Dead Prez - Red 7 - August 27, 2010

From the going away department... Dead Prez @ Red 7 tomorrow night, Aug 27th!





More info:

Dead Prez is a political hip hop duo from the United States, composed of stic.man and M-1, and formed in 1996. They are known for their confrontational style, combined with militant socialist and pan-Africanist lyrics. These lyrics tend to focus on social justice, critical pedagogy, activism against political repression, and corporate control over the media, especially hip-hop record labels. Dead Prez made their stance clear on their first album, declaring on the lead song, "I'm a African" that the group is "somewhere between N.W.A. and P.E.."

In 1990, M-1 headed to Tallahassee to attend FAMU (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) where he and stic.man met and connected due to their mutual love of music and similar political ideology. There, their views solidified, M-1 becoming particularly interested in the Black Panther Party.

M-1 joined the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement in Chicago for three years while stic.man remained behind in Florida and started getting into trouble. Burned out by the arduous labor of Uhuru, M-1 decided it was time to focus on music and stic.man agreed.

Dead Prez transcribed the political education they acquired into lyrical poetry. Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar discovered them in New York and helped them sign a deal with Loud Records, but being new on a famous label like Loud (home to the Wu-Tang Clan and Mobb Deep) was not easy. Although Dead Prez was not always Loud's top priority, they built a fan base thanks to their over-the-top performances (they've been known to ignite dollar bills and toss apples into the audiences, declaring that they must eat healthily). They also made an early appearance on Big Pun's Capital Punishment in 1998.

MC Overlord - Lucky Lounge - August 26, 2010

From the dreams department... MC Overlord with Doc Deuce @ Lucky Lounge on Aug 26th!

Questlove - Red 7 - August 24, 2010

From the leaving my mark department... Questlove @ Red 7 tomorrow night, Aug 24th!





More info:

Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove (also known as BROther ?uestion, Questo or Brother Question), is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. He is best known as the drummer for the Grammy Award-winning band The Roots, which is now the in-house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He has produced for artists such as Common, D'Angelo, and more recently, Al Green and Nikka Costa. He is a member of the production teams the Soulquarians, the Grand Negaz, and The Grand Wizzards.

Thompson was born in Philadelphia on January 20, 1971. His father was Lee Andrews of Lee Andrews & the Hearts, one of the great 50s doo-wop groups.[citation needed] His parents did not want to leave him with babysitters, so they took him on tour with them. He grew up in backstages of doo-wop shows. By the age of seven, Thompson began drumming on stage at shows, and by 13, had become a musical director.

Questlove's parents then enrolled him at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. By the time he graduated, he had founded a band called The Square Roots (later dropping the word "square") with his friend Tariq Trotter (Black Thought). Questlove's classmates at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts included Boyz II Men, jazz bassist Christian McBride, jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, and chef Shelly Thompson (née Magargal).

Questlove began performing on South Street in Philadelphia using drums, while Tariq rhymed over his beats and rhythms. Later, he performed briefly in the Middle East.

B-boy bluez - The Vortex Theater - August 20 - September 4, 2010

From the final farewell department.. B-boy bluez @ The Vortex Theater on Aug 20th thru Sept 4th!

-----

Check out the KUT special.

More details.

At the intersection of beats and Rhyme, a b-boy sings the bluez, but it ain't always sad. Uprise! Productions and the Vortex Repertory Company present award-winning playwright/director/actor Zell Miller, III's B-boy bluez- an episodic love letter to Hip-Hop culture. Part comedic confessional, part Hip Hop concert, part spoken-word concerto- Miller takes us back to the "boom bap" when it was about the music over money.
Directed and performed by Zell Miller, III, featuring choreography from Ananda Mayi Moss and original music by Dj S.T.A.T.I.K

The Hip Hop Project Film Screening - Doubletree Hotel - August 20, 2010

From the ... department... The Hip Hop Project Film Screening with Chris Kazi @ Doubletree Hotel on Aug 20th! Check here for more details!

-----

Texas Network of Youth Services presents :

The Hip Hop Project, winner of 13 film festival awards, is the compelling story of Kazi, a formerly homeless teenager who inspired a group of New York City teens to transform their life stories into powerful works of art, using hip hop as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery. Kazi challenges these young people to write music about real issues affecting their lives as they strive to overcome daunting obstacles to produce a collaborative album.
Inspired by the Hip Hop Project, an Austin coalition formed to re-create the Hip Hop Project in our community. The Cipher, as it is known, utilizes the tenets of old-school hip-hop culture to help young people transform their life stories into powerful works of art. They are empowered, authentic and connected to the local music, poetry and their communities. The Cipher serves as a blueprint
for culturally relevant youth organizing and empowerment. Replicating the success model created in 2009 with their first album “From Soldiers to Warriors,” The Cipher is committed to producing a new album this summer.

FREE for those under 25 years old and volunteers

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Texas Network of Youth Services at (512) 328- 6860, or visit us online at www.TNOYS.org.

Forever Fresh - Republic Live - August 21, 2010

From the much respect department... Forever Fresh Official Hip-Hop Birthday Celebration @ Republic Live on Saturday, Aug 17th!

