One of the brightest stars in the Southern hip-hop scene, Key Glock, has announced a U.S. tour this upcoming spring. Presented by SiriusXM’s Hip-Hop Nation and produced by Live Nation, Key Glock brings his “Glockoma” tour across the nation. The 31-date run kicks-off on March 5 at Atlanta’s Coca-Cola Roxy, and includes a stop at the Knockdown Center in Queens, NY, on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
With support from fellow Memphis native Big Scarr, the “Russian Cream” rapper will be performing songs from his catalog, including PRE5L, the 5-song EP he released in November. Key Glock’s last solo headlining tour, “YellowTape 2022,” sold over 35,000 tickets across intimate venues. However, his upcoming tourpromises even more hits. Since bursting onto the scene, the “Look at They Face” rapper has maintained an upward trajectory. With the addition of XXL Freshman and Gucci Mane signee Big Scarr, expect two of Memphis’ best to put on.
One of the leading faces of Memphis rap, Key Glock is signed to the late Young Dolph’s Paper Route Empire. The 25-year-old rapper stays true to his roots with an emphatic midtempo flow, trunk-rattling trap beats and plenty of horns
Glock burst onto the scene with his PRE debut, Glock Season, in 2017, from which the single “On My Soul” has nearly 8 million views on YouTube. Additionally, 2018’s Glock Bond spurned the hit “Russian Cream” which sits at 16 million views. Since then, he has continued his meteoric rise with 4 solo mixtapes and Dum and Dummer, a collaborative effort with Young Dolph.
2020’s Yellow Tape took him to a new level, peaking at #8 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts and #14 on the Billboard 200. March 2021’s Dum & Dummer 2 with Young Dolph debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 and generated nearly 36k sales equivalent units across platforms and scored the fifth-biggest streaming debut on Spotify during its first week of release. October 2021’s Yellow Tape 2 debuted at #7 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Independents Charts. Currently boasting over 8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Key Glock is breaking into the mainstream as we speak.
Tickets go on sale Friday, December 9 at 10 a.m. at keyglock.com
GLOCKOMA 2023 TOUR DATES
Sun Mar 05 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
Thu Mar 09 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
Fri Mar 10 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
Sat Mar 11 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
Sun Mar 12 – Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Hall
Wed Mar 15 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
Thu Mar 16 – Washington, DC – Echostage
Sat Mar 18 – Queens, NY – The Knockdown Center
Sun Mar 19 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live
Wed Mar 22 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Thu Mar 23 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Fri Mar 24 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
Sat Mar 25 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Sun Mar 26 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall
Wed Mar 29 – Chicago, IL – Radius
Thu Mar 30 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Fri Mar 31 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fillmore Minneapolis
Sun Apr 02 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
Tue Apr 04 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
Thu Apr 06 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Sat Apr 08 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Tue Apr 11 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Fri Apr 14 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
Sat Apr 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
Sun Apr 16 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Fri Apr 21 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
Sat Apr 22 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
Sun Apr 23 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom
Wed Apr 26 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
Thu Apr 27 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
Queens dream pop group Iceblynk’s eponymous debut EP is a solid five-song, 25-minute effort that showcases the best of the genre.
Appearing to be named after the acclaimed Cocteau Twins track “Iceblink Luck,” the group leans into dream pop’s prized traditions. From reverb-tinged vocals that ring familiar of the easy melodies and loose enunciation of Elizabeth Frazer, to the whirring, effects-drenched guitar playing of My Bloody Valentine, Iceblynk captures key elements of the genre with precision.
Cover art for the record.
Notes of surf rock are obvious as well, especially on the EP’s first two tracks. Summery guitars characterize “Tragic,” an upbeat opener with slippery drumming and wistful lyrics that define the record. Its follow-up, the new-wavey “Spared,” is a highlight with its infectious, harmonic-laden guitar riff and a simple chugging bassline. It also features some of the EP’s most pointed lyricism, with lines such as “and then you’ll ask me to explain, I know I know that you won’t do the same.”
All tracks are consistent but none are static, with guitar solos and waves of swirling effects padding out almost every song to around five minutes in length. Such is the case for track #3 “Imagined Life” with its subtle verses of watery synths contrasting atmospheric guitar-driven choruses. While melancholic, it’s not depressing with lyrics such as “and when you can’t imagine life, another day of asking why, I’ll take you to a quiet place.”
This subdued energy continues on “Seen Gone,” the only number shorter than four minutes. Genuine lines such as “I always take two moments to break it all apart, to form a simple sentence from my scattered thoughts” add vulnerability to this lowkey, surf-rock oriented track, which also features some of the record’s grooviest drumming.
