NYS Music 2023

Category: Hip Hop/Rap

  • Hearing Aide: Rome Streetz Provides Latest Fix with “Noise Kandy 5”

    Rome Streetz reigns globally supreme. If you’re looking for the hottest new Griselda artist – all signs point to Rome. He exists as the chosen one. Certainly, every individual to grace the Earth became chosen to breathe air at one point or another. As far as who dons the crispiest crown in all of NY – Rome takes the throne. Whether it be the hills of the Catskills or the city slickin’ corners of Nueva York – Rome’s got somethin for ya nose – Noise Kandy 5.

    Rome Streetz

    Fresh off starring as protagonist in the latest Griselda Vision Film, “ADOLF” Rome brought some absolute heat in the most recent edition of his mixtape series – Noise Kandy 5. Furthermore, these sounds resonate through our stereos as much more than noise. Noise Kandy 5 came with plenty of bops as Griselda Records continues to dominate the Fall and terrorize lackluster emcees.

    Unimpressed with the State of the Art

    Time and time again – the ones who iterate and pivot always see success. Even if the switch up doesn’t lead to success – you must take the risk to reap the reward. Above all else – do something different than everybody else. Everyone knows the definition of insanity… The truly insane nature of Rome Streetz’ flow cannot be undermined. On NK5, Rome sped up the flow majorly and squeezed in many more words per stanza than usual.

    Rome Streetz

    Throughout his discography – this man tends to touch upon themes such as good vs. evil or original vs. copycat. He continues to unravel the layers of his subject matter so masterfully. This project serves as a cornerstone for Rome as he continues to exponentially increase his fanbase. Let us touch upon some of the strongest thematic lines from Noise Kandy 5. 

    “Eyes on the Prize – but watch your step with the same pace.” – “Go Raw”

    On this track, Rome shares incredible wisdom in a line that could be unpacked in so many ways. This could translate to the fact that you need to take daily steps to reach your long term goal. Also, make sure you align your daily operations with what you are trying to reach. Everybody wants to make the big time – small steps and caution will be what gets you there. 

    “Weird how the Church broke but the preacher a millionaire.” – “Procall”

    Compare this line to “If money’s the devil, why the pastor askin for this shit?” -Higher Self ft. Estee Nack (Noise Kandy 4)

    Rome Streetz lyrics will tap deep into your mental and create cerebral connections you never thought possible. All in all – his content will truly make you contemplate facets of reality that you may have never thought about before. Maybe you thought about it before – but not in the way that Rome breaks it down. Therein lies a thin line between good and evil..

    “Built for the grind I got stamina.” – “Chrome Magnum”

    Rome Streetz submitted greater than 10,000 hours and by the good grace of God he remains in an increasingly poignant position to showcase the breadth of his abilities. 

    “I would be lit without rap – I don’t need it but it helps.” – “Fire At Ya Idle Mind (ft. Joey Bada$$)”

    The lack-of-desperation theme appears for many artists under the Griselda umbrella. We have seen this from the likes of Prodigy, Ghostface and many other legendary artists, too. Consequently, these artists would be doing just fine without rap. Rome doesn’t need hip-hop, yet he continues to do it – does that make him a rap fiend? Who knows? As long as he keeps providing fans with their fix – everything will be alright.

    Sock it to My Pocket

    Below we list other themes heard on this tape that Rome tends to tap into. 

    “F the elevator I took the stairs and didn’t hold onto the bannister.” – “Chrome Magnum”

    Rome consistently drives home the point that successful individuals put in the work every day. Overnight success remains a myth – you must formulate a plan and remain strategically steadfast in your endeavors.

    “Hip-hop is dead – you hear the music through my stethoscope.” – “Stunna”

    Compare this line to: “Started underground in search of a better view.” – “Heart Break Hotel.” Rome as revivalist? Nah. Rome puts claims to his throne by doing the things true to his craft.

    Rome Streetz poses with fellow hip-hop legend, Cormega.

    Real Rap Still Exists

    For all those out there complaining about the lack of quality hip-hop music – we share in your tribulations. We also encourage you to dive deeper and broaden your horizons. Real rap resides in lesser known areas such as Buffalo and Lynn, Massachusetts – you just have to look.

    Over and above all else – it’s just another day. This one begins where the last one ends and so on and so forth. Time for one human is finite – time for all humans never ends. Rome Streetz music allows the listener to understand the cyclical nature of existence and the nature of mankind as the tunes reach your eardrums in the flyest ways possible. 

