Kentö, NY-based multilingual singer, songwriter and producer,has released his new single “Silhouette.” Kentö has been creating his own music for the past 8 years, developing songs that tell stories about his own life experiences.
Born in Northern Maine to a half Japanese/half French Dad and a Brazilian/French Canadian Mom, Kentö’s upbringing and travel have shaped him into the artist he is today. While living between Maine, Brazil and Canada, Kentö predominantly spent his childhood and teenage years in Japan, where he learned about music from all over the world at a young age.
After working on a punk/pop project for four years in Japan, Kentö realized he wanted to branch out and discover a more timeless sound that felt more authentic to him, rather than what managers and labels decided on his behalf. In 2012 Kentö decided to take a chance, move to LA, call his own shots and start diving into a more diverse range of music. While doing so, he met artist/producer Frankmusik, and recorded/released his debut EP Complicated. From thereKentö was born, and his electro-edged pop music started grabbing the attention of media.
I am LGBTQI+ and I’m on the autism spectrum, and I think these are all my superpowers. I think pop music tends to have trends that all sound like one thing, and then someone comes along and shakes things up with a timeless sound. That’s the kind of music I want to make. I have overcome a lot in my life, my parents passed when I was young, I’ve battled Cancer, and navigating the world not only as an LGBTQI+ person, but also one on the spectrum has really given me a lot of perspective on the world, life, and music. The amount of joy I feel being able to even be writing this right now that I have is immense. I’m so proud of myself, and I want to just share my music and positivity to the world.
-Kentö
In 2019 Kentö was selected to join Them[Condé Nast], as one of the first of 30 LGBTQI+ ambassadors for the launch of their new publication and initiative. Being a strong voice for others to receive inspiration from has always been a shining light throughout any project he takes on.
Today, talented singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT+ activist, and pioneer in music Cynthia (Cyndi) Ann Stephanie Lauper celebrates her 69th birthday. From her residence in New York’s Upper West Side to childhood in Ozone Park, Cyndi Lauper is a true New Yorker through and through.
The perpetually campy orange haired princess of pop like her image in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“, Lauper is underrated as a master across genres. With one of the greatest rock voices of her generation, she described her struggle even to emerge as the pop artist she was labeled as.
Cyndi Lauper in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/ credit: MEDIAPUNCH
Despite misogynistic barriers that initially barred her from entry into the industry, Lauper’s album She’s So Unusual was the first debut album by a female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Top 100s, earning her a Best New Artist Grammy award in 1985.
Iconoclast who revolutionized the role of women in rock and roll
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Lauper’s discography spans across genres, movie soundtracks like The Goonies, and even Broadway numbers like Kinky Boots, earning her Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and American Music Awards. She’s one of the few singers to have earned 3 out of the 4 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Throughout her entire career, Lauper has consistently taken on serious topics including racism, homophobia, spousal abuse and AIDS. Her sincere advocacy for gay and transgender rights even earned her an invitation as a special guest to attend President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration. As the co-founder of True Colorshttp://Nysmusic.com/tag/LGBTQ United, Lauper sought to eliminate youth homelessness among LGBTQ+ young people and even uses her iconic song True Colors to raise awareness for issues among the gay community. A true humanitarian, she was even presented the High Note Global Prize in 2019 by United Nations Human Rights.
As we all wish Cyndi Lauper a happy birthday, let us not forget all her contributions to the music industry and human rights alike!
The long-awaited autobiography from heavy metal music icon Ronnie James Dio, the powerhouse voice of Elf, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and his long-time bespoke band DIO, will be published on July 27. Co-written with British music journalist Mick Wall and Dio’s widow and longtime manager Wendy Dio, Rainbow in the Dark: The Autobiography is officially available for pre-order.
Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio had begun writing the manuscript several years before being diagnosed with cancer. Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and raised in an Italian-American family in the upstate New York town of Cortland, his journey to international fame was hardly pre-ordained. He first began playing trumpet and then guitar and bass in local bands at parties, bars, and clubs while still in high school. It also tells the tales of him surviving life-changing setbacks. Among them the loss of his bandmate and best friend in a car accident that put his own life in jeopardy. These events only made him more focused and determined to succeed. He documents how he evolved from sideman into singer and frontman to not one, but three, internationally-renowned multi-platinum-selling bands.
