Dopapod, approaches their 36th year together and has announced their highly anticipated Fall Tour #27.
Nearing four decades together, Dopapod is gearing up to bring their fans a sensational 41st round of captivating performances.
Fall tour will kick off on Sept. 13 in High Point, NC, heading to Atlanta and Nashville, where they have some surprises in store for audiences, with a special improvised performance during the soundcheck.
Dopapod heads up the East Coast to Brooklyn Bowl on Sept. 20, with fans in Hartford, CT on Sept. 24 including an improvised set during soundcheck.
Excitement is at a peak for this tour, with the quality of live Dopapod performances consistently deliver but also exclusive giveaways and opportunities available to fans. Dopapod is giving away signed Megagem/Emit Time/Dopapod test pressings, ensuring lucky winners receive a truly unique piece of their musical history. Additionally, one signed poster will be given away at each show. Merchandise discounts and other surprises are also in store for those who participate. To enter the giveaway, fans simply need to take a screenshot of their presale ticket and email it to streetteam@dopapod.com. Every fan who sends in an email will receive a special gift from the band, making sure that no one leaves empty-handed.
Dopapod emphasizes that buying presale tickets greatly supports the band, and they deeply appreciate the continued backing of their fans. Tickets for the shows are now on sale. Learn more and find tickets to Dopapod’s fall tour at dopapod.com.
Dopapod Fall Tour #27 Dates 9.13- High Point, NC 9.14- Asheville, NC 9.15- Atlanta, GA** 9.16- Nashville TN** 9.19- Charlottesville, VA 9.20- Washington, DC 9.22- Brooklyn, NY 9.23- TBA 9.24- Hartford, CT** 9.26- Burlington, VT 9.27- Burlington, VT** 9.28- Pembroke, MA 9.29- Philadelphia, PA 9.30- Mason, NH
The NY Harvest Festival & Freedom Fair are returning to Ithaca for the 26th straight year of celebrating music, arts, and cannabis culture. Taking place October 6-9, 2023 at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, attendees will get to experience a packed musical lineup along with interactions with local cannabis companies.
2021 NY Harvest Festival Cannabis Cup
Featuring multiple stages, fine art displays, street vendors, workshops, activist & educational speakers, a farmers market, onsite camping, and many more activities, the NY Harvest Festival expects to embody the connection between cannabis and music.
On Friday, October 6, the headliner event features two sets of Dogs in a Pile, whose exploratory music blends psychedelia, jazz, fusion, funk, traditional, and rock n roll. Performing their first-ever festival show here years ago, Dogs in a Pile returns to put on yet another unforgettable showing.
Saturday, October 7th’s lineup will additionally feature more local New York talent, as Sophistafunk, The Garcia Project, Gratefully Yours, and special guest Immortal Technique will all take the stage.
Other artists anticipating performances at the event include The Tyler Neal Band, Tony Vacca & World Rhythms, EARTH, The Cosmic Charlies, and so many other up-and-coming local talents.
Lastly, the festival’s main event, the Cannabis Cup, takes place Sunday, October 8 at 4:20 pm, and festival producer and veteran NY cannabis activist Rob Robinson will be the host. Known as America’s longest-running cannabis cup, everyone over 21 that wants to be, gets the opportunity to be a judge.
“NY Harvest Fest is a celebration of our cannabis culture. A place where the culture could always feel free, despite prohibition. Now that cannabis is legal and its potential is being realized, we are excited to bring this event, this culture, back into the light.”
– Rob Robinson
As the longest-running, largest, private cannabis event in New York, the NY Harvest Festival continues paving the way in the marijuana industry while intertwining it with community involvement. Now, for the 26th straight year, the festival has even more freedom and excitement surrounding cannabis legalization.
A shot of the crowd from the 2022 NY Harvest Festival
Last night, the 76th annual Tony Awards celebrated this year on Broadway by making history and breaking rules, and awarding Kimberly Akimbo the Award for Best Musical.
Ariana Debose hosting, credit to Kevin Mazur.