  • In Focus: Macklemore Brings ‘The Ben Tour’ to Pier 17 Rooftop

    Hip-Hop and rap artist Macklemore performed an unforgettable show at Pier 17 on Friday, September 22 welcoming all ages to take part in the long-awaited “Ben Tour.”

    Macklemore the Ben Tour pier 17 rooftop
    Perri Sage Photography

    Macklemore began his music career building his fanbase on the West Coast in 2000 as an independent artist born and raised in Seattle, Washington. In the early stages of his success, he released his first album in 2005, The Language of My World which led to the collaboration with DJ/Record Producer Ryan Lewis. The duo jumpstarted Macklemore’s music success producing the Grammy Award Winning album The Heist including fan favorites, “Can’t Hold Us,” “ThriftShop,” “Same Love,” and “White Walls.”

    Macklemore carved a huge name for himself in the rap community and is best known for his ability to storytell and create introspective lyrics that address social issues of consumerism, addiction, homophobia, and personal attributes that connect to his life growing up in Seattle.

    Macklemore the Ben Tour pier 17 rooftop
    Perri Sage Photography

    DJ Nick Beeba opened the show by stating, “I grew up in Seattle going to Macklemore’s shows in middle school, to just be here as an opener is truly amazing.” Beeba played remixes including hit songs “Wanna Be a Baller,” “No Scrubs,” “Pony,” and plenty of others to get the crowd dancing and cheering awaiting Macklemore’s appearance.

    The show itself was not only a concert to remember but a full-blown production with on-stage dancers, a full band crew including trombone, trumpet, drums, guitar, and keyboard plus several impressive outfit changes. With blue bedazzled capes, headbands, and sparkly vests, Macklemore does it all. During the show, Macklemore made time in between songs to thank the people for coming authentically as themselves to come have fun and spread love. “We’re here to dance, so let’s dance New York!” he stated.

    Macklemore the Ben Tour pier 17 rooftop
    Perri Sage Photography

    To close the show, Macklemore gave a huge thanks to his band members for all the hard work that has paid off over the years. This encourages fans to come to their shows and experience something more than just a concert but a place to allow fans to be authentic, dance, and have a good time. The final song “Can’t Hold Us” encouraged the crowd to jump, dance, and shout, “We put our hands up, like the ceiling can’t hold us,” leaving the concertgoers in awe and ecstatic to see when Macklemore would visit New York next.

    Perri Sage Photography

  • Afropunk: Circus of Soul touches down in Brooklyn

    Afropunk returned to Brooklyn for 2 days of music on August 26th & 27th. The festival took place at Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Terminal Market for 2023.

    As on brand for Afropunk, the lineup for the festival was all black artists from various genres. Some notable names included Tobe Nwigwe, Baby Tate, and Vince Staples. The lineup also included New York’s own Joey Bada$$, and day 2 headliner, Teyana Taylor.

    Unlike last year, this year had a theme, which was Circus of Soul. Motifs of this theme could be seen throughout the event. Both on stage and in the crowd, fans and artists dressed as though they were part of a circus. R&B artist Cleo Reed really leaned into the theme by dressing them selves and other stage performers in clown attire during their set. There were performers on stilts wearing kente cloth patterns walking throughout the crowd. There were also Aerial Ring performers periodically doing stunts throughout the weekend.

    This year was truly one to be at, as there were many performances and attractions that festival goers could really interact with all day.

    A festival of the Arts

    Afropunk is a festival that is bigger than music. Though music may be the highlight, it also features art and artists from all over the globe that center their creativity around the African diaspora. Inside the Spin Thrift Market, there were vendors selling things like clothes, jewelry, books, and weed products. Outside the Market, there were spaces for health and beauty. Festival goers were able to get their hair and makeup done, henna tattoos, and facials. Most of the vendors were also African American owned and operated.

    In addition to vendors that were selling merchandise, there were also areas for festival goers to interact. In the center between the two stages, there were tents set up for festival goers to play games and run through a bubble pit. It seems as though they learned from last year as most activities and vendors were set up under large tents to protect against any potential rain.

    Nonetheless, as much as there was to do off stage, there was much to watch on stage. There was a two stage setup to accommodate for about 30 performances. In between performances on both stages were DJ SNS and DJ Mohogany. They helped to keep the party going as people awaited some of their favorite artists to take the stage.

