Check out DJ DanCE dropping knowledge about the serato.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Saturday, February 19, 2011
MIHE Show Review: ROGIERS Live at The Iridium, Feb. 4th by Mama Soul
I must admit that I had fallen victim to the winter blahs opting more times than not to play the hermit; to remain home tucked ever so snuggly under the covers. What lured me out from under? Another quality entertainment experience promoted by Make It Happen Entertainment, the event Midnight Music series at Iridium on the bill Rogiérs (pronounced Ro-Ghe-ay). I was already familiar with Rogiérs as a featured vocalist on records by other artists, Platinum Pied Pipers “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (“Triple P”, 2005) and Soul Cycle “Simply Beautiful” (“Mosaic”, 2009). My first onstage exposure to Rogiérs came via a Marvin Gaye tribute show courtesy of InJoy Enterprises and Make It Happen Entertainment. Rogiérs tackled and impressively delivered Gaye’s “Save the Children”. That evening’s musical experience was beyond entertaining so I was excited to attend his Iridium set.
Fast forward to a wintery day in New York, Rogiérs performance at Iridium marks his return to a New York City stage after touring the globe as keyboardist and singer with Alicia Keys. Rogiérs development as an artist is quite evident the moment he takes the stage, poised, quietly confident, rich vocals. Accompanied by a four piece band and two supporting vocalists we the audience was treated to a seven song set showcasing work from his first full album “Life And Music: All of It” (2008) with a few extra treats thrown in. Starting out with the declarative ode “My Gift” and closing with the mellow sophisticated “Come Into My World”. Rogiérs also debuted new track “The Handler” from his forthcoming release. “The Handler” has a thick lush bass-line it made me think of cheesecake. Not limiting himself solely to the mic Rogiérs tickled the ivories for the song “You’ll Live”.
At show’s end I couldn’t help but purchase some music and I’m not mad at all. Rogiérs “Life And Music: All of It” is a well-produced first effort, I mean the intro “Opening Explanation” will get your head bopping. Another treat is the appearance of two of my favorite artists Bilal and Robert Glasper both lending their talents as supporting vocalist and as producer. Standout cuts are: “Hollywood Story” both versions, “Come Into My World”, “Dust”, “My Gift” both versions, “The Walls”. Take the time and explore the life and music of Rogiérs.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What's Your Favorite Summer Tunes?
It's winter now, but summer will be here before you know it and in anticipation of summer coming, we'd like to know what your favorite summer songs are. It can be songs that remind you of summer or tunes that have come out during summers past that were so impactful, they defined that summer. Also let us know the story behind the songs you've chosen.
The songs that are mentioned will be included in our "Summer Grooves" mixtape that will be available at the start of the summer.
The songs that are mentioned will be included in our "Summer Grooves" mixtape that will be available at the start of the summer.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Vote For Amped-4-A-Cure In The Pepsi Refresh Project Competition!
Amped 4-A-Cure, Inc. (A4AC) is an organization dedicated to raising funds to support cancer research through the universal language of music.
A4AC started off the new year with an exciting announcement-Amped 4-A-Cure, Inc.'s Briana Watts Scholarship Fund has been selected to compete in the Pepsi Refresh Project for a grant of $250,000. Online and text voting began on Monday January 3 and will continue through January 31. The Pepsi Refresh Project awards grant money to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations with innovative ideas to better the community. Only 1000 applications are accepted each month, and winners are based on the number of votes received.
The Briana Watts Scholarship Fund is named after Briana Watts who lost her battle with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, on Feb. 11, 2010 at the tender age of fifteen. This scholarship fund will provide financial support to students fighting the war on cancer who choose Oncology as their field of study. Amped 4-A-Cure, Inc. plans to award ten deserving students each with a $20,000 Scholarship for their dedication to cancer patient care and research in finding a cure. One of the scholarships will always be awarded to a resident of North Carolina, Briana's home state. We want to encourage students to specialize in cancer research to help rid the world of this disease once and for all. Winning the $250,000 grant will allow A4AC to assist individuals who are dedicating their lives to helping those in need both now and for generations to come.
