster persona, DMX was going to give you his all, his true self. You were to be witness to the amazing highs and the, at-times, embarrassing lows. The lead single from 2003’s Cradle 2 the Grave (starring DMX) soundtrack is more than just a catchy tune. Has any other rap lyric embodied an artist quite so well?
As the world mourns the loss of one of hip hop’s grittiest, raw and complex characters, it’s important to remember that DMX’s premature death does not put a sour note on the full life that he lived. He said it himself, in his very last aired interview — an appearance on Noreaga’s Drink Champs podcast — ‘X declares, “If I was to drop dead right now, my last thought would be: ‘I’ve lived a good life.”
This DMX vs Jay-Z freestyle battle still one of the most legendary moments in hip hop
After all, his journey began in the project buildings of Yonkers, NY, having to grow up with a non-existent father and a violently abusive mother. ‘X — born Earl Simmons — spent spurts of his childhood in group homes, where he honed his skills within the budding genre of hip hop. It was during early adolescence that DMX met Ready Ron, an influential figure in his development as a rapper, and the man X claimed is responsible for birthing the addiction that kept a stronghold on him throughout most of his adult life.
Based on his turbulent childhood and a criminal record (that began in adolescence), DMX is one of the few artists who could claim the oft-used adage that hip hop saved their life. Where else can one go from group homes and detention centers to releasing two number 1 albums in the same year? In fact , DMX’s first five studio albums debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts.
Although the one known as Dark Man X had done a complete 180 with his life, fame and riches only exasperated who he truly was. And at his core, DMX was a troubled individual. Despite his success, he hadn’t gotten his addictions under control, a fatal trait that eventually cost him his life.
So while he was starring in blockbuster films and performing in front of an excess of 200,000 people, he was still succumbing to his vices, with a rap sheet that might be longer than his lyric sheet. In a fall 2019 GQ magazine interview, DMX once stated,
“Before I really had a life, jail was a playground. I’d be like, ‘I’m going to jail and have fun.’ Jail used to be fun.”
It seems as though he carried that mentality throughout his time as a famous entertainer, with substance abuse issues a clear factor in his life as he had been arrested for various and repeating offenses including: possessions of cocaine, driving while intoxicated, driving with a suspended license, animal cruelty, failure to pay child support, among others. His offenses are equally puzzling and impressive. You would think after a few DUI arrests, one would get a driver, especially someone of DMX’s stature. Yet, his blatant disregard for the law revealed his truly detached nature from life and consequence, a characteristic found in many addicts. Notwithstanding, it revealed something else, ‘X was gon’ give it to the man as well, even if it was to his own detriment.
What’s dangerous about fame and success is that it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re living life righteously, it just means the masses resonate with the persona and content being packaged to them. For DMX his personal downfalls helped make him the superstar that he was. In a smoke and mirrors industry, his authenticity was never to be questioned, as he laid it all on his records, never shying away from the demons that constantly kept him in the headlines.
That’s what makes his death such a tough pill to swallow. When someone shares as much of themselves as DMX did, you can’t help but care about their wellness. Before this tragic turn of events, there were reports of an upcoming album and a re-invigorated DMX.
Nevertheless, it is better to rejoice in the life that DMX got to live, rather than his death. For he gave us everything he had. He has been on the opposite ends of the spectrum, reaching highs that most wouldn’t dare dream of, to experiencing lows that many can’t even imagine. In that sense, DMX lived a complete life, as he truly gave us all he had.
Hip hop legend DMX’s long battle with addiction took a turn for the worse when it was reported that the “How’s It Goin’ Down” rapper had overdosed and was in a vegetative state, with TMZ reporting that the prognosis was not good. It was also revealed by Murray Richman, a lawyer who has represented the rapper-actor for 25 years, that DMX (born Earl Simmons) was hospitalized after he had a heart attack at his home in White Plains, N.Y., on Friday, April 2, according to the New York Times.
The Grammy-nominated rapper has been deemed in critical condition, with the general public worried that this might be another tragic and premature death to a beloved entertainer.
Although an icon in the hip hop realm and beyond, DMX has a long and well-documented history of substance abuse and addiction, something that has been a common theme in his music throughout the years. In a November 2020 episode of Talib Kweli’s People’s Party podcast, DMX went in-depth, explaining that he was tricked into smoking crack, when a regular smoking encounter with his rap mentor, Ready Ron, took a turn for the worse when his blunt was laced with the addictive substance. In an emotional moment where ‘X struggled for words, he admits that’s when “the monster was born.”