The autobiography is illustrated throughout with photographs, largely never-before-seen, derived from family photo albums and personal archives, plus an eight-page color insert devoted to additional rare photographs from Ronnie’s life and career.
To celebrate the publication of the book, Wendy Dio will participate in an hour-long LiveSigning.com event on Wednesday, July 28 beginning at 3:00 PM (Eastern time). Those who have pre-ordered the book will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance for Wendy to answer during the event, which will stream live via the Ronnie James Dio Facebook page.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances has more than 20 upcoming events this summer. All performances are free and beginning June 25, first-come, first-served seating, and advance ticket registration will no longer be required.
Entry is now open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis for all audience members who present either digital or physical proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or an immediately recent negative COVID-19 test, along with government issued photo ID.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances Schedule (All Shows Start at 7 pm, Doors at 5:30)
New York City Opera’s annual LGBTQ Pride concert will feature a diverse program of selections from opera and musical theater sung by a quartet of stars from City Opera’s Pride Series. We will close this performance with a special new arrangement of the finale from Stonewall, Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s opera which was commissioned by NYCO and given its world premiere in 2019.
Presented by professional performers and teaching artists of New York Chinese Cultural Center, this program is designed to engage a wide range of audiences for a taste of authentic Chinese culture and art. Signature performances include Dance China NY, Chinese Yo-Yo from artist Graham Lo, Kung Fu master David Fung, a demonstration of an array of Chinese instruments including the Erhu, Guzheng, and Dizi, plus colorful costumed classical and folk dance from different regions in China.
Mykal Kilgore’s artistry cuts through traditional barriers and represents the hope of gospel, the soul of R&B, and the vulnerability of country. His debut release, A Man Born Black, which earned him an NAACP Image Awards nomination for Outstanding New Artist, is an exploration of faith, loss, the stumble and spills on the way to maturity, and the beauty of hope and love. His multi-octave ability is powerful and elegant – and stretches across music genres, while his lyrics color the outlines of each of our personal experiences.
The innkeeper Lillas Pastia narrates the tempestuous story of the irresistible seductress Carmen and her hapless lover Don José in this fully staged, hour-long adaptation of Bizet’s opera, providing a perfect introduction to opera for newcomers of any age. This will also be City Opera’s first fully staged, hour-long adaptation performed this year. The performance features music direction and piano from Kathryn Olander, stage and choreography from Sarah Doudna, and a cast including Lisa Chavez (Carmen), Jason Karn (Don José), Joshua Jeremiah (Escamillo), Kristin Sampson (Micaëla), Stacy Dove (Frasquita), Kristee Haney (Mercédès), and Bill Van Horn (Lillas Pastia).
Described by Vibe as “one helluva rock’n’roller-coaster ride” and by PopMatters as “a treasure waiting to be found,” Toshi Reagon is a one-woman celebration of all that’s dynamic, progressive and uplifting in American music. Since first taking to the stage at age seventeen, this versatile singer-songwriter-guitarist has moved audiences of all kinds with her big-hearted, hold-nothing-back approach to rock, blues, R&B, country, folk, spirituals and funk. The New York Times described her blend as “… a love of mixing things up … [her] vocal style ranges from a dirty blues moan to a gospel shout to an ethereal croon.” Her live performances, in particular, aren’t just accessible; they’re irresistible.
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the three-time Grammy-winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band, sets the gold standard for excellence in authentic, New York style, hard core salsa. Whether in a concert hall or at an outdoor jazz festival, there is no easing you in, they come at you full force, from start to finish. Their energy on stage and their rich sound and musical precision leave audiences mesmerized until the last note is played. With an unwavering respect for the music’s storied history, the ensemble’s thirteen world-class musicians and vocalists come together to create an unparalleled musical experience. Their latest release and 6th album, Anniversary, won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Album.
The Knights are a collective of adventurous musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audiences and music. Driven by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and exploration, they inspire listeners with vibrant programs that encompass their roots in the classical tradition and passion for artistic discovery. The orchestra has toured and recorded with renowned soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, and Gil Shaham, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Vienna Musikverein.