This EP starts upbeat and fast, becoming subdued and meditative, before finishing loud with “Sunshine.” A slow, waltzy closer, its array of synths and vocal effects reminisce a bit of Animal Collective. Uplifting lines such as “sunshine, you always make me feel like I’m the only one in the sky” make this a final note that comes off as genuinely uplifting.
Iceblynk’s debut EP doesn’t reinvent dream pop or shift drastically in tone at any point, but it doesn’t need to. The band’s musicianship is solid, the lyrics are endearing, and the songs are enjoyable. While just five songs long, this is a fulfilling debut project.
Multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and producer, Josh X, brings in winter season with his heartwarming new single “Forever Love.” The snappy, swooping single sees Josh X affirm his feelings of “forever love” in passionate croons. The catchy chorus and bridge confidently shows the singer-songwriter’s evolution as an R&B artist, able to capture the heart in quick wails. Moreover, “Forever Love” gives fans a glimpse of what they may expect on his anticipated forthcoming album, The X Project, expected in early 2023.
I wanted to release “Forever Love” because when it’s cold outside it’s time to cuddle. With everything that’s going on in the world, love is hard to find, and I want people to fight for love when they find it.
-Josh X
The Rise of Josh X
The the KSR Records signee and producer has seen his career ascend since his breakthrough in 2016 with the release of his multi-million streaming hit, “Heaven on My Mind,” featuring Cardi B. All in all, Josh X has been prepping for his time in the limelight since childhood. The Queens native began playing the classical piano at the age of six and attended The Juilliard School’s summer program after receiving a scholarship from the prestigious musical institution. Inspired by music legends Stevie Wonder and Brian McKnight, Josh X’s music is brimming with themes of love and forgiveness, something he shares with his idols.
Prior to stepping in front of the mic, he served as a writer and producer, working with upper echelon artists such as Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, Cardi B, Nipsy Hussle and Lil Wayne. After signing with Epic Record in 2018, Josh X released his single “All on Me” featuring Rick Ross. The ensuing music video has since been viewed over 5 million times.
Moreover, the Haitian-American singer and producer released the street smash, “Eskize Mwen” in 2020, featuring Haitian superstar, BAKY. The record showcased his diversity and the music video saw Josh X once again eclipse the 1 million views benchmark. During the pandemic, he picked up the role of Derrick in the Amazon Prime series, Sister’s Keeper. Although bitten by the acting bug, Josh X has not forgotten about his forever love.
On October 14th only at Flushing Town HallQueens, Lew Tabackin and his ensemble present “The Swinging Sounds of Coleman Hawkins.” Saxophonist Lew Tabackin is one of New York City’s most notable jazz musicians, whose importance was acknowledged this summer when he was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Jazz Foundation of America.
Lew Tabackin is one of New York City’s most notable jazz musicians who will be honoring the great Coleman Hawkins live at the historic Flushing Town Hall theater. The performance will be featuring an array of music that Hawkins himself played during his tenure with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, recordings with Benny Goodman, Django Reinhardt, and many others.
Tabackin displays “great harmonic and rhythmic assurance,” and “an exceptional array of talent”
Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins was the first major saxophonist in jazz history. His inventive style of improvising influenced many leading jazz figures such as Ben Webster, Chu Berry, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane. Hawkins was also one of the first saxophonists to bring attention to the saxophone as a solo instrument in 1939 when he played it on the song “Body and Soul.”
Tabackin’s interest in music began in his birthplace, Philadelphia, where he first studied flute and then tenor saxophone in high school. He majored in flute at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and studied privately with composer Vincent Persichetti. Later in his life, moving to New York.
While in New York, Tabackin shared the stage with numerous other jazz luminaries such as Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Joe Henderson, Chuck Israels, Clark Terry, and Duke Pearson. He also spent some time in Europe as a soloist with various ensembles, including the Danish Radio Orchestra and the Hamburg Jazz Workshop.
More Information: Fall Jazz Programming at Flushing Town Hall
Friday, October 14, 2022, at 8:00 PM
“The Swinging Sounds of Coleman Hawkins” featuring Lew Tabackin and his Ensemble
In-Person Tickets: $40 /$32 Members /$20 Students w/ID
Table Packages: $130 /$110 Members (Table for 2 with refreshments/drinks)
Click the link here for tickets and more information on the venue here.
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 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.
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.
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.
As the Queens community continues its upturn from the effects of the pandemic, various Queens-based arts and culture organizations have gathered to present, Queens Rising. A celebration of arts and culture, the month multi-disciplinary arts celebration was created to highlight the borough’s culture and creative diversity.
As the most diverse place on the planet, Queens is rich with an arts and culture community that reflects that diversity and its unmatched beauty. I’m thrilled Queens Rising will kick-off in the summertime to welcome visitors to the World’s Borough, said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.