    Day 1 Highlights

    Day 1 had strong performances from Cleo Reed and a collaboration from the Soapbox presents on the 3 Ring Stage. The Soapbox brought together vocalists and musicians to bring a rock, R&B, and gospel like performance. This was one of the many perfect displays of how African American music is has roots in so many different genres that tend to overlap one another. The performance had fans feeling cool in the end of summer heat.

    One of day 1’s most notable and electric performances was from Tobe Nwigwe. Originally from Houston, TX, Tobe holds on to his Nigerian roots well as they could be seen in his performances. He is always recognizable with his seafoam green outfits and sets. He brought out his wife, Martica Nwigwe, for a few songs from his set. He also had Olu from Earthgang come out for a song. Olu came out on brand, wearing seafoam green wings to sing “WILDLINGS” with Tobe. The performance was full of energy and surprises that keep the audience screaming for an hour.

    Tobe’s performance was evened out by a more mellow from Vince Staples. Vince stared as “Maurice” earlier this year in the Emmy award winning show, Abbott Elementary. His Long Beach, CA vibes really brought the crowd down from their state of choas from before. Though his set did not features as many theatrics like Tobe’s, he still had the attention of the crowd. Vince had the crowd singing along to his hit song, “Norf Norf,” before there was a mass exodus from the event.

    An uneventful end to the hype

    The first night was headlined by Flying Lotus. He is a producer and DJ who has worked on many projects on TV shows and film. One of the most notable projects was Netflix’s Yasuke, an anime centered around the story of Japan’s first black samurai. He makes a lot of EDM and electronic rap songs primarily.

    Flying Lotus did not receive much of an introduction which left many fans confused. Though his fans would be familiar with his music and style, this may have been many’s first exposure to him. He could barely be seen from behind his DJ booth and did not say a word for at least the first 20 minutes of his set. About halfway through, he was joined by rapper Smoke DZA, who he is working on a collaborative album with. Smoke DZA did bring some excitement and energy to his performance.

    After Smoke DZA’s exit, Flying Lotus played a few more songs and was about to leave. He did not realize that his set was not over and played for about another 15 minutes. Flying Lotus had a pretty anti-climatic exit, as it was a pretty bleak end to day 1 of Afropunk 2023.

    A stark turn around from Day 1’s mishaps

    Day 2 still featured a full lineup that had Greenpoint full. What was nice about this year’s festival was the scheduling of performances. With the stage schedules pretty staggered, fans were able to see all their artists without really having to miss a performance. This really set Afropunk apart from other festivals as many usually have fans contemplating which artists they wanted to see more. If they wanted to, fans could see just about every artist and take in the full Afropunk experience.

    Some notable performances from Day 2 were from Baby Tate and Joey Bada$$. Baby Tate brought a fun energy out of the crowd. With a lot of positive sexual messages infused in her lyrics, her music and performance made Greenpoint a safe space for women to express themselves. In the middle of her set, Baby Tate took a break and her DJ Sky Jetta tapped into a different side of her fans. Though Baby Tate makes rap music, Sky Jetta played alternative rock hits, including “I write sins not tragedies” that absolutely killed.

    Baby Tate came back and continued to kill. She played unreleased song “Wig” and ended on her hit “I am” to leave things on a high. Joey Bad$$ proceeded her and continues to bring smiles.

    New York showing out for New York artists

    Joey Bad$$ was happy to be back in his hometown as he expressed his love for Brooklyn all through out his performance. The theme around his performance was love as he turned the camera toward the audience to celebrate black love. He had a kiss cam going on for a bit before singing “Love is only a feeling.” He dedicated a few songs to fallen black artists including, XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hustle, Pop Smoke, Young Dolph, and more.

    Before he left, he expressed his happiness to be playing at an event where he could see so many black faces. He also threw a jab at Afropunk for being a bit unprofessional behind the scenes. He still left things on a high with “Devasated” before handing the stage over to Teyana Taylor.

    The energy from day 2 was drastically different than from the previous day. Day 2’s lineup featured so many artist that people knew and loved. They had performances that people wanted to be a part of and sing along with. Day 2 was originally supposed to end with Grammy award winner Jazmine Sullivan. Due to some personal reasons, she could not perform, but Teyana Taylor was passed the torch to close out the weekend.

    Rose of Harlem feeling the love

    Nicked named the “Rose of Harlem”, Teyana Taylor closed out to packed audience in her city. Teyana had mentioned during her performance that she was nervous to headline a show as she felt as though no one would stay for her. Though some mic issues may have fueled those nerves early on, New York showed her so much love that it brought her to tears.

