Category: Queens

“You Will See” from Prodigy Posthumously released

The estate of esteemed rapper, Prodigy, has released his first posthumous single since signing a management deal to bring his solo catalog to streaming platforms. “You Will See” is the first single from Prodigy’s forthcoming posthumous project, The Hegelian Dialectic: The Book of Heroine.
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The R&B laced track sees the “H.N.I.C.” at his story-telling best, as he details the inner-city lifestyle that littered his raps throughout his career. The “Keep It Thoro” MC did just that, sharing tales of his beloved Queensbridge along with the many vices that come with the street lifestyle.

It’s hard to put into words the impact he had on the world — his sound completely changed the game and influenced so many that came after him. His legacy will live on forever through his music and we’re grateful his estate has entrusted ADA to bring his iconic catalog back where it belongs — with his fans.
– ADA president Cat Kreidich

Prodigy passed away in 2017 due to complications from his sickle cell anemia, he was 42-years-old. Listen to “You Will See” below.

June 11, 2022
Prodigy’s Solo Catalog Returns to Streaming, Posthumous Album Announced

Fans of Prodigy will once again be able to enjoy his solo catalog on streaming services, as reported by Billboard. In what was described as “legal disputes between the estate, which is run by the late artist’s family, and former associates of the artist,” his solo work remained off streaming services for the past three years. Only 2007’s Alchemist collab, Return of the Mac, 2008’s Product of the 80s, with Big Twins and Un Pacino, along with the Mobb Deep discography were made available.
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Prodigy’s returning solo catalog includes his classic debut-album H.N.I.C and its two sequels, 2012’s The Bumpy Johnson Album, his 2013 collaboration with The Alchemist, Albert Einstein and 2017’s Hegelian Dialectic (The Book of Revelation). His 2014 release with Boogz Boogetz, Young Rollin Stoned, can also now be streamed.

This is the result of a new management deal Prodigy’s estate signed with The NorthStar Group’s L. Londell McMillan and a distribution deal with Warner Music Group’s ADA. Prodigy’s estate also announced a new album, The Hegelian Dialectic: The Book of Heroine and a new single, “You Will,” out June, 10.

Prodigy is a once-in-a-generation rapper,
-ADA president Cat Kreidich

It’s hard to put into words the impact he had on the world — his sound completely changed the game and influenced so many that came after him. His legacy will live on forever through his music and we’re grateful his estate has entrusted ADA to bring his iconic catalog back where it belongs — with his fans.
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With his partner, Havoc, Prodigy served as one-half of Mobb Deep. After releasing their debut, Juvenile Hell in 1993. A year later, they released their classic second LP, The Infamous, to critical-acclaim.

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. When hip hop went full glitz and glamour during the “shiny suit era,” of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Prodigy would double down and release more raw grimy street music. Plateauing him and his partner Havoc’s commercial-appeal, but remaining true to themselves.

May 20, 2022
Governors Ball 2022 Schedule and Stages Announced

Governors Ball Music Festival 2022 is less than a month away, and festival organizers have announced the stage layout and daily schedule. Initially available in the Gov Ball app for the first 24 hours, fans can now start putting together and sharing their own custom schedules.

The schedule this year does an excellent job of avoiding any major conflicts and the layout of the venue allows fans to move easily between stages. Some notable overlaps include JPEGMAFIA vs. Channel Tres on Friday, YG vs. Diesel or Flume vs. Halsey on Saturday, and Kaytranada vs. J. Cole on Sunday.

Post Malone at Gov Ball 2021. Photo by David Reichmann

Last year’s Governors Ball lineup included massive headliners such as Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, and Post Malone. The festival’s first year at Citi Field was a massive success, despite their departure from the traditional Randall’s Island venue, with over 150,000 people in attendance reported. The more centrally located venue in the heart of Flushing boasts easy access to the subway, bus, and pedestrian throughways giving fans much easier accessibility.

Governors Ball 2022 Schedule

Returning to Citi Field from June 10th to June 12th, 2022, the stacked lineup features headliners Halsey, Kid Cudi, and J. Cole along with a slew of up and coming and long-standing artists. Governors Ball has always showcased local New York artists on the bill, and this year is no different.

Singer and songwriter Gus Dapperton was born and raised in Warwick, and ska-punk band Millington hail from Albany. Plastic Picnic features two duos from the Pacific Northwest who met in Brooklyn after moving to the city and formed a new band. The overall lineup represents a melting pot of musical tastes, styles, and regions, but that’s a story as old as New York itself.