Now more than ever, it’s important to showcase the resilience and creativity of our artists and cultural institutions — because even in the darkest days of the pandemic, culture never closed — as we work to rebuild our economy and come back stronger.
The initiative arose from an Arts Advisory Board meeting of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, with Northwell Health signing on as a leading sponsor. Comprised of a volunteer Planning Committee representing Queens arts and cultural institutions and several working Groups that includes over seventy-five artists, arts administrators, and other creatives from throughout the borough.
As such, part of the Queens rising mission will be to unify neighborhoods by providing audiences with easy-to-find event and calendar listings featuring artistic and cultural findings. Amplify venues, performance companies, cultural centers, institutions, while connecting artists, venues and businesses to provide as many opportunities as possible.
As a community hospital that not only serves the health care needs of Queens but also draws the majority of our staff from within the diverse neighborhoods that make up our borough, LIJ Forest Hills is Queens, said Lorraine Chambers Lewis, PA, Executive Director of Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, part of Northwell Health.
We were at the epicenter of COVID and came through it with the help of our community more resilient than ever. That’s why we’re so thrilled to be part of Queens Rising NYC to celebrate the rich tapestry of arts, culinary and creative communities that make our borough so unique.
Queens rising will provide its artists with the opportunity to promote themselves through Queens rising socials and other media, connect with performance and showing opportunities, as well as provide information on grants and funding.
Artists can click here to join the Queens Rising artist database. More information on Queens Rising can be found on their official website.
Most have heard the common saying “everything that happens in the dark comes to light.” Insinuating an air of inevitability when it comes to the truth. In the world of hip hop the truth can often be found in the shadows, and for a genre that was built on the struggles of the inner-city, the light shines upon the streets. The streets are where Eric Smith, widely recognized as “E-Money Bags” made his name and his bones and where he met his untimely end. In between the chaos, he built a name and legacy that will continue to ring throughout the inner cities of New York for years to come and served as an acquaintance or close associate to many of hip hop’s most fabled emcees.
Don’t matter if I did it, or you heard that I was with it, you can’t get the story from a spirit.
Hailing from Brooklyn’s Sumner Projects, Smith attended Westinghouse high school, along with The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay – Z, cultivating a close relationship with the former, while his dealings with the latter would eventually turn cantankerous. Smith earned his name for being about his bottom line and would resort to the streets to earn his living. From selling drugs, to being a stickup kid, extortion and even murder, he built quite a reputation with friends and enemies alike. In fact, for residents of Queens and Valley Stream who would frequent the now destruct, Sunrise Multiplex Cinema in Valley Stream and wondered, why were there metal detectors in a movie theatre? Well, Smith’s crew and an opposing posse began to argue during a showing of The Godfather III and thus a shootout erupted between the conflicting gangs, with Smith shooting a rival 15-year-old in the head and killing him. He was beloved by his friends because he was supportive and showed lots of love, while he was hated by his enemies for his cunningness and ruthlessness.
E Money Bags with Tupac Shakur (back left, dark long sleeve)
After relocating from Brooklyn to Lefrak City, Queens, Smith once again began to run with legends of the hip hop world. One he was particularly close to was, Tupac Shakur, whom he met in the early 90’s due to their street ties. While rappers hold most of the sway in this day-and-age, this was the era where the rapper’s looks, style, lingo and subject matter derived from whatever the street dudes were into. Most importantly, record contracts were still so shitty back then, that the rapper might be broke, while the hustler would be rolling in dough. Which is why, Smith and Shakur’s relationship cultivated so quickly. Not simply because of their similar mindsets in uniting people for a better cause, but because they would do street dealings in tandem. When Shakur was incarcerated as a result of his sexual assault case, Smith was one of the few people to visit him and even informed him on who gave the order that led to his infamous shooting at Quad Studios.
After Shakur’s release and subsequent rebranding as a West-coast act (despite being born in Harlem and spending much of his time in Hollis, Queens), Smith had developed relationships with many other prominent-turned legendary hip hop acts. Having befriended the likes of 50 Cent, Noreaga, Nas, Cormega, and Prodigy — who he became especially close to and spent many of his finals days and weeks with — while steadily treading the line between family man and street hustler.
A lot of people can’t understand E, like how fucking cool can one Black man be.
Prodigy goes in detail on their relationship and much more from hip hop’s golden era in a 2010 interview with Planet Ill,
I know Bags from my man Shameek. Me and Shameek grew up together in Hempstead, Long Island and we bumped into each other going down the block. He like I just moved out here, I’m like I just moved out here! So down the line, Shameek started bringing E Moneybags out to Queens Bridge. So that’s how I meet Bags. They started hanging out with Nas and all that, we got real close through Shameek and through Nas.