    The sound was getting too much for Teyana as she asked for just the keys to play during one of her songs. She was able to get real close and emotional with the crowd before turning things back up. The crowd screamed “Issues” and ” Gonna Love Me” with Teyana.

    She was joined on stage by her daughter ,”Junnie,” and husband Iman Shumphert, for a few songs. Her daughter helped her throw out free t-shirts to the audience. Teyana also had 3 outfit changes that synced up with the many different vibes of her performance.

    She exited the stage, but quickly came back for an encore. Teyana ran into the middle column of the pit to slap the hands of her fans before closing out the night. She thanked New York for showing her so much love and making this performance one worth leaving retirement for.

    Afropunk continued to bring peace, love, and education about African American culture to one of the biggest melting pots of the world. With Afropunk’s voice continuing to reach millions, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to expand to other cities across the globe.

  • Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop Event To Feature at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall announced an addition to their fall schedule: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop. The night on Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM will feature performances to highlight the history of hip hop with classic tracks and the genre’s favorite artists.

    Live shows feature JB!! aka Dirty Moses, Ohzhe, KATANI, DJ Nate da Great, Shiloh the Messenger and Mundy.

    The performers will be joined by Albany’s Victory Soul Orchestra. The horn funk favorite cites influence from classic New Orleans brass bands, as well as artists including Galatic and the Dap Kings.

    alive at 5 soule monde

    The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is thrilled to celebrate a half century of rhythm, rhyme, and revolution, with the beats of our local, talented artists in a timeless tribute to our community’s cultural evolution.

    Jon Elbaum, Executive Director, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

    JB!! aka Dirty Moses

    Capital Regions 2022 & 2020 Eddies award winner for HipHop/Rap Artist of the year. JB!! aka Dirty Moses is on a mission to educate and enlighten others through music. This is your invitation to JB!! aka Dirty Moses World: a world of rhythm and rhyme; a world of love and inspiration: and a world of energy and music. This is where you’ll find JB!! aka Dirty Moses’s photos, music, videos and much more. For over twenty years JB!! aka Dirty Moses’s unique and methodical style has awakened the joy of music in thousands, young and old, all over the world.

    Ohzhe

    Albany native rapper with southern roots is marking his territory in the rap game with powerful lyrics, a diverse flow, and confidence that is undeniable.  From being Eddie award nominated as best HipHop artist in his city, to creating opportunities for the youth Ohzhe stands true to his goal, to inspire the world and push forward the culture.

    KATANI

    Anti-misogyny, pro-black, community uplifting raptivist duo comprised of Amani O+ & Kat SoPoetic. Kat + Amani = KATANI.  Best friends who began collaborating in 2016 as a response to the corruption, abuse and silence we experienced and observed locally and nationally. We found ourselves alchemizing our rage and disappointment into visionary medicine and inspiration.

    DJ Nate da Great

    DJ, turnt-tablist, thinker, maker, coder, etc… Been doing this DJ thing for 30+ years. Been doing this human-being thing for 40+ years. First and foremost I’m a creative thinker. I appreciate artistry, thinking outside the box and the creative process. I prefer to take the path less traveled. That actually happens sometimes.

    Shiloh the Messenger 

    Located in Upstate New York, Shiloh The Messenger is a rapper, producer, and writer who pours his soul into his musical passion. Originating with a background of reggae and calypso, he’s found solace in hip hop, and over the years has continued to hone his skills and elevate his mastery of the craft.

    Victory Soul Orchestra

    Victory Soul Orchestra is a hometown horn funk favorite. The dirty sounds of New Orleans brass drive their sound with some influences including Galactic as well as the Dap Kings. You can also find them fronted by Albany’s own JB aka Dirty Moses and singer Dali Soto.

    Tickets for Celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop are on sale via phone at (518) 273-0038, in person at the box office, or online at troymusichall.org. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Box Office is located at 30 Second Street, Troy. Hours are Monday through Thursday 10AM-3PM. 

    More information on the venue and other upcoming programs area available at troymusichall.org.

  • Best of the Boroughs: How Brooklyn Put Hip-Hop On Notice

    While Hip-Hop started in the Boogie Down Bronx, Brooklyn birthed hip-hop’s heart. As an art form, New York started hip-hop. How wondrous the gift of spinning records to make new records. Hustle never quits. From the DJ spinning on turntables to the space decked out in graffiti – real performers make bystanders break out and dance. In the beginning, Brooklyn seismically shook the genre to its core and showcased all four core elements of hip-hop masterfully.  