The solemn news was met with an outpouring of support for DMX, with fans and peers of the rapper taking to social media to show their support. After his condition was made public, members of the Ruff Ryders Sports Bike Organization gathered outside of the White Plains hospital that is currently treating the embattled star. As documented by FOX5, the motorcycle crew rolled in, playing DMX’s music in an act of tribute.
As fans await updates on the beloved emcee, a prayer vigil was held outside of the same White Plains hospital. Hosted by ‘X’s family, the streets were filled as speakers played DMX’s voice mid-prayer.
Fans of DMX are currently holding a prayer vigil outside White Plains Hospital, where the rapper remains on life support pic.twitter.com/6F2WbIgNki
It is reported that he is scheduled to undergo critical brain function tests that will determine the rapper’s prognosis, according to his manager, Steve Rifkind.
“DMX is currently on life support and in a coma. There are multiple people with inaccurate information about his well-being and it is not helpful and productive,” Rifkind told NBC News Tuesday night. “Tomorrow he will undergo further tests on his brain function and his family will determine what’s best from there.”
This is the first article in the series “Made in New York,” a historical examination of the music history of each of New York’s 62 counties. First up – Orange County.
Welcome to Orange County, New York! This stretch of land is the first county in the United States to be named Orange and it shares this name with seven others throughout the country. Located between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, this area which was first named in 1683 is full of natural and historical wonders.
The county’s highest elevation is located at Schunemunk Mountain and its lowest point is at the mighty Hudson River. The Wallkill River National Refuge is home to the smallest turtle in New York and this is just up the road from the Black Dirt Region in Southern Orange County, which accounts for half of the onions grown in New York State. Additionally, the black dirt here has an uncanny ability to preserve the past and more mastodon bones have been uncovered in this area than anywhere else on Earth.
Some of the history in this area is well-known by all, but this county has a surprising amount of it, some of which many people may not be aware. West Point Military Academy, which opened in 1802, is the oldest such school in the U.S. and the first section of the Appalachian Trail was created at Bear Mountain and opened in 1923. But interestingly, Orange County is home to the oldest tree and the oldest carbon-dated human settlement in America.
Orange County has its share of “firsts” as well. It has been home to the first cattle ranch and the first butter factory in America and also the world’s first homeopathic mental hospital. And who can forget America’s first liquid propelled airmail rocket flight which occurred at Greenwood Lake in 1936.
This county has a few more facts that just need to be shared. Stewart International Airport has a runway long enough to designate it as an emergency landing site for the now-defunct space shuttle. Brotherhood Winery is the oldest continuously operating winery in the country and Storm King Art Center is the largest sculpture park in the country. And finally, cream cheese was first mass-produced in Chester, NY and despite being made in New York, they named their product ‘Philadelphia Cream Cheese’ and through clever marketing, got its name because the Pennsylvania city was known for quality dairy farming.
But you didn’t come to NYS Music to learn about cheese and turtles; you’re here to learn about what Orange County has to offer to the music community.
The Ritz Theater in Newburgh is one of the most famous musical venues in the county and has been graced by performances from Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima and a then unknown singer named Frank Sinatra. It also, famously, is the venue where Lucille Ball made her on-stage debut and it was also the first time she performed with Desi Arnaz. On the other side of the county, Port Jarvis used to be the home of the State Theater. In its last year of operation, the venue featured both Anthrax and Metallica.
SONY DSC
In between these two cities, Middletown is home to the Paramount Theater which was added to the State & National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This venue has seen Johnny Cash, Joan Jett, Jefferson Starship and Blue Oyster Cult play for sold out audiences. And while we can’t touch on every venue in the county, one final notable haunt is the BSP Lounge in Kingston. This place was a featured location during King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s second U.S. Tour in 2014.
There are plenty of musicians who have called Orange County their home. Let’s take a look at the many bands and artists from the area.
Willie “The Lion” Smith
17th February 1939: American jazz musician Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith playing the piano and singing at a ‘Friday Club’ jam session, organized by Eddie Condon and ad-men P. Smith and E. Anderson, at the Park Lane Hotel, New York City. (Photo by Charles Peterson/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Jazz music wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for one particular resident of Orange County. Willie “The Lion” Smith was born in Goshen, NY in 1893. In his younger years, he discovered his mothers broken down organ in the basement and she taught him all of the melodies she knew, despite the instrument missing most of its keys. He started playing music at local clubs as he got older and one day he discovered a newspaper advertisement for Marshall & Wendell’s piano store in Albany with a contest to guess how many dots were printed in their ad. After winning the contest, an upright piano was delivered to his house and he continued to play various rags that he learned in those clubs.