Adrienne Warren made her West End debut in the World Premiere of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical in the title role of Tina Turner (Olivier, Evening Standard & WhatsOnStage Award Nominations). She was last seen on Broadway in Shuffle Along as Gertrude Saunders / Florence Mills, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She originated the role of Danielle in the Tony-nominated Bring It On: The Musical on Broadway. She was also seen at the Apollo Theater as Lorrell in Dreamgirls, followed by the national tour. She has toured and recorded with the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and is currently working on her solo debut album. Hosted by Broadway vet Mauricio Martinez.
Saturday, July 31: Greenwich House Music School – Riley Mulherkar and Ella Bric
Carnegie Hall Citywide: Terence Blanchard & the ECollective with Turtle Island Quartet
Since top-tier jazz and multiple Grammy-winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard embarked on his solo recording career with his eponymous Columbia Records album in 1991, the New Orleans-born-and-based artist has traveled many paths musically, including delivering adventurous and provocative acoustic jazz outings of original material, composing over 50 soundtracks and even, in 2013, debuting Champion: An Opera in Jazz. He has also, in the spirit of his one-time membership in the jazz school of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, mentored several musicians in his bands who have gone on to have significant recording careers of their own including Lionel Loueke, Aaron Parks, Kendrick Scott and one of his current band members Fabian Almazan). As a leader and co-leader, Blanchard has recorded more than 30 albums that often defied genres, yet were still critically acclaimed. For his latest Blue Note Records album, Breathless, Blanchard powerfully and playfully journeys into another jazz realm with his new quintet, The ECollective – an exciting zone of grooved fusion teeming with funk, R&B and blues colors.
Aug 12: Harlem Stage – Craig Harris’s Nocturnal Nubian Ball…: A Tribute to Sun Ra
Aug 13: Jazz at Lincoln Center – Dizzy’s Club: Young Stars of Jazz
Aug 14: Jazz at Lincoln Center – Dizzy’s Club: Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quintet
Aug 16: Limón Dance Company and Music from the Sole
Aug 20: Paul Taylor Dance Company and Elisa Monte Dance
Aug 21: New York City Opera – Now That’s What I Call Opera!
Aug 27: Save the Date – Dance Performance TBA
Sept 3: New York City Opera – Rigoletto
Sept 10: Classical Theatre of Harlem
Sept 17: National Sawdust – Allison Loggins-Hull premieres Diametrically Composed
Sept 20: The Town Hall – Centennial Concert featuring Chris Thile and special guests
In line with city and state safety protocols, Bryant Park Picnic Performances will host approximately 2,000 vaccinated or negative-tested audience members live at each of our performances. Attendance requirements for all audience members include a government issued photo ID and on-site proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Food and beverage is available for purchase from vendors in the park before taking a seat on the lawn. All event attendees are invited to bring food and drink. There are two sections for seating: vaccinated and tested.
Vaccinated audience members will be offered open seating on the world-famous Bryant Park Lawn with ample space to distance from others at their own discretion. it is highly encouraged attendees wear masks during the check-in process. Masks may be removed at their own discretion once within the fully vaccinated areas of the lawn. Attendees can bring a blanket or use a park chair; no outside chairs allowed.
For tested seating, attendees presenting a negative COVID-19 test will be seated in a separate, socially distanced section (six feet from other parties at all times) with masks required. No outside blankets or chairs allowed.
For the most current guidelines, program updates, additional venue details, safety requirements, information, and restrictions, visit bryantpark.org/picnics.
Purely Technique Dance will be having its 8th annual dance concert and fundraiser. The theme they have selected for this year, “Heroes in Humanism,” will explore all of the avenues related to ‘real-life heroes’ who dedicate their lives and time to the betterment of humankind. The performance will take place on Thursday, June 24th at 7:00 pm at the Robert Eckert Theater at EPAC in Endicott, NY.
The evening will be celebrating movement, human emotion, and healing. Purely Technique Dance OUR Company is under the artistic direction of Erin Saddlemire. Saddlemire utilizes the thoughts, feelings, and actions of her dancers through improvisational structures and storytelling. Their ideas are an integral part of OUR Company’s creative process.
The performances will showcase the art of dance in a theatrical venue. OUR Company will use dance to celebrate love and will explore concepts, ideas, and feelings that cause us to contemplate and perhaps evolve.