    Imitation remains the highest form of flattery and nobody does it better than cats from Brooklyn. Subsequently, those outside of New York may struggle to understand the sense of pride attached to being Brooklyn-bred. The confidence serves as a survival tactic and the greatest emcees of all time – Biggie and Jay-Z exemplify this to the fullest.

    Brooklyn Lineage

    Many significantly trace hip-hop’s lineage to the Native Tongues. Imagine a genre-wide family tree and the many roots/branches that sprout as time progresses. Individuals who emerged from the throws of Native Tongues travel far and wide. Real artists leave an incredulous mark on the genre through the element of timelessness. Jungle Brothers, Yasiin Bey, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest all blossomed ‘Straight out the Jungle’ of the Native Tongues.

    Hip-Hop as a Timeless Tool

    While hip-hop began to surround the sound of Brooklyn in the late eighties – it wasn’t until the next decade that hip-hop started to resonate across all boroughs. Accordingly, Brooklyn encapsulated the sound that everyone tried to emulate. While some might argue that Cutmaster D.C.’s “Brooklyn’s in the House” put Brooklyn on the map – it’s not about who did it first – rather who did it right. Artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z stepped into the spotlight and left a footprint in the hip-hop world that could never be duplicated.

    Centrally, hip-hop exists as the single greatest knowledge-based tool for all to encounter. The sheer cultural wisdom and latitude that the platform provides outweighs all other genres by a landslide. Hip-hop changes the world when it allows artists to elevate from aspirational to generational. Essentially, nobody manifested their realities into existence quite like Brooklyn-area emcees.

    Surviving as a Brooklyn Artist

    Naturally, a Brooklyn artist may be known to overcompensate within their discography to reach their desired heights. Reason being, overconfidence and a tough demeanor come as prerequisites for anyone who aims to survive in Brooklyn. Simultaneously, the way that Brooklyn artists polish their renditions to overcome struggles and hardships contributes wonderful works of art as a whole. 

    Consequently, groundbreaking artwork emerges to reflect the socioeconomic conditions of the times. Hip-hop during the Reagan-era birthed many blossoming acts with illusions of grandeur. Only the strong survive, as the opportunities of the times gave many a chance to shine. Alas, Brooklyn-born artists consistently put forth the most bravado and gumption to properly represent New York – the mecca of hip-hop.

    Brooklyn We Go Hard

    After Biggie passed in 1997 – he left a major void. As time went on, Jay-Z continued to outshine his counterparts. In 1998, Mos Def and Talib Kweli purchased Nkiru Books in Park Slope to turn it into an education center filled with open mic events, workshops and lectures. Nevertheless, Brooklyn carries the most soul and flavor for all to appreciate. Throughout time, gentrification slammed Brooklyn as it hardly resembles the original infrastructure. Long live Brooklyn landmarks like Albee Square Mall and Fulton Mall where countless hip-hop heads would gather and legends were made.

    Today, nobody holds it down for Brooklyn quite like Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew. The Beast Coast movement includes Flatbush Zombies, Underachievers and Pro Era which was started by Capital Steez. These prolific artists capitalize on the concept of tonal perception – which allows the listener to interpret the lyrics based upon how they sound. 

    Undoubtedly, hip-hop remains the most pivotal component to artistry as a whole. Nobody could replace the contributions made by hip-hop and the blessings continue to multiply within the genre. For those about to rap – we salute you!

  • toriendofstory and B.Chaps/Freedom Stratton Featured on This Week’s EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 pm 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 toriendofstory and B. Chaps/Freedom Stratton.

    toriendofstory and B. Chaps/Freedom Stratton

    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.

    toriendofstory- “Cool For Now”

    toriendofstory is an indie-pop songwriter and singer from Albany. Some of her musical influences include Adele and Maggie Rogers, tying them into her music. She fuses powerful ballads and indie-style production to create a universally loved sound. She takes her listeners on a journey through relatable emotions, bringing people together with her range and strong vocals.

    B.Chaps/Freedom Stratton– “Sundaze”

    B. Chaps and Freedom Stratton are both MCs, born and raised in Albany. B. Chaps comes from an instrumentalist background with experience as a songwriter, producer, and engineer. Additionally, he has experience working in Albany’s premier studio. Freedom Stratton comes from a performance background. He is a trained actor, dancer, and vocalist with formal education in performing arts schools. Together the two have amassed millions of streams and worked with many reputable labels and artists.