Billie Eilish at Gov Ball 2021. Photo by David Reichmann

Governors Ball also successfully mimics New York’s long history of dive bar concerts with their Bud Light Seltzer Sessions. Embedded into the festival layout, this small stage features some of the names on the lineup who will perform a more intimate set at the casual dive bar style stage. The magic of a festival happens when you round a corner and bump into something unexpected, and these more casual performances provide just that.

Outside of the music, the star of the weekend will certainly be the food. Queens County is one of the most diverse municipalities anywhere in the world and a festival that calls Queens home must have the food to prove it. There will be classic NYC staples such as Roberta’s Pizza, Doughnuttery donuts, and Williamsburg’s finest fried chicken with Sweet Chick.

Choose between Destination Dumplings and Disos’ Italian sandwiches, Gordos Cantina tacos or Empanada Papas. And it wouldn’t be Queens without the largest Greek community outside of Greece represented with Efes Greek Kitchen and Souvlaki GR. Check out the entire food lineup below.

With the festival rapidly approaching, tickets are still available. Third and final tier 3-Day GA tickets are still on sale as well as single day tickets to all three days and the VIP and Platinum ticket packages. Full ticket details can be found HERE.

Read more about the official Governors Ball After Dark late night shows that take place after the estival HERE. NYS Music will be on the ground again this year at Governors Ball, so stay tuned for full artist photo galleries from this year’s festival. In the meantime, check out some highlights from the 2021 festival by David Reichmann and Steve Malinski.

May 14, 2022
Manilow: Hits 2022 Tour Announced For August

Grammy award winner and music Icon Barry Manilow has just announced a special six show arena tour, Manilow: Hits 2022. Manilow’s tour is taking place this August with special guest David Koz.

Having sold more than 85 million albums worldwide, Barry Manilow is one of the world’s all-time bestselling recording artists. Some of his hit recordings include “Could It Be Magic,” “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and “Copacabana.”

The show will be located at the UBS Arena  at Belmont Park, a place located in Queens that was made for music and built for hockey. The $1.1 billion multi-purpose, state of the art arena opened in November 2021 and has welcomed top artists including Harry Styles, Sebastian Maniscalco, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Genesis and TWICE.

He’s had an astonishing 50 Top 40 singles including 12 #1s and 27 Top 10 hits. Manilow is ranked as the #1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all-time, according to Billboard and R&R magazines. Growing up in a lower-class neighborhood in Brooklyn, Barry made a name for himself. His abilities made him a famous American pop singer and songwriter who specialized in elaborately orchestrated romantic ballads. Thus, winning him a wide audience in the 1970s.

MANILOW: HITS 2022 TOUR DATES:

Thu Aug 04 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Fri Aug 05 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Sat Aug 06 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Fri Aug 12 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center

Sat Aug 13 – Providence, RI – Dunkin’ Donuts Center

Sun Aug 14 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, May 13^th at 11AM on Ticketmaster. For more information and to buy tickets, click the link here.

May 13, 2022
Flushing Town Hall Announces Global Mash-Up Series

Flushing Town Hall has announced the Summer 2022 run of their popular “Common Ground : Mini-Global Mashups” series. There will be one show per month, starting May 17 and continuing until August 21.

Performers L to R: Cillian Vallely, Samir Langus, Yungchen Lhamo, Martin Vejarano, Joshua Nelson, Vado Diomande

Curated by trumpeter and Composer Frank London, the concert series will feature performances from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Each performance will combine elements of different cultures to create a unique experience.

The summer series will kick off May 15, with a collaboration between Irish piper Cillian Vallely & Gnawa master Samir LanGus. They will be accompanied by Brooklyn native and multi-instrumentalist Matt Mancuso. “Ireland Meets Morocco” brings together three decorated musicians for a night of inspired entertainment.

“Tibet Meets Colombia” will feature Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo and Colombian artist Martín Vejarano, accompanied by guitarist Jorge Iván “Tito” Duarte. Lhamo’s calming voice will promote healing and relaxation as Vejarano’s traditional Colombian background provides a well built foundation.

“Gospel Meets Côte d’Ivoire” showcases the musical talent of American gospel singer Joshua Nelson and Ivory Coast traditional dance and drum master Vado Diomande. On July 24, Nelson’s focus on Jewish Gospel will meet Diomande’s vast knowledge of African dance and drumming tradition.

“Ukraine Meets Cuba” will close out the series on August 21, with a performance from Ukrainian bandura (Ukrainian lute/harp) master Julian Kytasty and Cuban artists Danae Blanco and Juan Carlos Formal. Although the individual regions seem very different, they will come together in a smooth appreciation for all walks of life.

More information, as well as tickets, can be found here. The performances will also be live streamed on the Flushing Town Hall’s youtube channel.