“Heroes in Humanism” also features the hard work of Purely Technique dance classes and solo students who all have a tremendous passion for the art of dance. The show will also have guest performances by Dynamic Dance Movement.
For the past 8 years, it has been a tradition to hold the annual dance concert as a fundraiser. Each year an art club or organization within the Greater Binghamton community is chosen as a beneficiary group. This year Endicott Performing Arts Center was chosen as the recipient and as the host for this year’s performance.
Reserved Seating Tickets are now on sale. Tickets will also be available at the door and are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, and children 5 and under are admitted for free. For ticket purchase contact Erin Saddlemire at purelytechniquedance@gmail.com or call 607.245.6366. Erin Saddlemire can also be contacted through Purely Technique’s website at purelytechniquedance.org
Grammy-winning guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela are back on the road starting on September 1, their first US shows in over two years.
Their plans to tour their 2019 studio album METTAVOLUTION were cut-short early by the pandemic. The “By Request Tour” will be a completely new and exciting experience for both fans and the band.
To make this tour extra special, Rodrigo y Gabriela have elected to hand over setlist selection to their fans.
On the Mettavolution tour in 2019, we played the whole of that album. Here we are, two years later, and we have decided to let the fans choose what songs they want to hear from us on the ‘By Request’ tour.
Rodrigo Sánchez
A long ballot of songs are now posted on rodgab.com and Rod y Gab’s social media platforms, covering their unique repertoire of over 20 years of fiery acoustic rock together. Fans are invited to select the songs they want to hear played live.
The “By Request” tour starts in Boulder, CO on September 1, runs through to October 16 in Minneapolis, MN and will make a stop in NYC at Pier 17 on October 10. More information and ticket links are available on their website.
Check out the full tour schedule below:
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA TOUR 2021 SEPTEMBER
1 – Boulder, CO – Chautauqua Auditorium *
3 – Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater *
4 – Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Center *
8 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield *
10 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theater *
11 – Napa, CA – Oxbow Riverstage Concert Series *
12 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay *
14 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theater *
15 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues *
26 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at Moody Theater
28 – San Antonio, TX – Tobin Center for Performing Arts **
OCTOBER
1 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater
2 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall **
3 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre **
5 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte **
6 – Washington, DC – Anthem
8 – Hershey, PA – Harrisburg University at Hershey Theatre **
Today, June 21, marks the 37th birthday of Grammy-nominated singer Lana Del Rey.
While she may often sing about the beaches of California and of stories inspired by Old Hollywood, Del Rey has many connections to the Empire State.
Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images
Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant in Manhattan in 1985, Del Rey moved to Lake Placid at an early age where she remained until high school. After her graduation from boarding school in Connecticut, a young Lizzy Grant lived on Long Island for a year where she waitressed and began writing music after her uncle taught her basic guitar chords.
Before the official birth of Lana Del Rey, Grant enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx, graduating in 2008. During her college years, Grant recorded several EPs under the various aliases of May Jailer, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen and Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena and played small club shows around Brooklyn.
In advance of her first full album, Grant settled on the stage name of Lana Del Rey. “Lana” came from film starlet Lana Turner while “Del Rey” drew inspiration from a vintage Ford sedan and her general fondness of the Spanish language (translating to “of the king”).
“Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue.”
Lana Del Rey
Born To Die was released in 2012 and shot Del Rey to national stardom. She subsequently released the Paradise EP which featured even more Americana-driven tracks and songwriting discussing glamour, drugs, life on the road, fame and relationships. Her voice can travel from breathy falsetto to deep and rich, all in one verse.
Next came Ultraviolence (2014), a darker, edgier and more rock-driven featuring psychedelic flares and collaboration with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Del Rey’s fourth studio album, Honeymoon (2015), reverted back to the orchestral, baroque pop sound of Born To Die and Paradise with a more polished finesse.
Del Rey’s most recent projects, Lust For Life (2017), Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) and Chemtrails Over The Country Club (2021), cement her status as one of the strongest modern songwriters. Now a resident of California, the ’60s and ’70s Laurel Canyon folk-rock influences are obvious in Del Rey’s music, which often feels incredibly nostalgic.