  • Genius IQ/BBQ Returns & Brings Culture Together at Knockdown Center in Queens

    In honor of hip hop’s 50th anniversary and lasting culture, Genius brought a return to their “IQ/BBQ” summer showcase. In the first edition of the annual event since Covid, hosts Miabelle and Jacques Morel took on the role of emcee, with DJ Saige, DJ Stacks, RNB House Party and DJ S’Wit serenading the crowd with memorable hip hop tracks.

    Held at Queens’ Knockdown Center, the day-long festivities provided a fitting end-of-summer experience for guests to enjoy. While in the midst of a year-long celebration of hip hop, IQ/BBQ expertly combined the best of hip hop and urban culture to provide all-around good time.

    Genis IQ/BBQ Main Stage
    Guests gather at center stage at IQ/BBQ. Photo by Ki Steiger-Dahl

    In light, Knockdown Center’s large terrain set the stage for a diverse live music experience, allowing for the ambience to differ with each change of location. Consequently for performers, it left the crowd scattered. As guests warmed up to performances by opening acts Rich Greedy and Wynne, their attention split between a number of enjoyable experiences at Genius IQ/BBQ.

    IQ/BBQ Brought the Culture

    After all, aside from a rich lineup of acts, IQ/BBQ offered experiences like the So Fresh, So Clean Shop. Presented By Paco Rabanne 1 Million, attendees had the chance to snag free barber shape-ups by Groomed Guys, along with sneaker cleanings by Fresh Kicks NYC. 

    Photos by Kia Steiger-Dahl

    In like manner, the outdoor Rap Cafeteria, presented by Showtime’s The Chi, created a true backyard barbecue vibe for Genius. This fun space featured picnic tables with designs that paid homage to iconic cities and eras from hip-hop’s first 50 years. Along with games, food from some New York City’s best food trucks and of course, great music.

    Genius IQ/BBQ Rap Cafeteria
    IQ/ BBQ’s Rap Cafeteria offered delicious eats from some of New York City’s best vendors

    Meanwhile, VIPs enjoyed sips of PATRÓN EL ALTO in the VIP Genius Lounge, which was adorned with famous song lyrics featuring PATRÓN.

    Photos by Kia Steiger-Dahl

    Performances

    As the acts warmed up so did the crowd. However, New York City’s “too cool for school” attitude reared its head, as less experienced and less-known performers struggled to captivate the crowd. Yet as the evening waned and guests had eaten and drank their fill, the center stage began to heat up. Performances from Luh Tyler and Lola Brooke got the crowd going. While Armani White showcased true stage presence and talent in getting a stubborn crowd to come alive.

    Photos by Spicy Rico

    As a result, a now-perked up and fully gathered crowd waited patiently for the headliners, Clipse, to make their appearance. After a near hour-long wait Pusha T dawned the stage, feverishly spitting out lyrics from his Grammy-nominated release, It’s Almost Dry.

    Pusha T came out to a very engaged crowd. Photo by Kia Steiger-Dahl,

    After performing records performing a slew of solo tracks, he brought out his brother Malice as they performed one of their classic album cuts, “Popular Demand” to a now-fully engaged crowd. The energy levels remained high throughout their set as they ran through a number of hit records including “Mr. Me Too,” and “What Happened to That Boy,” before ultimately performing a run of deep album cuts and closing out with one of hip hop’s classic records, “Grindin’.”

    Pusha T and No Malice are in the midst of a reunion 14 years in the making. Photo by Kia Steiger-Dahl.

    As Pusha T and Malice performed their last record, the duo thanked the crowd for repeatedly showing the Virginia natives love. Just as suddenly as the electrifying performance began, it was over, and guests dispersed knowing that hip hop delivered them another memorable day.

  • Beastie Boys Square to be Officially Unveiled This Saturday

    This Saturday, Sept. 9, Beastie Boys Square will officially be unveiled at the corner of Ludlow and Rivington Streets in Manhattan after the New York City Council approved the renaming.

    The ceremony, taking place from 12-2 p.m. will feature appearances from Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, including a DJ set by Jon Bless HiFi System.

    The Beastie Boys were an American rap group from New York City, formed in 1981. The group was composed of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. Beastie Boys has sold 20 million records in the United States and had seven platinum-selling albums from 1986 to 2004. They are the biggest-selling rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991.

    Photo by Ron Galella.