May 10, 2022
Governors Ball Announces After Dark Shows

Founders Entertainment have announced the lineup for the Governors Ball After Dark shows this June. The shows take place at intimate venues across NYC in the late night hours after the festival at Citi Field ends.

On Thursday, June 9th, the night before the start of Gov Ball, fans have a choice of three excellent shows at longstanding small venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Tove Lo headlines Irving Plaza, Beabadoobee is at Warsaw, and Ultra Q play Mercury Lounge.

On Friday, Soccer Mommy returns to NYC after their incredibly successful 2021 tour for a headlining show at Bowery Ballroom and Benee plays further uptown at Irving Plaza.

Saturday night is stacked six shows but standout performances include Kaytranada (DJ Set) at Elsewhere and a mysterious “Gov Ball Hall of Fame w/ Bucket Listers” performance at the Fotografiska photography museum in Gramercy. The full schedule and ticket links can be found below.

There is a Citi cardmember presale happening right now for Governors Ball After Dark shows, with a general on-sale this Friday, May 6th at 10AM ET. More information and ticket links can be found here.

Stay tuned for the daily schedule announcements in the coming weeks.

Thursday, June 9th
Tove Lo @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
beabadoobee @ Warsaw (Tickets)
Ultra Q @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)

Friday, June 10th
Benee @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
Soccer Mommy @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)

Saturday, June 11th
Kaytranda (DJ Set) @ Elsewhere (Tickets)
The Teskey Brothers @ Irving Plaza (Tickets)
Surf Curse @ Bowery Ballroom (Tickets)
Plastic Picnic @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)
Gov Ball Hall of Fame w/ Bucket Listers @ Fotografiska
Ping Pong Dance Party w/ Bucket Listers @ SPIN

Monday, June 13th
Almost Monday @ Mercury Lounge (Tickets)

May 3, 2022
Lil Nas X To Perform Back-to-Back Nights At Radio City Music Hall

Lil Nas X, two-time GRAMMY winner, will be touring his debut self-titled album MONTERO, this year. The acclaimed artist will be performing two back-to-back nights at Radio City Music Hall, on September 20th and 21st.

(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

The 23-year-old rapper from Atlanta quickly rose to popularity in 2019, after the release and successful marketing campaign of his country-rap song “Old Town Road.” Critics were quick to judge the song, however, arguing that the song was not country enough to deserve its #16 spot on Billboards Hot Country Songs Chart, and it was quickly moved to the Hot Rap Songs Chart the following week. This controversy shot Lil Nas X to notoriety and the song eventually shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

This quick fame would even land him a featured remix of the song with country-pop star Billy Ray Cyrus, which would become the longest-running #1 single in Billboard Hot 100 history after 19 weeks atop the chart.

Lil Nas X Long Live Montero North American Tour Dates:

Tue Sep 06 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore

Sat Sep 10 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

Thu Sep 15 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY

Sun Sep 18 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Tue Sep 20 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

Wed Sep 21 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall

Thu Sep 22 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met

Sun Sep 25 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

Tue Sep 27 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy

Sat Oct 01 – Nashville, TN – Nashville Municipal Auditorium

Mon Oct 03 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live

Tue Oct 04 – Miami, FL – James L Knight Center

Tue Oct 18 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater

Fri Oct 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre

Sun Oct 23 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Tickets for the Long Live Montero Tour are available at https://www.longlivemontero.com/.

May 3, 2022
SummerStage 2022 Lineups Announced

The City Parks Foundation announced the SummerStage 2022 lineup on Tuesday. This year’s performing arts festival will feature 90 free and benefit concerts in 12 different parks across New York City’s five boroughs.

Fans attend a George Clinton concert at SummerStage 2021.

Shows will be held at the SummerStage flagship venue at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park; Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem; Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn; Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens; Crotona Park in the Bronx; and Corporal Thompson Park in Staten Island.

The first shows in the lineup are two benefit concerts (which are not free to the public) in Central Park. Aurora presents the Gods We Can Trust tour/ Sub Urban will open the concert series on June 4. Followed by Modest Mouse and The Cribs on June 8.

Yo La Tengo performing at last year’s SummerStage.

Summerstage 2022 will kick off its free shows, also in Central Park, with an opening night concert on June 11 with jazz legend Herbie Hancock.

This year SummerStage plans to return for a six-show series at The Coney Island Amphitheater. The most notable of which is the Spread Love Hip-Hop Jam Hosted by Ralph McDaniels and DJ Scratch on August 11.

Another highlight will be the 30th Annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival on Aug. 26-27 in Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park. Headliners for this year’s rendition are composer Terence Blanchard, jazz singer Jazzmeia Horn, and avant-garde saxophonist Archie Shepp.