To vote for Amped 4-A-Cure in The Pepsi Refresh Project, Text 105563 to PEPSI (73774), or go to www.refresheverything.com/
Monday, December 6, 2010
MIHE Year End Review
As always, at this time of the year, we like to take the time to thank all the artists, venues and organizations that helped us meet our goals during the year that was.
It was a year of some great successes which included another indie Soul, star-studded REVISITING Event, this one featuring the music of MARVIN GAYE! (Read a review of the event here.)
This year also gave us the opportunity to feature the work of our photographer, KATIE PIPER for her first ever show! THE SOUND SHE SAW, featured photographs from Miss Piper taken at MIHE events through the years. (Check out Katie's work here.)
We spawned 2 new events late this year that will be fleshed out in 2011. We have added yet another legendary venue to the list of places for emerging artist to play. In conjunction with SCOBAR Ent., MIHE has brought MIDNIGHT MUSIC at THE IRIDIUM to fruition. We also created a new networking event that brings artists and industry professionals together to share information called THE CONNECTION. Both events will resume on a monthly basis in February. Along with our weekly GROOVEOLOGY event at Sip and 2 new monthlies for new artists to shine! Stay tuned...
We cannot end this recap of 2010 without citing that this is the year that MIHE took on the role of management by signing the production team of NUCLEAR O'REILLY to our management branch. We hope that this is the first of many such signings as we continue to build the platforms that aid in the elevation of the independent artist. (Download Nuclear O'Reilly's remix project, MIXED SIGNALS here.)
Special thanks to: The entire RhythmAndSoulRadio.com staff! DJ TODD JONES and RAINE TORAE for allowing us to sponsor their successful events! JSUN, LOYAL THOMAS, SCOTT BARBARINO and the many others who have collaborated with us throughout the year! (Full list of artists, venues, organizations and DJs can be found here. Please excuse us if we omitted anyone. It was by accident, not design.)
It was a year of some great successes which included another indie Soul, star-studded REVISITING Event, this one featuring the music of MARVIN GAYE! (Read a review of the event here.)
This year also gave us the opportunity to feature the work of our photographer, KATIE PIPER for her first ever show! THE SOUND SHE SAW, featured photographs from Miss Piper taken at MIHE events through the years. (Check out Katie's work here.)
We spawned 2 new events late this year that will be fleshed out in 2011. We have added yet another legendary venue to the list of places for emerging artist to play. In conjunction with SCOBAR Ent., MIHE has brought MIDNIGHT MUSIC at THE IRIDIUM to fruition. We also created a new networking event that brings artists and industry professionals together to share information called THE CONNECTION. Both events will resume on a monthly basis in February. Along with our weekly GROOVEOLOGY event at Sip and 2 new monthlies for new artists to shine! Stay tuned...
We cannot end this recap of 2010 without citing that this is the year that MIHE took on the role of management by signing the production team of NUCLEAR O'REILLY to our management branch. We hope that this is the first of many such signings as we continue to build the platforms that aid in the elevation of the independent artist. (Download Nuclear O'Reilly's remix project, MIXED SIGNALS here.)