    The historic corner was once home to Paul’s Boutique—the namesake of the Beastie Boys’ sophomore LP, released in 1989. Cultural advocate LeRoy McCartney spearheaded the campaign, fighting for a decade. He also did similar landmark-naming campaigns, like the Wu-Tang Clan (Wu-Tang District in Staten Island) and The Notorious B.I.G. (Brooklyn’s Christopher Wallace Way), and credits Council Member Chris Marte with helping to push the renaming.

    Last summer Marte gave credit to the group themselves for paving the way in the genre of hip-hop and thanked the local residents, businesses, politicians, and more who supported the fight for the street name. “I see it as a celebration. A celebration for the Lower East Side, a celebration for hip-hop, and especially a celebration for our community who has been organizing for a really long time to make this happen,” Marte also said.

    Photo by William Farrington.

    The unveiling of Beastie Boys Square coincides with the ongoing celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, which includes the first-ever theatrical screening of Spike Jonze’s Beastie Boys Story, taking place at IFC Center on September 8 and 9. 

  • 70 Iconic Vocalists Tell All in New Book, “The Singers Talk”


    Rod Stewart, Roger Daltrey, Tony Bennett, Nick Cave, Norah Jones, Smokey Robinson, Thom Yorke, Chrissie Hynde, Brian Johnson and Chuck D are just a few of the 70 vocal icons whose inspirations and techniques are revealed in a riveting new book, The Singers Talk (Permuted Press).

    The Singers Talk is a first-of-its-king compendium of lengthy conversations conducted with dozens of vocal greats by Jason Thomas Gordon, the lead singer and drummer of buzzworthy LA-based rockers, Kingsize.  Interestingly, Gordon is also the grandson of Danny Thomas, the early television sitcom pioneer who founded St. Jude’s, the world’s foremost hospital for child cancer patients, in 1962.  All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the hospital through its Music Gives to St. Jude Kids, a campaign created by the author.

    The lengthy subtitle to Thomas’s book tells all – The Greatest Singers of Our Times Discuss The One Thing They’re Never Asked About – The Voices. Unlike guitarists, bassists and keyboardist who get to share their thoughts on their instruments through a plethora of specialty magazines and websites, how our favorite singers cultivate their unique sounds, and what they do to maintain them during high stakes recording sessions, grueling tours and over decades-long careers, is often a mystery.  Interestingly, The Singers Talk also features exclusive interviews about many celebrated voices no longer with us. These include Steven Van Zandt on Little Richard, Butch Vig on Kurt Cobain, Clive Davis on Whitney Houston, Nile Rodgers on David Bowie, Wendy Melvoin on Prince and Jimmy Iovine on Tom Petty.

    Gordon’s conversations with and about the vocal greats are steered by 20 questions he poses to each.  These include where and when they began singing, their earliest influences and dream duet partners (living or dead), five favorite singers and several technical questions like how they warm up (if at all) and keep their voices intact on the road.  Naturally, they also reveal the stories behind some of their most famous performances on record.

    The Go-Gos’s Belinda Carlisle shares that it was Julie Andrews in the film Mary Poppins who inspired her to sing and that she never takes to the stage with consuming two Aleve tablets to fight inflammation that can compromise her performance.  If Emmy Lou Harris’ early dreams came through, she would be a singing actress in musicals like West Side Story. The country rock great credits Gram Parsons and his amazing story songs to helping her find her voice. The original leather rocker girl, Joan Jett, was also all about movie musicals in her youth, especially Liza Minnelli in Cabaret. This was before she would fall in love with rock via Paul Rodgers’ singing in Free’s “All Right Now” and T. Rex’s “Bang A Gong.”  This trio is representative of many singers interviewed here who say they keep their voices is shape while on the road by avoiding overly air-conditioned rooms and by traveling with one or more humidifiers!  And while Chrissie Hynde also ascribes to the above road Rx, she was turned on to singing by the original punk, Iggy Pop.  She says, ironically I trust, his success demonstrated that there was a space on the hit parade for “ugly Midwestern voices like ours.”