At the United Palace in Washington Heights, the audience gathered to reflect on and award this past Broadway season. The theatre industry has seen drama offstage this year. Arguments about how much actors should give to their performances, discussions on the industry’s ableism and racism, post-COVID struggles that forced iconic shows to close, and Patti LuPone ripping up her Equity union card were just some of the one-act plays we saw debut on social media.
Ariana Debose hosted the show for the second year in a row. But this year, she did things differently. The show opened to her looking through her script for the 76th annual Tony Awards, only to find blank pages. Unlike most Tony Awards opening numbers, there was no singing. DeBose moved into an impressive dance number choreographed by Carla Garcia. It was started the night with a bang as it married Fosse with modern styles. Once onstage―after catching her breath―DeBose shared the “very good reason” why the Tony’s script pages were blank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4oQeYx5INE
“Our siblings over at the [Writer’s Guild of America] are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal,” DeBose said. “I’m sure some of you at home are thinking, ‘Oh, okay, but what does that have to do with the Tony Awards?…Award shows are traditionally written by members of the WGA. So in order for this show to go on, a whole host of people had to come together in order to find a compromise…And so now you are asking, what’s the compromise? Well, we don’t have a script.”
Without teleprompters, the night felt charged. Just like any Broadway show, this truly was a live performance. But that wasn’t the only part of the Tony’s that made it unlike any other before. Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee made history as they became the first out non-binary actors to win Tony awards. Even though Toby Marlow, who won the Tony for best musical score for Six, is non-binary, Newell and Ghee are the first in the Tony’s only gendered category: acting.
Photo by Theo Wargo, Getty Images for Tony Awards Pro.
Newell won best supporting actor in a musical for their performance of Lulu in Shucked, a new musical comedy nominated for 9 Tony awards. Shucked tells the story of Maizy, who travels to find out why all of the corn in her small town, Cob County, is dying. The constant corny humor makes audiences laugh nonstop.
“Broadway, I should not be up here,” Newell said in their acceptance speech. “As a queer, non-binary, fat, black little baby from Massachusetts. And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face and tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to.”
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for “Some Like It Hot” at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace Theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Charles Sykes, Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Soon after, Ghee accepted the Tony for best leading actor in a musical for their portrayal of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like it Hot. They thanked their producers and creative team for letting them lead. “Thank you…for letting me be representation, letting lives be seen.”
Although there were many great shows nominated, one swept overall. New musical Kimberly Akimbo won 5 awards, including best new musical. Even though the night was unscripted, critics and audiences alike were not surprised.
The musical tells the story of Kimberly, a 16-year-old girl born with a rare genetic condition that makes her age almost five times as fast as kids her age. The show is heartwarming and breaking. Other than best musical, Kimberly Akimbo took home beat supporting actress (Bonnie Milligan), best lead actress (Victoria Clarke), best original score, and best book of a musical.
Despite how the show was real and unfiltered, censorship reminded viewers of big differences between stage and screen. After two previous nominations, Michael Arden scored his first win for Direction of a musical for his work on Parade, which won best musical revival. Arden took his acceptance speech as an opportunity to speak out about the need to fight intolerance. “It is so, so important,” Arden stressed, “or else we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history.”
Michael Arden’s bleeped-out Tony Award speech is instantly iconic:
"Growing up, I was called the F-word more times than I could remember. And all I can say now is I'm a faggot with a Tony!"#TonyAwardspic.twitter.com/pJYzfgIJoh
What viewers remember most about Arden’s speech, though, is something we could not even hear. “to our beautiful trans, nonbinary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful,” he expressed. “Growing up, I was called the f word more times than I can remember, and now all I can say is I’m a f***** with a tony.” CBS censored the last words of Arden’s speech. Still, we saw how the live audience stood up and cheered louder than they had all night.
If you missed the 76th Tony Awards, you can stream it on Paramount Plus.