In his late teens, he was finally playing in NYC and Atlantic City before serving in World War 1 where his reported bravery as a gunner earned him the nickname “The Lion.” He was back playing clubs in NYC by 1919 and not only made his first record a year later but helped develop a new piano style that is now known as “stride.” That record in 1920, called Crazy Blues, recorded with a singer named Mamie Smith, is generally regarded as the first recording of the blues.
During this time, Smith became a mentor for many up-and-coming musicians, most notably Duke Ellington. Duke was once quoted saying, “Willie The Lion was the greatest influence of all the great jazz piano players who have come along. He has a beat that stays in the mind.”
Orange County celebrates Willie “The Lion” Smith Day on September 18.
The Kalin Twins
Hal and Herbie Kalin were born in Port Jervis on February 16, 1934. Although they wouldn’t become stars until their late 20’s, their first “performance” together was at the town’s Christmas party when they were both five years old. At the age of 18, Hal was drafted into the U.S. Army and he and his brother kept in contact during his service, sharing songs they had written and writing about future plans to make it big in the music industry.
The twins were signed to the Decca Records label after Hal’s return and although their first songs failed to chart, they did appear on the Milt Grant Show and performed live. It wasn’t until searching through a bunch of demo tapes from writers that they discovered the song “When,” which they thought would be a hit. Released as a B-side on their single “Three O’Clock Thrill,” “When” eventually peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 charts and made it to #1 on the UK Singles chart and also #1 on the US R&B chart. They weren’t one-hit-wonders though as they had a number of other charting tracks including “Forget Me Not,” which reached #12 on the Hot 100.
Pardison Fontaine
Jorden Thorpe, better known as Pardison Fontaine, was born in Newburgh, NY in 1989. At an early age, he started rapping on his Talkboy and decided during his college years to drop out and commit fully to his hip-hop aspirations. He first gained acclaim with his 2013 song, “Oyyy” from his debut mixtape titled ‘Not Supposed to Be Here’ and filmed the music video for the track in his hometown. This song caught the attention of Cardi B and Pardison has since contributed as a songwriter to her for numerous songs, most famously her single “Bodak Yellow.”
Cardi was also featured on Pardison’s breakout hit “Backin It Up,” which hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has garnered over 166 million views on YouTube. Pardi has co-wrote with Kanye West on more than half of the songs on Kanye’s 2018 album, Ye, including “Violent Crimes” and “Ghost Town.” In addition to these, Pardison co-wrote the track “South of the Border” on Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations Project.
Pardison still represents his roots in Newburgh and loves giving back to the community. He has donated jerseys to the local Newburgh Steelers football team, participated in a turkey drive and also a bookbag giveaway to help local school children. His new album, Under8ed, was released in November of 2019 which he has described as “the story of my city.”
pErFect ThYroID
Throughout the 90s, one band in particular made waves throughout the Hudson Valley with its new brand of musical fusion, fun live shows and of course, it’s infamous Skunk logo. Hailing from Orange and Ulster County, Perfect Thyroid was formed in 1991 and while its lineup changed throughout the years, the band originally consisted of brothers Chris and Bill Hanson, Chris Snykus, Jaf Farkas, Shawn Rice and Jen Polcari. Combining the ska, funk and punk, reggae and jazz genres into their musical stylings, Thyroid became well known for calling this new sound “Skunk”.
PT toured full-time for over 20 years and put out 5 albums during that time, including “Musical Barnacles,” which Alternative Press selected as a “Ska-Punk Essential Album.” They were also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 Disney movie, Meet The Deedles. Throughout the tenure over the last 2 decades, they’ve had a plethora of incredible musicians join them in studio and on stage, including Dean Jones, Joe Cuchelo, Jason Foster, Mike Bove, Jon Stern, Sam Lapidus, Sean McLaughlin, Ben Acrish and Goshen’s own Shane Kirsch.
While the band has still played occasional shows throughout the last decade, most of the current lineup can also been seen in another area band called The Big Shoe. The members of Perfect Thyroid continue to call the Hudson Valley their home and will always be a shining example of what bands from New York State bring to live music scene.