Happy Birthday Romeo! First shot's on me!

Chillin Villain Empire - Jovita's - August 14, 2010

From the i can't remember department... Robert Gabriel writes...

Chillin Villain Empire @ Jovita's, August 14th

Cut to the skating rinks and house parties of South Central Los Angeles circa the late-80's and there you'd find members of Chillin Villain Empire manning the turntables and rocking the crowd. Cut to the first days of both the legendary Good Life Cafe and Project Blowed open mic nights and there you'd find members of CVE providing original productions and some of the most inspiring raps anywhere. Cut to the opening of Aceyalone's Mic Check video and there you'd find CVE showing an entire hip-hop nation how to get loose with their own unique brand of Calistylics.

For the past 15 years, CVE members Riddlore, Ngafsh, and Wreccless have been tearing up stages across the globe, earning themselves quite the phenomenon of a loyal fanbase. Citing Austin as their all-time favorite place to perform, CVE returns to Bat City with a gang of new material and a renewed momentum spurred on by a relatively recent addition to the group named Nevathad. Riddlore's live band side project, the Clarks Villains, will also perform, along with openers including Dub Sixx, Global74, and Mirage.

Destiny by Design back at Kealing this Fall

From the for the kids department... Robert Gabriel writes...

The Narcisse-Banks Community Resource Center is proud to announce that the Destiny by Design afterschool program will be returning to Austin’s Kealing Middle School this Fall semester.

After four consecutive, enriching semesters teaching hip-hop history, production and performance by way of the Destiny by Design afterschool program at Kealing Middle School, the Narcisse-Banks staff diverted all of its attention this past Spring to facilitating an earthquake relief mission to Haiti. When the kids at Kealing who had previously been a part of Destiny by Design heard that our curriculum director, Jules Narcisse would be traveling to Port au Prince to distribute necessities, they organized a fundraising drive on their own accord, which wound up significantly aiding the cause.

This Fall, the Kealing students will surely be gratified that Destiny by Design classes will now benefit from a new contributing teacher, Riddlore of the legendary Los Angeles rap group CVE. Riddlore is stupendously proficient as both a producer and an emcee, and since relocating to Austin in ’09 has been quite active within the local scene. A rare opportunity to see his group CVE perform in Austin presents itself this Saturday night at Jovita’s on South 1st Street. Please see the attached flyer for details.

In the Fall of ’08, OG of LuxuryMindz Photography produced a short documentary film on the Destiny by Design afterschool program. And just the other day, seemingly out of nowhere, none other than Sean “Diddy” Combs posted a link to the Destiny by Design documentary on his famous Diddyblog. Please visit Diddy’s site at http://www.diddyblog.com/2010/08/destiny-by-design to view the documentary and please don’t hesitate to leave a supportive comment.

We at the Narcisse-Banks Community Resource Center are very thankful to our partner CitizenSchools for the opportunity to teach again at Kealing. We are also indebted to all of the artists who have contributed teaching time to the Destiny by Design afterschool program, including AC, Staci Russell, Romeo Navarro, Laura Rios, DJ Hella Yella, Tee Double, DJ Baby G, Lady Legacy, DaBosnian, Pimpin Pen, DJ Rapid Ric, and Gerald G, among many others.

For more info on the Destiny by Design afterschool program, please visit http://www.myspace.com/narcissebanks

Skills - Club de Ville - August 13, 2010

From the is that Coolio department... Skills @ Club de Ville on Aug 13th!

The 54 Reality Show - August 8, 2010

From the stay flossin' department... Check out this week's 54 Reality Show and see what shows went down!

-----

This week on the 54 Reality Show Flosstradamus was in town and we sat down to talk with Young Josh about their time on the road and who we'd love to work with in the future. We also spoke with Houston MC Mic Skills about his song "Criminal" and the great visuals that accompany it. Then we stopped by the Texas Battle League which is growing immensely and talk to a few of the various onlookers, especially Gutta who is quickly being regarded as one of Texas's best battlers. Hopefully you can check it out, let me know whats good.

Salt n' Pepa - Austin Music Hall - August 13, 2010

From the superhuman department... Rozone's Old School Jam with Salt N Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Rob Base and MC Overlord @ Austin Music Hall on Aug 13th!

What a line up! Will definitely be a night for posterity.



More info:

Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens, New York, that were formed in 1985.[1]

The group, consisting of Cheryl James ("Salt", now Cheryl Wray), Sandra Denton ("Pepa"), and Deidra "Dee Dee" Roper (Spinderella), has sold over 15 million albums and singles worldwide. Salt-N-Pepa, one of the best selling female rap acts, have six of their single releases certified either platinum or gold in the United States by the RIAA.[citation needed]

Originally calling themselves Super Nature (for just the first single), James and Denton debuted in 1985 with the single "The Showstopper", an answer record to Doug E. Fresh's hit single "The Show".[1] "The Showstopper" was produced by Hurby Azor. The song utilized a melody from the 1985 film Revenge of the Nerds. The finished recording garnered some airplay on a New York City rap radio program, and the independent Pop Art Records gave it an official release. "The Showstopper" became a modest R&B hit.[1]