76th Annual Tony Award Winners
Best Play
Ain’t No Mo’ Between Riverside and Crazy Cost of Living Fat Ham Leopoldstadt
Best Musical
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Revival of a Play
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson A Doll’s House The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Best Revival of a Musical
Parade Into the Woods Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Book of a Musical
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo New York, New York Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Almost Famous Kimberly Akimbo KPOP Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog Corey Hawkins, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog Sean Hayes, Good Night, Oscar Stephen McKinley Henderson, Between Riverside and Crazy Wendell Pierce, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Jessica Chastain, A Doll’s House Jodie Comer, Prima Facie Jessica Hecht, Summer, 1976 Audra McDonald, Ohio State Murders
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Christian Borle, Some Like It Hot J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like It Hot Josh Groban, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Brian d’Arcy James, Into the Woods Ben Platt, Parade Colton Ryan, New York, New York
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Annaleigh Ashford, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sara Bareilles, Into the Woods Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo Lorna Courtney, & Juliet Micaela Diamond, Parade
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Jordan E. Cooper, Ain’t No Mo’ Samuel L. Jackson, August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Arian Moayed, A Doll’s House Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt David Zayas, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Nikki Crawford, Fat Ham Crystal Lucas-Perry, Ain’t No Mo’ Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window Katy Sullivan, Cost of Living Kara Young, Cost of Living
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kevin Cahoon, Shucked Justin Cooley, Kimberly Akimbo Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like It Hot Jordan Donica, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Alex Newell, Shucked
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Julia Lester, Into the Woods Ruthie Ann Miles, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Bonnie Milligan, Kimberly Akimbo NaTasha Yvette Williams, Some Like It Hot Betsy Wolfe, & Juliet
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Prima Facie Life of Pi Good Night, Oscar Leopoldstadt A Christmas Carol
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
New York, New York Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Shucked Some Like It Hot
Best Costume Design of a Play
Life of Pi Fat Ham Leopoldstadt Ain’t No Mo’ Good Night, Oscar
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Some Like It Hot Parade Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot KPOP & Juliet New York, New York
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Leopoldstadt Prima Facie A Doll’s House Fat Ham Life of Pi Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman A Christmas Carol
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
New York, New York Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Parade & Juliet Some Like It Hot Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Sound Design of a Play
Ain’t No Mo’ Life of Pi A Christmas Carol A Doll’s House Prima Facie
Best Sound Design of a Musical
New York, New York Shucked Into the Woods & Juliet Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Direction of a Play
Saheem Ali, Fat Ham Jo Bonney, Cost of Living Jamie Lloyd, A Doll’s House Patrick Marber, Leopoldstadt Stevie Walker-Webb, Ain’t No Mo’ Max Webster, Life of Pi
Best Direction of a Musical
Michael Arden, Parade Lear deBessonet, Into the Woods Casey Nicholaw, Some Like It Hot Jack O’Brien, Shucked Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo
Best Choreography
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Some Like It Hot New York, New York & Juliet KPOP
Best Orchestrations
& Juliet Kimberly Akimbo Shucked Some Like It Hot New York, New York
Goose has recently announced the release of a landmark concert recording commemorating the band’s two-night performance in June of 2022 at the New York City venue. Live at Radio City Music Hall is now available digitally while a limited edition, vinyl box set is up for pre-order.
Although Goose is no stranger to sold-out shows and incredible success, their performances on June 24th and 25th of last year proved to be a major turning point in their career. The two sold out shows not only allowed them to properly showcase their critically acclaimed breakthrough LP, Dripfield, but brought striking sit-ins from special guests Trey Anastasio and Father John Misty.
Live at Radio City Music Hallincludes the complete setlist from both nights which feature acoustic renditions of Goose fan favorites like “Elmeg the Wise,” covers of Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, and more, as well as a weekend-closing version of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” featuring Anastasio on guitar and Misty on drums.
Goose’s vocalist and guitar player Rick Mitarotonda raves about the band-altering experience saying, “Playing Radio City Music Hall felt like a unifying moment for the band. I was anticipating being nervous considering all of the history and prestige of that room, but it surprisingly ended up feeling really comfortable. I think that speaks to the magic of that venue, and moment for the band. It felt like both reaching a destination and opening a door to a new beginning at the same time.”
Following this stunning release, Goose will be headlining multiple dates this summer on their 2023 tour beginning in June and lasting until November. Their forty date trek includes a sold-out, two-night run at Louisville, KY’s Louisville Palace Theatre; a sold-out, two-night Independence Day celebration at Asbury Park, NJ’s Stone Pony Summer Stage; and visits to famed venues like Saratoga Springs, NY’s Saratoga Performing Arts Center; Detroit, MI’s Masonic Temple Theatre; Santa Barbara, CA’s Santa Barbara Bowl; and Las Vegas, NV’s Brooklyn Bowl.