Lust For Life featured collaborations with The Weeknd (above), A$AP Rocky and more. Photo accessed from factmag.com
Norman Fucking Rockwell! arguably stands out as Del Rey’s magnum opus. The album received multiple Grammy nominations, including one for Album of the Year, and featured her most seamless collaboration yet with acclaimed pop producer Jack Antonoff.
Del Rey plans to release her newest album, Blue Banisters, on July 4. While she may now be on the “West Coast,” we will never forget her New York roots. Happy birthday, Lana Del Rey!
As his quarantine beard grew, his anxieties and frustrations with stagnation also grew and Chad Galactic racked his brain to come up with ideas to raise funds for out-of-work artists. Feeling inspired, he started by designing stickers with artist and friend “PickleKing,” which created a stream of income for those in need.
Galactic kept the ball rolling and was motivated to assemble an all-star band that recorded a cover of the song “Shake Your Rump” by the Beastie Boys. Joining him from The Mother Hips, guitarist Greg Loiacono and bassist Brian Rashap, Tea Leaf Green drummer Scotty Rager, and Jack Johnson/ALO keyboardist Zach Gill. Even Beastie Boys’ own DJ/Producer DJ Hurricane participated on the track. And in true Galactic style, Chad took on all three of the Boys’ vocal parts.
To accompany the track, Galactic also created a YAUCH Love Merch Store where half of the proceeds are being donated to the Tibetan Monks that Adam “MCA” Yauch loved so dearly. Yauch’s life accomplishments have been so influential on Galactic that he felt very deeply to find a way to honor him.
Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca was established in 1992 as the North American seat of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamsala, India. Between 1992 and 2014 the monastery was housed in an old Victorian era house in downtown Ithaca, NY and today has since moved to a larger complex on 28 acres of land, three miles south of Ithaca. The monastery offers retreated, weekend intensives on a variety of subjects in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as evening classes in the fall and spring.
An upcoming live stream by The FoodRap Duo features Chad Galactic & Reed Mathis on Wednesday, June 23 at 6:23 PM PT on Facebook Live.
In an industry filled with chicanery, few have been as authentic as the late Prodigy. Born, Albert Johnson, the diminutive emcee experienced enough for several lifetimes, always staying true to himself, or in his own words, “keeping it thoro.”
As a rapper, Prodigy was known for his opening bars that would set the tone. Encapsulating an entire record with his first couple of lines. In that sense, his upbringing served a similar purpose, setting the tone for what became an oft-dangerous career and an even more lawless life.
Hailing from Hempstead, New York in Long Island, Prodigy’s musical feel had been cultivated from an early age. His grandfather, Budd Johnson, was a saxophonist who worked extensively with the likes of; Dizzy Gillepsie, Quincy Jones and Duke Ellington. His grand-uncle, Keg Johnson, was a trombonist who played with Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway.
The musical lineage carried on with his parents as his mother, Frances Johnson, was an original member of pioneering 1960’s girl group, The Crystals. And his father, Budd Johnson Jr., was a member of a doo-wop music group called, The Chanters.
Additionally, Prodigy’s paternal grandmother, Bernice Johnson, operated a successful dance school in her Jamaica, Queens backyard, where he spent a bulk of his childhood. A young Prodigy was honed in musical arts at an early age and was hardened by a diagnosis of sickle cell anemia, a chronic blood disease found primarily in people of African descent, which often resulted in long hospital stints.
In a Vibe Magazine interview preceding the release of his solo debut, H.N.I.C., prodigy shared a glimpse of his battle with the fatal disease:
The sickle-cell got me where doctors said I couldn’t play sports, I couldn’t overexert myself…I been going to the hospital since I was born, about 10 times a year, for about a week or two each time. I don’t know, man, some psychological sh*t goes down. I be all doped up for weeks. Morphine, Demerol—a whole bunch of drugs.
Despite a cultured upbringing, Prodigy’s condition and his nuclear family’s real life struggles kept him conscious of the harsh realities of the outside world.
My pops did a lot of stupid sh*t, man,” Prodigy revealed. “One time the n***a took me to rob a jewelry store. I was like, 5. He didn’t give a f**k, though. He was like, ‘This is my son. He can see everything I do.’ I love him for that. Even though it might not be right, so what? That was my pops!
Even though his roots were in Hempstead and Lefrak City, Queensbridge became part of Prodigy’s identity. That’s where most of his friends were from (including Havoc, the other half of Mobb Deep) and where he spent much of his time.