William Fullerton Jr
William was born in Newburgh in 1854 and was the only son of William Fullerton, a famous New York lawyer. At age 17, he published‘Silver Strains’ which is now located in the Library of Congress. He left for Europe to study music in Germany and ended up living in London where he published a number of popular compositions that were dedicated to members of the Royal family. During his time in London, he lived with a famous painter and stage designer named Percy Anderson and these two would go on to have success with the opera named ‘Lady of the Locket.’ Following this, he set to work with Anderson on another light opera titled ‘Waldemar: Robber of the Rhine’ before succumbing to tuberculosis in 1888. While many of his works have been lost to history, ‘Spanish Serenade’ still exists online and can be heard below.
Dubois Alsdorf
Newburgh has a rich history of music and dance over the last century and a half, and that is thanks to the Alsdorf Dance Academy. Dubois Alsdorf was born in Wallkill, NY in 1827 to parents George and Catherine. At an early age, he showed a talent for music which he received from his father George and his parents sent him to New York City to begin an apprenticeship. Studying under famed orchestra leader and composer William Alpo, Dubois learned from Alpo’s musical experiences playing with Francis Johnson. Johnson was the first American musician to tour Europe and introduced the U.S. to the idea of open-air concerts, which had a lasting impression on Dubois. After his apprenticeship, Dubois formed one of the first regional brass bands, the Alsdorf Band, which according to the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, made their debut on the Courthouse steps of Newburgh in 1849.
Alsdorf also began his own orchestra which played in prominent vacation spots like Lake George and Saratoga Springs and locally for dance classes, which gave him the opportunity to learn dance instruction. This set the stage for him to open the Alsdorf Dance Academy, whose first location was in Newburgh’s own United States Hotel. The school was soon teaching dance to the people of Newburgh and Orange County alike and this history of dance education continued as his three sons followed in his footsteps. Charles, Simon and Ulysses Alsdorf taught at the Dance Academy at 93 Liberty Street in Newburgh, which featured a grand ballroom and rooftop garden for public performances. The first soiree at the Alsdorf Academy took place in 1849, but the Dubois family continued this tradition for nearly a century, teaching Newburghers dance and music for generations.
The Heavy Pets
The Heavy Pets are considered a Florida-based band through and through, but their roots run deep in Orange County. Guitarists Jeff Lloyd and Mike Garulli as well as Bassist Joe Dupell became friends while going to high school in Goshen, NY and formed a band named Anthem before starting the first iteration of The Heavy Pets. College sadly got in the way of music, but once that was done, Dupell invited Lloyd down to visit him in Florida. Shortly after his arrival, Garulli came down as well, setting the stage for The Heavy Pets to reform.
Their first show in South Florida occurred in 2005 and the next few years were nothing short of exceptional for the band. In a 2006 contest to select a local band to play the Langerado Music Festival in Florida, The Heavy Pets beat out 350 other bands and were on the same lineup as The Flaming Lips, The Disco Biscuits and Robert Randolph. Two months later they were selected as the “Unsigned Band of the Week” by High Times Magazine. The following year, they put out their first album, Whale, and have released seven additional albums since then.
While the band’s lineup has changed slightly over the years, their love for playing live shows and especially music festivals has not. The Heavy Pets have played more than a dozen different festivals and over 1,000 live shows since 2005 and have even held their own fest, Pet Zoo, three times in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Corey Glover
Corey Glover, best known for his work with Living Colour and also for touring with Galactic wasn’t born in Orange County, but he re-located there in the last decade. While you may recognize his face from the movie Platoon, Glover’s voice is known the world over from Living Colour’s hit 1988 song “Cult of Personality.” Glover has also been in such bands as SKAndalous All-Stars and Vice and has even toured as a vocalist with the “A Bowie Celebration” Alumni Tour.
During the beginning of the last decade, Glover started playing with a number of jam bands. He sang with Robert Randolph as well as Soulive for a number of shows and also toured as a vocalist with Galactic from 2011-2014 after seeing them at Irving Plaza in NYC and joining them on stage at that show. He is still touring with Living Colour and most recently started two new bands. He started Ultraphonix with Dokken guitarist George Lynch and a metal project called Disciples of Verity with former members from Negative Sky and God Forbid.
So there you have it. Orange County has, without a doubt, a rich heritage of musicians and venues and an impressive amount of history surrounding it. From rock to hip-hop, the Hudson River to the Delaware River and the Philadelphia Cream Cheese company to the country’s first rocket-propelled airmail test. The contributions from the residents in this county can’t be glossed over and it’ll be a standard that you’ll find throughout our series on the Counties within New York State. Next up, CortlandCounty!