Thankfully for the “Ganders,” Goose’s hardcore fans, the band will not stop there. They will also continue to be among the headline acts at an array of upcoming festivals and events, including Rothbury, MI’s Electric Forest; Scranton, PA’s Peach Music Festival; and headlining for two nights with four unique sets in Garrettsville, OH at the Resonance Music and Arts Festival.
GOOSE – ON TOUR 2023
June 21 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre (WXRT Summer Solstice Show)
June 22 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theatre
June 23 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theatre
June 25 – Rothbury, MI – Electric Forest (SOLD OUT)
June 27 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! Outdoors
June 29 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival
June 29- July 1 – Garrettsville, OH – Resonance Music and Arts Festival (Two Sets)
July 3 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage (SOLD OUT)
July 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage (SOLD OUT)
July 6 – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point
July 7 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 8 – Marshfield, MA – Levitate Music and Arts Festival
July 29 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
September 15 – Buffalo, NY – Borderland Music Festival
September 16 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre
September 17 – Milwaukee, WI – Miller High Life Theatre (SOLD OUT)
September 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden Amphitheater (SOLD OUT)
September 22 – Missoula, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater (SOLD OUT)
September 23 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Pavilion
September 24 – Redmond, OR – Cascade Equinox Festival
September 25 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
September 26 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
September 29 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
September 30 – Dana Point, CA – Ohana Fest
October 1 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
October 3 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater
October 5 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
October 6 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)
October 26-29 – Live Oak, FL – Suwanee Hulaween
November 3 – Paris, FR – Le Trabendo
November 4 – Cologne, DE – Luxor (SOLD OUT)
November 7 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg (SOLD OUT)
November 9 – Copenhagen, DK – Hotel Cecil (SOLD OUT)
November 11 – Berlin, DE – Gretchen (SOLD OUT)
November 13 – Brussels, BE – AB Club (SOLD OUT)
November 15 – Glasgow, UK – Baad
November 16 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 2
Hot 97 and WBLS-FM, for the first time, jointly announced Hip Hop Forever, a celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and more, coming to Madison Square Garden on Sept. 15.
Hip Hop Forever is part of New York City’s ongoing celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, falling just one month after the Hip Hop 50 celebration at Yankee Stadium, which includes Run-DMC, Lil Kim, Snoop Dogg, and more. The Hip Hop Forever event at MSG features one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time, Wu-Tang Clan. Since their triple-platinum debut record Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) came out in 1993, the group has gone on to release eight albums and created legendary live shows, the band’s prolific careers as individuals and especially as the most storied group in hip-hop history.
Other can’t-miss acts to see include Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer, and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, a SAG nomination, and more, she has cemented herself as a powerhouse that can truly do it all. The best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles, Mariah Carey, makes a special appearance. She is truly the template of modern pop performance, leaving a cultural and indelible imprint on the industry and the world at large.
One of the most prolific dancehall and reggae performers, Sean Paul, will perform a set at Hip Hop Forever, as well as Tyrese, Maxwell, and EPMD. Tickets will go on sale via a presale on Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. ahead of the general on-sale on Friday, June 16 at 10 a.m. To purchase, visit here.
On Thursday June 8th, Hawthorne Heights started Albany’s Alive at 5 concert Series with tribute to their roots as Emo artists. The show was moved to Albany’s rain location under I-787, but the skies were as clear as could be for the show.
James Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights – Photo by Jarron Childs
Alive at 5 is a free summer concert series that the city of Albany has been throwing on annually for over 30 years. The series host artists from from the local area to national scene to bring the capital region some music from their favorite genre. Each week has a different theme; this one being Emo Pride Night.
The show’s opener was the band Bad Luck from New York City. They had just come off a spring tour to play a 45 min set. Bad Luck set the tone for what was to come for the headliner.