Special thanks to: The entire RhythmAndSoulRadio.com staff! DJ TODD JONES and RAINE TORAE for allowing us to sponsor their successful events! JSUN, LOYAL THOMAS, SCOTT BARBARINO and the many others who have collaborated with us throughout the year! (Full list of artists, venues, organizations and DJs can be found here. Please excuse us if we omitted anyone. It was by accident, not design.)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Live Performance report – Soulbounce presents “SOL Village: Men Love Mary” @ SOB’s Jan. 20, 2010 by Mama Soul of Musical Pathways
The idea of men gathering to lift their voices in song sounds interesting enough. Now add to the equation an all male vocal tribute to Mary J. I’m on board! Tell the truth, which Mary do you prefer, the homegirl, tough as nails, drama-laden, drama-free, enlightened, or empowered Mary? Whatever your preference “Men Love Mary” had you covered. The evening was the brainchild of Soulbounce.com founder, Butta, in collaboration with SOL Village, the artist showcase hosted by Eric Roberson (aka Erro). The soundtrack for the affair was Mary J’s 1994 classic “My Life” reworked by six shining stars of the indie music scene: D-Maurice, Darien, Bradd Marquis, Jesse Boykins III, TL Cross, and Mr. Entertainment himself, Eric Roberson. Before the official program began, Mr. Roberson launched the show with a funky, rocked out rendition of the American Idol audition gem “Pants on the Ground”. After capturing the room’s attention, focus shifted to the tragic devastation of Haiti. Sharing the newly penned “A Prayer for Haiti”, Eric pledged to donate 100% of the evenings CD sales to Haitian relief efforts.
“Men Love Mary” was chock-full of artists not merely performing Mary J’s material, but reinterpreting songs in their own flavor. D-Mo delivered “Mary’s Joint”, this man showed his worth not only serving and featured artist, but pulling double duty providing backing vocals for Erro. Here’s the kicker when the backing track for “Love Without a Limit” wouldn’t power up, D-Mo still belted that tune out with the audience providing background vocals. Next up was Darien with “Be Happy” including lacing his offering with a touch-of-rhyme, TL Cross with “You Gotta Believe”, Bradd Marquis “I Never Want to Live Without You” for a minute or two brother man channeled the recently deceased Teddy Pendergrass by dropping a few bars of “Love TKO”, Jesse Boykins III delivered a ragga-tinged version of “No One Else” to Eric Roberson’s rendition of “My Life”. Not to be outdone, the audience was also invited to pay musical tribute to Mary J. Eric asked for any brave audience member to lift their voice up in song for “Not Goin’ Cry” (‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack), “Just Fine” (‘Growing Pains’) and with full crowd participation for “All That I Can Say” (‘Mary’). Though the event was called “Men Love Mary”, the ladies in the house had a whole lotta something to share as well. Over the familiar melody of the Roy Ayer’s classic “Everyone Loves the Sunshine”, we were treated to the velvety voice scatting of Lorenda Robinson(Brown Baby Girl), Kiki Hawkins (The Kiki Experience) doing what she does best wrecking the set with her powerhouse vocals. Most memorable for me was witnessing Kimberly Nichole just rock it out.
The evening’s close featured all “Men Love Mary” artists retaking the stage, then along with the female vocalists in the house (Tess, Kiki Hawkins, Lorenda Robinson, and Kimberly Nichole) for a jam session styled version of “My Life”. One audience member was so positively impacted she took to the stage offering praise and a performance, her name – Kim, her gig –playing drums for Beyonce. Had Mary J. had been in attendance she would’ve been honored, and flattered by the expression. A great effort for all involved, “Men Love Mary” brought me joy!
“Men Love Mary” was chock-full of artists not merely performing Mary J’s material, but reinterpreting songs in their own flavor. D-Mo delivered “Mary’s Joint”, this man showed his worth not only serving and featured artist, but pulling double duty providing backing vocals for Erro. Here’s the kicker when the backing track for “Love Without a Limit” wouldn’t power up, D-Mo still belted that tune out with the audience providing background vocals. Next up was Darien with “Be Happy” including lacing his offering with a touch-of-rhyme, TL Cross with “You Gotta Believe”, Bradd Marquis “I Never Want to Live Without You” for a minute or two brother man channeled the recently deceased Teddy Pendergrass by dropping a few bars of “Love TKO”, Jesse Boykins III delivered a ragga-tinged version of “No One Else” to Eric Roberson’s rendition of “My Life”. Not to be outdone, the audience was also invited to pay musical tribute to Mary J. Eric asked for any brave audience member to lift their voice up in song for “Not Goin’ Cry” (‘Waiting to Exhale’ soundtrack), “Just Fine” (‘Growing Pains’) and with full crowd participation for “All That I Can Say” (‘Mary’). Though the event was called “Men Love Mary”, the ladies in the house had a whole lotta something to share as well. Over the familiar melody of the Roy Ayer’s classic “Everyone Loves the Sunshine”, we were treated to the velvety voice scatting of Lorenda Robinson(Brown Baby Girl), Kiki Hawkins (The Kiki Experience) doing what she does best wrecking the set with her powerhouse vocals. Most memorable for me was witnessing Kimberly Nichole just rock it out.