The first Saturday Night Live of Spring featured the return of longtime cast member Maya Rudolph as host. She was joined by Kentucky rapper and songwriter Jack Harlow, who earned a GRAMMY nomination for “WHATS POPPIN’ in 2020 and recently released That’s What They All Say.
Harlow first appeared in the Digital Short “NFTs,” a take on Eminem’s “Without Me,” complete with Pete Davidson in a Robin costume similar to that of Eminem in the original video.
Midway through the show, cast member Bowen Yang stopped by the Weekend Update desk to talk about the recent spike in violence towards Asian-Americans and how you can help.
Harlow’s first performance featured a medley of “Tyler Herro” and “WHATS POPPIN.” Herro, a friend of Harlow’s and Miami Heat guard is mentioned in the first verse of the song: “My homeboy Tyler he play in South Beach / He told me this summer he gon’ fix my jumper.”
Giving a nod to the early influence of Saturday Night Live, Harlow said on Twitter, “I grew up watching SNL with my family every weekend. I vividly remember seeing Kanye perform Love Lockdown and Heartless in 2008. Thank you for making this happen. Another dream come true.”
https://youtu.be/tkSvFzC7GGo
For his second performance, Jack Harlow welcomed surprise guest, Maroon 5‘s Adam Levine, to duet on “Same Guy.” Levine is featured on the studio version of the track, an album that also features appearances by Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, and Static Major.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doi4H-BNkxQ
Harlow also recently donated $500,000 to two HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) – Kentucky State University in Frankfort and Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville – after winning Bleacher Report’s Open Run 2-on-2 basketball competition earlier this month.
SNL returns next week with host Daniel Kaluuya and musical guest St. Vincent.
Fans of legendary hip hop duo, Black Star, received a major boost when Talib Kweli shared promising news regarding the duo’s long-awaited album. Announced in 2018 by Yasiin Bey during a Madlib DJ set, the much-anticipated project has gone from its infancy stages, to being recorded, mixed and possibly completed in the matter of a couple of years.
Yet, in that same time frame, Kweli — who holds more of a social media presence — has shared periodic updates on the album’s progress. In fact, just this past summer, Kweli announced that he had “washed his hands” of the whole thing, in social media posts in which he shared frustrations on the project’s delay.
Fortunes seem to have turned around as Kweli’s latest Instagram post suggests the duo are in the latter stages of the album’s completion and eventual release. In a picture with group-mate Yasiin Bey, the caption reads “#sampleclearance #blackstarforever.”
While fans have been made to wait, the album’s existence has been confirmed as comedian Dave Chapelle, a personal friend of the duo shared his thoughts on the project, claiming that “it’s fire.”
While Kweli and Bey have solidified themselves as legends in the hip hop realm and beyond, they have only released one album as a duo, 1998’s Most Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star.” With the speculation of an impending release, fans of the duo are surely tantalized by the thought of a new Black Star project.
Each Sunday evening from 7-9pm you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up and coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Under the Den, Jade Relics, and many more!
WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.
This week’s EQXposure starts with a four-song feature from Under the Den, a group that hopes to capture the positive essence and momentum of the progress which has become symbolic of the Upstate NY area.
Under The Den formed in the autumn of 2017 as a collaborative effort in Upstate New York of four people trying to make good music. Madison Lewis, the group’s lead vocalist from Orange County, CA, pours her soul into live performances, understanding the need for connection and reciprocation with an audience large or small. Benjamin “Ideas” Zoleski, a music major from Berklee, brings a great range to the guitar following a recent outing as the Musical Director for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “School of Rock” (2018-2019) theatre production, as well as the guitarist for the European hologram tour of Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison (2019). The rhythm section is comprised of identical twin brothers John Nowak (on bass) and drummer Jason “J NO” Nowak. Both have a long musical history in the 518 and abroad, with bands on indie and major labels.
They are performing on March 27 at Albany’s oldest bar, Pauly’s Hotel. The show is supported by Kid Vicious with live sound by Lyons Den Productions. Doors open at 7pm and shows start at 8pm.
Jade Relics from Vermont is a trio of IamE, Rico James, and Elder Orange. The music floats along a hip hop feel with emo heartfelt singing, excellent production and instrumentation creating a head bobbing yet smart piece of music.
Jade Relics recently released “Start Over” a massive sounding intoxicating grooed out jam about pushing the rest button or at least being forced to do so.
After preparing a massive arsenal of puns in preparation for a ten year tour of stand-up punning in pun-friendly venues worldwide, Troy, NY’s DayBloom packed a van and set out, only to get a flat tire in the driveway. Plans dashed and bored, they started playing music.