Hawthorne Heights formed in Dayton, Ohio a little over 20 years ago in 2001. They sent out their first song, “Silver Bullet,” to hundreds of record labels until one stuck with Confined Records. By 2006, they had two gold albums and were opening for Fall Out Boy during their Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour. The first stop on that tour, in fact, was in Albany, at what is now MVP Arena.
Hawthorne Heights is currently on a traveling festival around the US called the “Is For Lovers” festival. It has lineups of some of the best emo and pop-punk bands that could have ever been assembled, all in one place.
Hawthorne Heights played a long 90 minutes set to start Albany’s Alive at 5 for 2023. Lead singer, James Woodruff, said this was the longest set they have ever played. Though he proclaimed early on that they would rock out the whole night, there were a lot of speeches in between songs. Fans grew restless towards the end of the set as it could be felt that he was trying to fill up their time slot. Though the speeches did give their songs more meaning, and young fans got to understand emo better, it could be felt that fans just wanted to rock out the night.
Hawthorne Heights did come through with their promise as fans got to mosh to some of their favorite songs. At least two mosh pits that broke out on top of, crowd surfing and the audio engineer jumping into the crowd. The crowd screamed the lyrics to “Niki FM” and helped to close out the show with “Ohio is for lovers.”
Hawthorne Heights will continue their “Is for Lovers” festival on June 24th in Stateline, NV. There are currently no NY shows scheduled, but hopefully NY fans will get new music from them soon.
Don’t miss this week’s Alive at 5 with Mihali with special guest Side B opening. NYS Music will be on site so stop down and check out what the NYS Music team has in store!
Hawthorne Heights Setlist: Pens and Needles, Constant Dread, This is Who We Are, Lucerne Valley, The Transition, Crimson Sand, Saying Sorry, Rescue Me, Spray Paint it Black, Silver Bullet, Hard to Breathe, Blue Burns Orange, Stab Myself, We Are So Last Year, Niki FM, Dandelions, Ohio Is For Lovers
Governors Ball wrapped up the weekend last night with a stellar, career-spanning performance from Kendrick Lamar. Sunday was another eclectic day of music from all ends of the spectrum, featuring sets by Lil Nas X, Pusha T, Black Midi, Girl In Red, and Phony Ppl.
Kendrick Lamar, Governors Ball 6/11/2023. Photo by Lucas Kurzweil
Rap music was on clear display for Sunday. Coast Contra gave some early afternoon rap to the Bacardí stage. The dynamic rap group brought the old school vibes with their “Scenerio Freestyle.” Over on the GoPuff Stage, Central Cee displayed classic UK rap to the New York crowd. He had the fans going wild for his hit song “Doja.”
Leading up to the headlining slot on Sunday, Pusha T brought his rash flow to a wild crowd at the Bacardi Stage with a deep setlist full of crowd favorites and covers. At the same time, Sofi Tukker’s house/pop blend reverberated from the GoPuff Stage sending infectious dance beats through the park. Lil Nas X followed with thrilling dancing and intricate costumes culminating in a giant sing-along to his hit song “Old Town Road”.
Pusha T, Governors Ball 6/11/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
It was only fitting that Kendrick Lamar headlined Sunday night because there was truly no better way to end the 2023 edition of the Governors Ball. Fresh off the larger-than-life Big Steppers Tour, Kendrick brought his more stripped-back festival production to the GovBall Stage. It’s hard to imagine how such a mega artist can create an “intimate” festival performance while still bringing every bit of energy you expect. A bare stage with varying backdrops, flanked by lighting from the sides of the stage and vertical laser walls made Flushing Meadows feel like a window into the life of Kendrick Lamar songs. The power and raw energy of Kendrick’s flow echoed throughout the audience who were in awe of what they were witnessing.
Kendrick Lamar, Governors Ball 6/11/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
With 2023 in the books, we can already start thinking about next year. The move to Flushing Meadows Park was a major success for Governors Ball. The vast park is the perfect venue for a music festival with large field areas and thick tree lines providing shade and texture to the grounds. Fans have easier access via mass transit and the neighborhoods surrounding the park are home to the most diverse local food vendors anywhere in the world. The future is bright for Governors Ball after finally finding the perfect home. After housing multiple World Fairs in 1939 and 1964, the city has kept large festivals away from Flushing Meadows; a trend that has finally ended.