Prodigy (left) Havoc (right)
As he became invested in the street life, the determination to make it as a rapper grew tenfold. A 16-year-old Prodigy tasted minor success with an uncredited guest-verse on the Hi-Five record “Too Young,” which was featured on the Boyz’ N The Hood soundtrack.
From there, the Mobb Deep story reads like a feature presentation. From waiting outside of the Def Jam records offices in hopes that someone would listen to their demo — where Havoc not only brought a gun but managed to shoot someone — to world tours, platinum selling albums (and flops), Prodigy remained “thoro” in every sense of the made-up word.
In many ways, his life in the streets shaped the way he acted, talked and what he rapped about.
Everybody sold drugs. It made me stop caring about school and start caring about how I looked. I started acting up even more after school to prove to my friends in the hood that I was still cool. I was a crazy little kid. I blame sickle- cell and my father.
When he was embroiled in a rap beef with Jay – Z, he didn’t spend much-time trading diss records, instead he and his crew ran up on Jay – Z, according to his autobiography, My Infamous Life:
I walked over to my people. ‘Where’s Jay-Z?’ I asked, surveying the shadows of Justin’s. ‘I don’t see him.’ So we lined the front door of Justin’s on both sides. We weren’t going to let Jay-Z leave without dealing with us first. ‘P, we’re gonna beat the lips off Jay’s face [as] soon as we see him,’ Godfather, Nitty, and Nitty’s cousin Kiko all assured me. Kiko had a gun and he wanted to shoot Jay.
‘No! It’s not that serious,’ I said. ‘We’re just gonna beat him up. Don’t pull that gun out.’ Through the crowd, I saw Jay and Jermaine walking with three bodyguards towards us. Jermaine Dupri was aware of my beef with him and was visibly shook, started speed walking with his bodyguard when he saw me. He quickly hightailed it out the door. Jay-Z spotted us lined up against the door waiting for him. Then from about two yards away, he extended his hand to shake mine.
‘It ain’t no beef,’ Jay said. ‘It’s just music, man. No drama.’
Prodigy is cut from the cloth of “if you said it then you lived it.” That’s why he admittedly was not embarrassed when Jay put up a picture of a 12-year-old Prodigy dressed in a Michael Jackson getup on the titantron, during his Summer Jam set in 2001, in an attempt to humiliate him.
In his mind, Michael Jackson was the biggest act in the world at the time and everyone was a fan of him, there was no shame in that (he also rumors that Ashanti, who was a student at his grandmother’s dance studio where the picture hung, is the one who delivered the image to his adversaries). In an ironic twist, Jay – Z was applauded for being able to get Michael Jackson to make an appearance at the very same edition SummerJam! Further proving Prodigy’s point, but the industry doesn’t view the world like he does.
The best way to summarize Prodigy’s makeup as a man, is to look at the reason behind his three-year prison sentence. After getting pulled over for an illegal U-turn, police searched his SUV, found a gun and took him in for investigation. Except, these cops didn’t care about the gun. They were the “hip hop police” and were more interested in his relationship with 50 Cent, to whom Prodigy and Havoc were signed to at the time. They tried making a deal with him that would keep him from serving any time, but Prodigy provided no information. They became desperate and one of the officers asked, “Between us, maybe you can drop a gun in a 50’s car and help us get him.”
In October, 2007, he was convicted for possession of an illegal firearm, halting his career and all business dealings he had in the works.
Of course not all bad things are for naught. It was during this time that Prodigy penned his autobiography and gained considerable knowledge of self and began to transform himself into more of a spiritual being, believing in the presence of abstract entities. How else could he have made it this far?
The H.N.I.C. didn’t live much longer as he passed away on June, 20 2017, due to complications of his sickle cell anemia. Fans of his can find comfort in knowing that Prodigy was one of if not the realest rapper and that he wasn’t all industry like his more commercially successful counterparts.
When hip hop went full glitz and glamour during the “shiny suit era,” of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Prodigy doubled down and recorded his solo debut. He put out even more gutter street music, filled with violence and more vivid tales of guns, drugs and murders, because that’s what was really happening. His appeal to a major-label subsequently plateaued and Prodigy spent much of his later years releasing music through independent labels.