    Producer Butch Vig shares that Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain hated to double-track his voice, claiming “it was fake.”  The mercurial musician would also only be good for a couple of takes before he blew out his voice.  But Vig did get Cobain to double-track by using a bit of psychology – by telling Beatlefile Kurt that his idol, John Lennon, did it on almost every record.  The Doors’ Robbie Krieger credits some of Jim Morrison’s vocal punch to the size of his throat commenting: “Have you ever looked at the size of his neck? It’s as big as Pavarotti’s!” He also sets a long-discussed rumor straight saying that his singer’s spine-chilling performance on “The End” was indeed recorded while Morrison on L.S.D.  Ozzy Osborne also brings up the legendary Italian opera star saying he always eats as apple before going on stage, just like Pavarotti himself did (it helps lubricated the voice according to Osborne). The Who’s Roger Daltrey feels he found his voice through the band’s songs, most notably, in the studio and live performances of the rock opera, Tommy. And rock’s most iconic scream, the one in “Won’t Get Fooled Again?” Does it obscure his singing talent?  “It drives me nuts,” he says. “I’m getting to the age where it’s my least favorite song to sing.”

    The recently-departed jazz great Tony Bennett claimed it takes seven years of steady work to learn how to sing properly and that his own influencers are not singers but great jazz sax players and pianists.  Producer Nile Rodgers ascribes the success of David Bowie to his perfectionist preparation and thespian skills.  Like his career and discography, his voice was also about constant change. Bowie would develop wholly new styles and approaches for the “characters” he took on in his songs.  And the secret to Public Enemy’s Chuck D’s success? It’s that he wanted to be – and communicates very much like – a sports play-by-play announcer. “Rap carries the same rhythms as sportscasters like Marv Albert,” adds D.  His technique has been helped by his recent study of Pilates and five-years of core training.

    “Singing is so much more than hitting the right note,” Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. “It’s about connecting with the audience, connecting with something divine, connecting to your most primitive and deepest intuition, and to your nature as a human on this planet.” Adds Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, mid-interview, “This is the most geeked out I’ve ever talked about my voice!”

  • DJ Muggs “Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley” – A Gritty Masterpiece with Exclusive NYC Premiere

    DJ Muggs, the legendary producer known for his groundbreaking work with Cypress Hill and countless other hip-hop luminaries, is back with a vengeance. On August 25th, he dropped Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley, an album that oozes gritty beats and showcases his production prowess. But that’s not all; it’s accompanied by an upcoming short movie directed by Jason Goldwatch, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this already captivating project.

    First things first, the album itself is a masterclass in production. DJ Muggs has assembled a roster of rap heavyweights to spit fire over his beats, and the result is nothing short of spectacular. “It’s On” featuring Boldy James sets the stage with its ominous vibes. “Check In (Original Version)” with Jay Worthy offers a gritty original flavor, while “Sicilian Gold” featuring Ghostface Killah and Westside Gunn is a lyrical showcase over Muggs’ haunting beat. “67 Keys” featuring Roc Marciano, Rome Streetz, and Meyhem Lauren delves into the underground hip-hop scene with finesse, and “Mr. Cartoon Interlude” adds an artistic touch.

    “Burn The Playbook” featuring Evidence and Domo Genesis showcases sharp verses over Muggs’ hypnotic production. “Crazy Horse” featuring Roc Marciano and Crimeapple continues the underground exploration, and “Metropolis” featuring Method Man and Slick Rick combines veteran talent for a standout track. “We Coming For The Safe” featuring Boldy James keeps the intensity high, and “Skeleton Bones” featuring Rome Streetz brings it back to the gritty underground.

    The album’s energy intensifies with “Dump On Em” featuring B-Real, MC Ren, and Ice Cube, and it all comes to a captivating close with “Outro,” leaving listeners eager to hit replay on this unrelenting sonic journe

    Moreover, the cinematic experience associated with this album adds a whole new layer of excitement. The short movie directed by Jason Goldwatch, set to release on September 13th, promises to be an audio-visual journey that complements the music’s dark and mysterious vibes. You can catch a glimpse of what’s in store by watching the movie trailer below.

    As if all of this weren’t enough, an exclusive movie premiere took place at SoHo House in NYC on August 30th, giving fans an early taste of the visual storytelling that accompanies Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley. The premiere was made even more special with a Q&A session featuring DJ Muggs and Jason Goldwatch allowing fans to gain insight into the creative process behind this groundbreaking project.

    In conclusion, DJ Muggs has once again proven why he’s a force to be reckoned with in the hip-hop world. Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley is an auditory and soon-to-be-visual masterpiece that deserves a place in the collections of hip-hop aficionados everywhere. From the star-studded tracklist to the imminent short movie, this project is a testament to Muggs’ enduring talent and creativity. Don’t sleep on it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmG_9et-D-o