Stay tuned for more artist galleries, as well as a in-depth look into Kendrick Lamar’s historic headlining set in Queens.
After “Favorite Song” caught fire globally, becoming the Syracuse rapper’s highest charting single to date, Toosii builds off this excitement from his recent success, dropping his first studio album NAUJOUR on June 2.
Gaining traction in the industry in 2020 with his debut project Poetic Pain, Toosii’s melodic, raspy voice matched with rap and R&B instrumentals has made him a unique music industry member. Tracks “Sapiosexual,” “Love Cycle,” and others launched Poetic Pain to peak at number 14 on the Billboard 100, a glimpse into his skill set moving forward.
Late 2020 and early 2021 saw him generate more widespread buzz in Thank You For Believing where Toosii collaborated with DaBaby, Latto, and Key Glock, displaying his versatility by bouncing between genres. The overall hype around this project and past performances earned him a spot on the 2021 XXL Freshman List, and from there his career continued to explode.
Fast forward to 2023, Toosii’s first full-length studio album as a member of Capitol Records, NAUJOUR, hypnotizes his audience by evolving his R&B skills since his 2022 EP Boy’s Don’t Cry: Men Do.
In addition to his advanced R&B knowledge, he provides unique sample loops similar to earlier projects but acts as the foundation for more personal storytelling lyricism concerning his past.
Album Rollout and Overview
Coming in at 19 tracks, NAUJOUR‘s announcement came on May 5, 2023, via the rapper’s Instagram, while also continuously hinting at the album’s release in early 2023 through his lead singles and remixes of “Favorite Song.” Khalid and Future both appear in their own versions of the track, with Future’s being known as the “Toxic Version.”
Originally appearing on the aforementioned Boy’s Don’t Cry: Men Do before NAUJOUR, “Love Is…” utilizes a sample from Julia Michaels’ “Love Is Weird” for the project’s lead single. A vulnerable, heartbreaking song, it sticks out in Toosii’s discography as one of his more personal performances.
From track to track, we trek across his rise to stardom and come up in the highly competitive music industry, not skipping on any of the tough feats he had to endure from his childhood to the present day.
Featuring only 21 Savage, Wallo 267, Future, and Khalid, the project is a prime look into Toosii’s solo abilities and one-of-a-kind vocals that have driven him to the top of the R&B pyramid.
Standout Tracks
“Rule Number 1” kickstarts the project on a family-oriented note, opening with a voice message from his mother sending love to the rapper and disclosing core memories from his younger years.
He lists three rules for listeners to follow, going in on his past lack of trust with women, patience in waiting for his moment, and advice for future generations.
Across much of Toosii’s discography, we dive deeper and deeper into his past love life and current relationship with Samaria Davis, as the third track “Another Love Song” showcases. His struggle to find that perfect balance of love between both parties is heard through the strong vocal delivery over a catchy, melodic sample loop.
Despite the differences between Toosii and Davis, “Another Love Song” still ensures that he is there for her in the end no matter the situation.
This another love song, this another anthem, somethin’ to bawl your eyes out to, when you’re feelin’ damaged, call me, tell me you need me there, when you wasn’t carin.’
– Toosii on “Another Love Song”
Track six “Villains & Heroes” pins this past relationship as a devil, angel situation, while also describing some of his wrongdoings that cause him pain.
Another melodic sample loop lays out Toosii’s toxic lyricism towards his own actions and his partner’s as well, again a common theme when dissecting the pain of his past relationships.
Pouring pain in his voice, each R&B song touches on the longing for love and the presentation of his life experiences learned through hardship.
The stretch of “Go Go Go” and “Pull Up,” featuring 21 Savage, are fast-paced, upbeat rap performances, flaunting his capability in more than one genre.
Behind the flawless production from the well-known producer team The LoopHoles, 21 Savage and Toosii create one of the project’s most entertaining and energetic tracks. The menacing tone set by the two artists makes for a moshpit anthem for any concert crowd and is not the first one of these to sneak into Toosii’s discography.
Final Thoughts
Mixing heart and soul into his R&B tunes and intense energy into rap, Toosii’s NAUJOUR encapsulates the multi-genre talent he has been mastering for years.