The evening’s close featured all “Men Love Mary” artists retaking the stage, then along with the female vocalists in the house (Tess, Kiki Hawkins, Lorenda Robinson, and Kimberly Nichole) for a jam session styled version of “My Life”. One audience member was so positively impacted she took to the stage offering praise and a performance, her name – Kim, her gig –playing drums for Beyonce. Had Mary J. had been in attendance she would’ve been honored, and flattered by the expression. A great effort for all involved, “Men Love Mary” brought me joy!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Live Performance report – Declaime & Georgia Anne Muldrow @ SOB’s, Feb. 23, 2010 by Mama Soul of Musical Pathways
“…these custom built snares are not for entertainment” – Declaime on Ms. One’s production skills
I’ve been an admirer of Georgia Anne’s since my first introduction in 2008 on a DJ Needles compilation. Two years later and six albums added to my collection, my appreciation for Georgia Anne’s talent continues to flourish. So when the New York show date was announced my pulse began to race and my heart was aflutter. Nothing but death could keep me from this show – real talk!
My anticipation was getting the best of me; I imagined one show scenario after another. With such a full catalog between the two I didn’t know what to expect. A moment of truth though, prior to this show I wasn’t very familiar with Declaime the artist except for a few guest collaborations. However I am familiar with Declaime when he takes the form of Dudley Perkins producer extraordinaire for/with Georgia Anne. So tack on curiosity.
Show day arrives and the weather is just gross, spittle rain, windy and cold. Weather conditions which illicit feelings more akin to staying indoors then hanging out. I make the mental adjustment and prepare for the evening ahead-away I go. I reach the venue and much to my dismay, the crowd is woefully thin. This is no way for New York to represent. Did NYC get the memo? The catalog is too rich and full. Unfortunately, this is another classic case of artists being slept on. This may call for extreme measures – form of a crazy, ultra-hype super fan. Alas all are saved from such a spectacle. The crowd started to trickle-in and fill up the space like Pharoahe Monch, Soulafrodisiac’s Anne Marie Collymore and emerging artist Nakia Henry (sidebar, Nakia’s album “Remember Me” is a witty, sexy, well-crafted, and impressive debut). Take that old man winter!
The pre-show music fills the air and the crowd is either, chatting, dining or sipping. Without fanfare, hype-man or flashing lights Declaime and Georgia Anne take the stage, the crowd is hyped. G&D are a self-contained unit – want beats, want lyrics, want artistry, need vocalists, need musicians – check, check, and triple check. Dudley’s at the controls manning the CD-Js with Georgia Anne by his side. A Flying Lotus beat flows from the speakers, Georgia Anne gets a feel of the stage while vamping on the mic; ladies and gentlemen – soundcheck. I’m so ready!
Out the gate I’m head-nodding the tracks ooze of West Coast sonic stylings, production equal heavy on the “FONK” (this is not a misspelling). Reminiscent of Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins and Dr. Dre tracks have supple bass lines and sticky-synth keys. The onstage interplay allows each time to shine on the mic – a rhymesayer cooperative partnership. What’s even more endearing is their shared admiration each is a genuine fan of the other. The set list culled material from various projects. There is a message in their music, it’s not preachy, but thought-provoking addressing issues of self-awareness, social commentary-dare I say conscious lyrics all laced with that “FONK’. You still with me? Some of joints dropped were: “Connect Game”, “Shine On”, “Uhuru Flight”, “Fonk 4 U”, “Fame”, “Run It Down” and switching up the bpms a bit, Georgia Anne offered “Kings Ballad”, her tribute to Michael Jackson (a cut from her latest album of the same name). As the encore and request, Georgia Anne blessed us with the ode to art as therapy, “Roses”. The crowd gets live.