Outside of its numerous musical offerings SummerStage 2022 will also screen the Oscar award-winning documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) for free on June 17 in Marcus Garvey Park. The documentary, produced by The Roots’ Questlove, tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, which was held 50 years ago in the same park.

SummerStage returns with a full slate of shows this year after reducing their number of performances last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, it was cancelled altogether.

“We are so happy to be back in local neighborhood parks after a two-year hiatus” said Heather Lubov, City Parks Foundation’s Executive Director. “Parks have always been neighborhood gathering spaces, but the pandemic brought to light just how absolutely critical parks are to our city’s health.”

Photo by: Buscar Photo (www.buscarphoto.com)

This year’s lineups reflect the diversity that New York is known for. Artists performing this year will be 52% woman or non-binary and 95% of performers are BIPOC.

“Each season, SummerStage has always presented a festival full of talent as diverse and broad as the communities that host these performances in parks across all five boroughs,” said Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of SummerStage. “The artists we are presenting this season not only represent their own distinct cultures but reflect the global diversity that truly matches the spirit of New York City.”

The full lineup can be found on the SummerStage 2022 website.

April 27, 2022
420 Celebration Brings Cannabis Culture to Queens

This new NYC 420 celebration coming to Queens will be an unforgettable event for all people; hip hop lovers, rastas and hippies can join in dance and share good vibes. This event is the longest running, largest, private cannabis event in the state, The New York Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair.

420 Celebration Brings Cannabis Culture to Queens, NY

The NYC 420 Celebration will provide a fine art’s gallery, cannabis culture vendors, speakers, workshops, multimedia, high end sounds, a fashion show, competitions (including NYC first Cannabis Cup), food trucks, full bar, outdoor smoking area. This event will be a profound combination of cultural diversity fusing musical genres and NYC legends.

Reggae Allstars such as The Original Wailers are headlining this multi genre event by bringing the classic tunes of Bob Marley. Similarly, joining the lineup is Tony Touch, the legendary “Mixtape King.”

The “Godfather of EDM,” DJ Keoki will also be joining the lineup with his iconic style. Also joining these historic performers are the Real Radio Rahim and his Old School Dance Party featuring Grandmaster Dee, DJ Jeffrey D, DJ Mad Marv & DJ Red Boy.

Join this tribal gathering where human interests and the natural spirit take precedence, the 25th Harvest Fest on October 7-10, 2022. There will also be a hosting of the longest running Cannabis Cup (competition) in America.

The visual gallery will feature a wide spread of different forms of art from Colette Aimée, Lisa Betournay, and Danny Armstrong.

The festival will also feature guest emcees like The Real Radio Rahim (Cosmic Joy Entertainment), Rick Naya (Host of The Rick Naya Show), Rob Robinson (Owner & Founder of Damn Sam Pro), and installation artist Christopher Peter Van der Essen.

The Harvest festival also features guest speakers like Dan Goldman (Marijuana Tomorrow Podcast, NY Cannabis Alliance), Dana Beal (Cures Not Wars, Founder Global Marijuana March) and Louise Vincent & Michael Galipeau (Urban Survivors Union)

Tickets are only $25, and are also $10 after 11pm. For more information, here.

April 20, 2022
LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Festival In Queens Announced, Featuring Ice Cube, Lil Kim, and More

A new day-long celebration of Hip-Hop culture founded by LL Cool J called Rock The Bells Festival will be happening at Forest Hills Stadium in LL’s hometown of Queens on August 6.

The festival will feature live performances, art exhibits, food, fashion, interactive experiences, and more. Each performer was hand-picked for their culture-defining careers, undeniable talents, and contributions to Hip-Hop culture.

Rock Bells Lineup Poster

Featured on the lineup are LL Cool J, DJ Z-Trip, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, The Diplomats ft. Cam’ron, Jim Jones & Juelz Santana, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, Digable Planets, and more to be announced.

LL Cool J said in a statement that he is excited to bring all these artists together to celebrate Hip-Hop culture.

This festival is my way of showing love to the community of Hip-Hop and celebrating the incredible journey this culture has taken, going from DJ Kool Herc’s Sedgwick Avenue rec room, to the global phenomenon we all cherish today. Getting to bring some of the most iconic and influential Hip-Hop artists to the same stage, in my hometown and the city that started it all, is an honor and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store for them.

For fans that cannot make it to the festival, they can tune into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) for exclusive live coverage. Tickets go onsale April 4 for pre-sale, and April 8 for general sale, and tickets can be found here. For each ticket sale, Rock The Bells will be donating partial proceeds to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx.

April 6, 2022