On May 10, Toosii would announce his NAUJOUR Tour, a 22-city journey this Summer to showcase the rapper’s work to his fans.
Expect music videos to come along with multiple singles off the project, with Toosii already dropping a video for track four “FWLM” on the same day as the album’s release.
Corning, NY’s Gaffer District is returning with their “Summer in Downtown” series this summer with a suite of events ranging from music to stories to farmers markets. This year, the program is sponsored by Williams Toyota, enabling free and accessible events to all attendees.
For over 30 years, the Gaffer District has served as a place of community engagement and marketing. Originally built following the reconstruction of Corning’s historic downtown in the wake of a flood in 1972. Today, the district is home to over 250 businesses, galleries, museums, and a full schedule of events throughout the year.
We are thrilled to partner again with Williams Toyota to present the Summer in Downtown event series. Their tremendous passion for this community is evident in the many ways they help us provide free entertainment and wonderful memory-making experiences for area residents and visitors alike.
Coleen Fabrizi, executive director of Corning’s Gaffer District
Summer in Downtown Series Events
Community Nights
Home to vendors, live music, and kid-friendly activities, Gaffer District will be holding two Community Nights. The first, “Crusin’ Community Night” is on July 28 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will feature the bands Chasing Neon as well as Blue Eyed Soul. The second, “Bites on Bridge Community Night” in on Aug. 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will include the band Double Barrel.
Storytime in the Square
Every Tuesday from June 13 to Aug. 22 is at 10:00 a.m. at the Centerway Square stage for an hour. Each day has a different theme, from “In the Good ol’ Summertime” to “Christmas in July.”
Corning Farmers Market
At the Riverfront in Corning on every Thursday from June 1 to Oct. 26 is the Corning Farmers Market. From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., local farmers and vendors will be there to sell their wares. A community favorite, Ella’s Acres food truck, will be there all summer long to serve locally-sourced cuisine.
Northside Music Series
All events for the Northside Music Series are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. This Corning Summer in Downtown will feature the following artists:
Can’t Count Trio – July 11
Sandra Esparza – July 18
Payton Clark – July 25
Dragonfly Acoustic – Aug. 1
3’s a Crowd – Aug. 8
Pat Comstock – Aug. 15
Jeremy James – Aug. 22
Tremayne Harer- Aug. 29
Music in the Square
All events for the Music in the Square series are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. This series will feature the following artists:
New York Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and Led Zeppelin tribute band Get The Led Out highlighted the Music Beats Cancer event on June 8, a night of music, reaching out to the community, and recognizing the importance of cancer research innovations.
Get The Led Out performing at the first annual Music Beats Cancer event on June 8, 2023.
Held at Terminal 5 in New York City, Music Beats Cancer’s first annual event successfully raised awareness and money for cancer research. The non-profit organization focuses on the significance of connecting music to boost cancer-fighting treatment techniques, all while promoting new artists and their music.
Live and silent auctions, a two-part performance from Get The Led Out, and a passionate speech from Lawrence Taylor were all factors in providing a night to remember for the foundation.
Before the event, Taylor took the time to emphasize the importance of cancer research innovations, a big reason why he supports Music Beats Cancer’s organizational goals. Through personal experience in knowing people who have battled the illness and expressing the significance of helping those in need, he believes this event is a step towards an answer.
“I have friends who have cancer, had cancer, I feel that it’s a worthy cause…at the end of the day we got to take a hold of it [cancer] and somewhere there is an answer and somewhere there is a cure.”
– Lawrence Taylor
Taylor’s involvement in the group effort to promote cancer cure innovations stems from how important he believes the organization is, which assists in fighting against the disease in a unique way.
Lawrence Taylor attending the Music Beats Cancer event on June 8, 2023
“This is a good program, I mean that it’s a bigger program than we can put out at my organization in Florida, this is well on a bigger stage,” Taylor said. “I am impressed [with the event], and hopefully more people get involved.”
Raising thousands of dollars through donations while providing a tie to the music industry, the event’s success will leave an imprint on the future of start-ups and supporting up-and-coming artists for years to come.