As a newbie, a Declaime and Georgia Anne show is an informal experience, not heavy on structure or particular order, but what is fonky at the moment. Note to self and others – a neck brace and/or Tiger Balm are in order because the FONK will have you head-nodding from start to finish. The next day my trapezius muscles were so sore – seriously.
I’ve been an admirer of Georgia Anne’s since my first introduction in 2008 on a DJ Needles compilation. Two years later and six albums added to my collection, my appreciation for Georgia Anne’s talent continues to flourish. So when the New York show date was announced my pulse began to race and my heart was aflutter. Nothing but death could keep me from this show – real talk!
My anticipation was getting the best of me; I imagined one show scenario after another. With such a full catalog between the two I didn’t know what to expect. A moment of truth though, prior to this show I wasn’t very familiar with Declaime the artist except for a few guest collaborations. However I am familiar with Declaime when he takes the form of Dudley Perkins producer extraordinaire for/with Georgia Anne. So tack on curiosity.
Show day arrives and the weather is just gross, spittle rain, windy and cold. Weather conditions which illicit feelings more akin to staying indoors then hanging out. I make the mental adjustment and prepare for the evening ahead-away I go. I reach the venue and much to my dismay, the crowd is woefully thin. This is no way for New York to represent. Did NYC get the memo? The catalog is too rich and full. Unfortunately, this is another classic case of artists being slept on. This may call for extreme measures – form of a crazy, ultra-hype super fan. Alas all are saved from such a spectacle. The crowd started to trickle-in and fill up the space like Pharoahe Monch, Soulafrodisiac’s Anne Marie Collymore and emerging artist Nakia Henry (sidebar, Nakia’s album “Remember Me” is a witty, sexy, well-crafted, and impressive debut). Take that old man winter!
The pre-show music fills the air and the crowd is either, chatting, dining or sipping. Without fanfare, hype-man or flashing lights Declaime and Georgia Anne take the stage, the crowd is hyped. G&D are a self-contained unit – want beats, want lyrics, want artistry, need vocalists, need musicians – check, check, and triple check. Dudley’s at the controls manning the CD-Js with Georgia Anne by his side. A Flying Lotus beat flows from the speakers, Georgia Anne gets a feel of the stage while vamping on the mic; ladies and gentlemen – soundcheck. I’m so ready!
Out the gate I’m head-nodding the tracks ooze of West Coast sonic stylings, production equal heavy on the “FONK” (this is not a misspelling). Reminiscent of Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins and Dr. Dre tracks have supple bass lines and sticky-synth keys. The onstage interplay allows each time to shine on the mic – a rhymesayer cooperative partnership. What’s even more endearing is their shared admiration each is a genuine fan of the other. The set list culled material from various projects. There is a message in their music, it’s not preachy, but thought-provoking addressing issues of self-awareness, social commentary-dare I say conscious lyrics all laced with that “FONK’. You still with me? Some of joints dropped were: “Connect Game”, “Shine On”, “Uhuru Flight”, “Fonk 4 U”, “Fame”, “Run It Down” and switching up the bpms a bit, Georgia Anne offered “Kings Ballad”, her tribute to Michael Jackson (a cut from her latest album of the same name). As the encore and request, Georgia Anne blessed us with the ode to art as therapy, “Roses”. The crowd gets live.
As a newbie, a Declaime and Georgia Anne show is an informal experience, not heavy on structure or particular order, but what is fonky at the moment. Note to self and others – a neck brace and/or Tiger Balm are in order because the FONK will have you head-nodding from start to finish. The next day my trapezius muscles were so sore – seriously.
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