‘Till the Sky” is a deep roots style track with enriching harmony and clever twists and turns. The acoustic instrumentation which implies a laid back sense does not cover up the rumbling intensity and dark turns of this rather well put together piece of music.
Upstate New York join forces in the latest single by burgeoning rapper, Baddnews. The Syracuse native has recruited Griselda and Buffalo’s own, Benny The Butcher for this catchy, up-tempo record about pushing through the treacheries of the street life, in pursuit of more prosperous times.
After all, adversity is nothing new to the rising rap star, after facing a barrage of drug trafficking charges, the former Rhythm + Flow contestant has made a triumphant return to music with this latest release. His recruit? One of the faces of the Upstate New York rap scene responsible for bringing the city of Buffalo to prominence, along with his fellow Griselda cohorts.
The duo shares similar backgrounds, growing up in rough, urban neighborhoods, mired in violence and drug use. Their attempts at financial prosperity landed them in trouble with the law, before deciding to hone their craft and use that as their golden ticket out. With Baddnews gaining traction as an artist, he can always look to his counterpart and know that there is a future beyond the streets.
Our visions weren’t equally aligned, to chase my dreams I had to leave the streets behind.
Baddnews
Baddnews
Known for his detailed recounts of his time in the streets, Benny The Butcher is the perfect opposite to Baddnews on this record. While the song sees the latter look towards a more promising future, the former spends his verse poignantly recounting the roads traveled that made him a successful rapper.
Drop elbows like Randy Savage to count up Andrew Jackson’s.
Benny The Butcher
Benny the Butcher
“This record with Benny holds a different level of importance, because not only is he one of the hardest lyricists in the game right now, but he’s also from upstate NY just like me” Baddnews commented. “This is just the beginning and I can’t wait to show the world what else I have in store this year.”
The lives and times of the Wu Tang Clan has been chronicled heavily (deservedly so) throughout their existence. Beginning with their own personal accounts in their music, to feature interviews, documentaries, tv series and now, an exclusive Wu Tang Clan photobook will share rare and never seen before images of the rap phenoms. With photography from the likes of; Danny Hastings, PROTIM PHOTO, Kyle Christie and Andy Cantillon, as well as friends and family of the Clan.
Titled Wu Tang Clan: LEGACY, this large format photography book features more than 300 pages of images and comes encased in a 400-pound sculpted chamber.
“From conception to the present day, this is the story of the undisputed greatest hip-hop group of all time being unveiled through rare and never before seen photos,” said John “Mook” Gibbons, CEO of Wu-Tang Clan Management, in an official statement.
According to the book’s official website, only 36 editions will be made available for purchase, and each comes signed, dated and numbered and with a certificate of authenticity.
Each book will be printed and bound in Italian leather and will come encased in a bronze-encrusted black steel chamber individually designed by sculptor Gethin Jones. The design was inspired by the bronze ritual bowls from the Zhou Dynasty, an ancient period considered the pinnacle of Chinese bronzeware crafting, and its first ruler was King Wu-Wang. This comes as no surprise as the Clan’s music — specifically RZA’s production – was heavily influenced by Asian martial arts, beliefs and overall culture. Even the 36 copies being produced serves as an ode to their first album tittle (36 Chambers) and the numerological significance of there being 36 chambers in a Shaolin Temple.
For more information on how to purchase and own what is sure to be a rare collector’s item, click here.
Each year, February 1st marks the beginning of Black History Month in the U.S., a time to celebrate African-American heritage and the legacy of extraordinary contributions that they have made to the fabric of our nation. On Wednesday, February 24 at 7pm, Albany’s Palace Theatre will host their annual Black History Month celebration.
Typically, the Palace would be gearing up to host events like the annual Step Show, and educational performances that highlight some of the remarkable African-Americans in our history. While COVID-19 won’t allow us the Albany venue to host these events in person this year, that doesn’t stop the Palace from shining a spotlight on some of the incredibly talented people in our own community.
Wednesday, February 24 will be feature a free virtual evening of art, music, dance and spoken word by some of the most talented Black artists in the Capital Region.
The event is hosted by Diana Perry & Rev William Lynn Hamilton and some of the performers joining The Palace include Move 2B Moved (Drum & Dance team), Poetyc Visionz (Spoken Word / Poetry), Restoration Voices, Tone Setters (Step Team), Barbara Howard, Hayes M. Fields II & Azzaam Hameed, Christian Mark Gibbs and others.
Tune in below on the Palace Theatre’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, February 24 at 7pm.