Ultimately, he would be proud to know that his life was captured in the opening line from one of his most memorable records. Because he really did “break bread, ribs and hundred dollar bills.”
Tupac, Ja Rule—a whole bunch of people talk about pain. “And Tupac, he even said some sh*t about my sickle-cell [on his song ‘Hit ‘Em Up’], so that inspired me to make a real song to show n***as what pain is.
Bryant Park honors one facet of the rich cultural tapestry of NYC’s AAPI community with a program of traditional Chinese music, acrobatics, dance, and martial arts from New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC).
Bryant Park Picnic Performances’ season of free, live performances continues on Friday, June 25 with an evening of exciting multi-genre artistic programming courtesy of the NYCCC. Founded in 1974, NYCCC, a nonprofit cultural and educational institution, is dedicated to deepening the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture through the arts in the global and local communities. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the show starts at 7 pm.
Entry to this event is now open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis for all audience members who present either digital or physical proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or an immediately recent negative COVID-19 test, along with government issued photo ID.
NYCCC’s Executive Director Ying Yen says, “New York Chinese Cultural Center is excited to be a part of the Bryant Park Picnic Performances along with other amazing performing groups. It’s wonderful to see New York City’s diverse arts community come together to share our love of the arts and bring moments of joy to the heart of Manhattan in Bryant Park.”
This program is designed to engage a wide range of audiences for a taste of authentic Chinese culture and art. Signature performances include Dance China NY, Chinese Yo-Yo from artist Graham Lo, Kung Fu master David Fung, a demonstration of an array of Chinese instruments including the Erhu, Guzheng, and Dizi, plus colorful costumed classical and folk dance from different regions in China.
In line with city and state safety protocols, Bryant Park will host approximately 2,000 vaccinated or negative-tested audience members live at each of our performances. Requirements for all audience members include a government issued photo ID and on-site proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Food and beverage is available for purchase from vendors in the park before taking a seat on the lawn. All event attendees are invited to bring food and drink. There are two sections for seating: vaccinated and tested.
Vaccinated audience members will be offered open seating on the world-famous Bryant Park Lawn with ample space to distance from others at their own discretion. It is highly encouraged attendees wear masks during the check-in process. Masks may be removed at their own discretion once within the fully vaccinated areas of the lawn. Attendees can bring a blanket or use a park chair; no outside chairs allowed.
For tested seating, attendees presenting a negative COVID-19 test will be seated in a separate, socially distanced section (six feet from other parties at all times) with masks required. No outside blankets or chairs allowed.
For the most current guidelines, program updates, additional venue details, safety requirements, information, and restrictions, visit bryantpark.org/picnics.
Bryant Park Picnic Performances Schedule (All Shows Start at 7 pm)
June 18: New York City Opera – Pride in the Park
June 25: New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC)
June 26: Joe’s Pub – Mykal Kilgore
July 2: New York City Opera – Carmen
July 9: Carnegie Hall Citywide – Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely
July 16: Carnegie Hall Citywide – Spanish Harlem Orchestra
July 23: Carnegie Hall Citywide – The Knights
July 30: Carnegie Hall Citywide – Adrienne Warren and Friends
July 31: Greenwich House Music School – Riley Mulherkar and Ella Bric
Aug 6: Carnegie Hall Citywide – Terence Blanchard & The E-Collective with the Turtle Island Quartet
Aug 12: Harlem Stage – Craig Harris’s Nocturnal Nubian Ball…: A Tribute to Sun Ra
Aug 13: Jazz at Lincoln Center – Dizzy’s Club: Young Stars of Jazz
Aug 14: Jazz at Lincoln Center – Dizzy’s Club: Camille Thurman and the Darrell Green Quintet
Aug 16: Limón Dance Company and Music from the Sole
Aug 20: Paul Taylor Dance Company and Elisa Monte Dance
Aug 21: New York City Opera – Now That’s What I Call Opera!
Aug 27: Save the Date – Dance Performance TBA
Sept 3: New York City Opera – Rigoletto
Sept 10: Classical Theatre of Harlem
Sept 17: National Sawdust – Allison Loggins-Hull premieres Diametrically Composed
Sept 20: The Town Hall – Centennial Concert featuring Chris Thile and special guests