Ironically, their relationship began to forge at a time when Prodigy was embroiled in a rap beef with his former schoolmate, Jay – Z. The tension between the emcees was a result of a line heard in Hov’s “Money, Cash, Hoes” record, the third single from his 1998 Grammy-winning album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life.
He was referring to Snoop Dogg and west coast duo, Tha Dogg Pound (Kurupt and Daz Dillinger), crushing the twin towers in their video for their record “New York, New York.” Prodigy and many other New York rappers took great offense to Jay – Z’s lyrics, because it was as though he was dissing them for not standing their ground. But, from their perspective, when the tension between the East and West coast was at its peak, Jay – Z was nowhere to be found, even when Tupac dissed him, it was rappers like Prodigy and Havoc who took it upon themselves to defend New York with records like, “L.A., L.A.”
So, years later he’s [Jay-Z] trying to restore the feeling? What feeling you trying to restore? What are you talking about son? Who are you talking about and why are you talking? Shut the f**k up son you should have said something a long time ago. Me and Fat Joe were in Loud offices one day and I even heard Fat Joe say it. I didn’t even come out and say nothing, I was just chillin’ in the office and Fat Joe came out and said, ‘Yo, this mother**ker Jay-Z said he’s trying to restore the feeling.’ I looked at Fat Joe I said ‘Word! I feel the same way son, I feel you on that!’ He was like, ‘Yo, that n***a is a funny n*** for saying that. Who is he talking about?’
Upon learning of Prodigy’s tension with Jay – Z, Smith made his feelings on Hov clear,
I live it so it never be forgotten
I went to high school with Jay-Z. Me, and Jay-Z went to high school. Sauce Money is married to my sister. F**k Jay-Z, that n***a is a bitch son. I know that n***a man.
While the beef between Jay – Z and Prodigy intensified, it would get personal between Smith and Jay – Z as well. While listening to a Roc-A-Fella freestyle on Hot 97, Smith was stumped to hear that Jay – Z had marketed one of his upcoming artists as “H-Moneybags,” which left him incensed. He had Prodigy call up the radio station and after getting on the phone with Hov, he let him know how he felt about his artist biting his style.
How the fuck are you going to let some random n***a bite my name. You know me n***a and you know how I get down, I done put in work for this name.” Feeling disrespected by Jay – Z’s indifference to his words, Smith told him, “when I see you, you know what it is” and hung up.
From there, Smith decided to seriously consider a rap career. After all, he was close to some of the biggest rappers out and he felt as though it was easy money, referring to it as “stickup without a gun.” He would release his only project, In E Money Bags We Trust, in 1999.
Unfortunately, Smith would not live long enough to see his hip hop dreams pan out. There are conflicting stories as to what led to his demise. One theory is that Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff — leader of the infamous and feared Supreme Team — refused to return a down-payment Smith had placed on a Lincoln Navigator. Once again feeling disrespected, Smith resorted to street rules and sought out McGriff to kill him.
Bags had beef with ‘Preme ‘cause bags was going to buy a car and ‘Preme was selling it. So he put a down payment on it and I was doing music with Bags and I paid him for it. So Bags is like, ‘Oh shit, I got this money now. Let me get that money back from him.’ Bags like let me get that back, ‘Preme like nah, you cant get that back. Bags like what? Bags seen him behind The Coliseum, one day. Seen him chillin in the car, walked up to his car and shot his car up. Nothing hit ‘Preme, the shit hit Black Just. Black Just was still alive, he got shot in the thigh and probably somewhere else, I don’t know, but the thigh was the bad one.
Mary Immaculate [Hospital] is right around the corner. Preme takes Black Just to the hood and tells somebody else to take him to the hospital. Black Just dies from bleeding to death, so now n***as is after Bags for that.
– Prodigy in a 2010 interview with Planet Ill
Another theory is that his death was the result of him robbing Murder Inc. CEO Irv Gotti, his brother Irv Gotti and Ja Rule, which Irv Gotti referred to during a 2020 appearance on Noreaga’s Drink Champs podcast.
Nonetheless, Smith’s street dealings caught up to him in July 2001. While at a barbecue at his friend Majesty’s house, four gunmen crept up while he sat smoking and eating in his Navigator. The gunmen fired over 40 rounds into his vehicle hitting him over 10 times and ultimately killing him.
Supreme took the murder hard, & had E Money Bags murdered in 2001, shot ten times in his Lincoln Navigator. They even taped it all. pic.twitter.com/YNGwnugr8y
For a period, E-Money Bags’ name rang bells throughout the streets and while he never got the chance to fully escape that life, his contributions to hip hop and the street culture that fuels it will never be forgotten.
