Mos Def in Japan – Current TV

Mos Def

Current TV – Embedded series capture Mos Def while on tour in Japan.  This is a 1 hour documentary of his activities.

Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973)^[1]is an American actor and MC known by the stage name Mos Def. Mos Def started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babeesand De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duoBlack Star, who released the album Black Star in 1998. He was a major force in the late 1990sunderground hip hop explosion spearheaded byRawkus Records. As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006, and The Ecstatic in 2009.^[1]

 

^{See video at: NottHeads – Hood Rat Radio}

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Popin to Jook Music

Author – RL Burney (NottHeads Staff)

Jookin

Miami is non-stop

Miami will forever be known for its fast paced dance hip hop that was made popular in the 80s and 90s. Luke and the 2Live Crew set the tone and thousands followed with classic tracks that can be heard in clubs nationwide to this day. The need for bass and the sight of a woman percolating on the dance floor is enough reason to fall in love the sounds of South Florida.

Today, Miami music has evolved but still carries some of the same principals and elements. In addition, several artists have branched off into making more gutter tracks that glorify the drug game and thug life. But the crazed sound of the ghetto is still the preferred and there is no indication that that is going to change.

Hood On Blast

Grind Mode is becoming one of the most recognized groups out of Dade County with their nationally recognized jook tracks “I’m So High” and “Ecstasy.” This trio, who hails from Richmond Heights in southern Miami, has already achieved greatness and has set trends that extend far north of the Florida border. McKlezie and Hunger’s baritone croons and Chaos’ gutter rhyme style over southern bass beats, makes for fun loving and down right ‘off tha chain’ music. Killer in-house production and contributions from hit makers like the Drum Majors have the South and other parts of the nation ‘jookin’ till the early morning in the clubs.

In addition to Grind Mode, artists like Ball Greezy with his popular single “Shone,” DJ Rhymer, Jay R, Desloc Piccalo and countless others have taken Miami music to another level. It is said that every song out of Miami has a dance associated with it. These artists will have Florida dancing until the end of time.

NottHeads

Big named artists like Rick Ross and Trick who appeal to a broader hip hop audience nationwide, continue to have a major impact on Miami music as well. However, other highly recognized acts out of Dade like Pitbull and Trina, still make dance music that is beloved by the locals. All in all, Miami can be considered a place of diverse music and talent more so than many other regions in the nation that have just one style.

That’s what this city is all about. You have people from literally every nation in the world living in Miami. There is a need for freshness and difference and that’s how Miami hip hop has become timeless.

More articles on South Florida music can be found at: Hood On Blast

Busta Free – Coco’s Blast

Busta Free - Unda Surveillance

Hood on Blast is always in the streets catching up with Miami’s hardest rappers and we got a chance to talk with Busta Free, one half of the popular group Unda Surveillance.  Busta told us about some of his recent work and said he’s on the grind pumping his new mixtape Camp Slaughterville. Unda Surveillance came up big in 2008 with their hit single “Shone on Deck” that took their name outside of Dade County and Florida.

Now, the two member squad is temporarily parting ways to pursue solo projects. But, Busta Free reiterated that he and Yack will forever be repping Unda Surveillance. As a father first, a hustling barber and an artist, Busta says that he is doing this or the hood and attributes some of his inspiration to the late Toro, also a rapper. He is a free agent at the moment (no label) playing the cards that were dealt, but says he’s open to some opportunities if they come around. When asked if he wanted to call anybody out, Busta had some words for Miami DJs who are not giving the local artists their due in the rotations. He does say though that outside of Dade, all you hear is music out of Miami. Check out the interview with Busta Free, only on Hood on Blast!

Return of Miami Nites – UMG After Party

Unlocked Music Group (UMG)

Miami, Florida

UMG (Unlocked Music Group) host the return of Miami Nites Setember 5, 2009 at Karu & Y (71^st & 14^th Street) hosted by Miami’s own Marvin Dixon, J. Lamont, Hope Flood, Doo Doo Brown, and T. K. Kirkland.  Invited special guest Trina, Trick Daddy, Ball Greezy, Bigg D, Under Surveillance, Geisha; with a special performance by J. T. Money.  This will be the hottest Pre-Labor Day bash in the city starting at 11PM until.

Maimi Nites was the legendary spot in Miami Gardens that hosted events for comics and entertainers.  The likes of Tupac, Biggie, Niki Howard, Al B. Sure, Maze; as well comedians Bengi Brown, Marvin Dixon, Razor and many more graced the stage for these events.  Well, we’re back!  Come party with some of Miami’s most talented entertainers, comics and musicians on Saturday night.  UMG, Unlocked Records, Hood on Blast will be in the building; unlocking the old with the new.

Hood On Blast

For more information hit www.unlockedmusicgroup.com or call (561) Unlocked.

Ball Greezy – Take One

Ball Greezy on Blast!

Ball Greezy - Take One

You never know who you’ll run into in the streets of Miami.

Hood on Blast put Miami Shone Man Ball Greezy on blast in the parking lot of Take One Lounge and heard about his grind for the 09 and his plans for the near future.

Greezy has come up big in 2008 and 09, already making a name for himself in the South with hood favorites “Shone“ and “I‘m Da Shit“ featuring fellow Miamian Brisco. He just put out “Drop That“ also with Brisco, Flo-Rida and Mista Mac. With a collection of YouTube favorites and killer production from J Smooth, G Talk and C. Miles, Greezy’s popularity is bubbling in the MIA.

Ball Greezy

But, along with the music Greezy is putting his mind on his money; trying to capitalize on offers to perform and dropping new music in clubs like the One. Like many artists trying to come up, the rapper is quickly learning that you have to be in business for yourself and make things happen your way in this game. So, when we got down to business and we asked what his label life was like, he let it be known that he has his eyes on the bigger prize.

“Move on to bigger and better things. Get money for myself. Why I wanna pay someone else?” Greezy has launched We Good Ent., trying to take control of his escalating career. But first he has to shake his current label Iconz Music. “We should be straight by December, doin our own thing.”

The Little Haiti resident says you can catch him doing shows at clubs or lounging at the One on any given day. He refers fans to his MySpace page where you can download his mixtape with Bigga Rankin “Before Da Deal.“ Check him out at www.myspace.com/ballgreezy305.

Vonetta Cosmetics at Bronner

Vonetta Cosmetics will be a vendor at the upcoming Bronner Brothers Show in Atlanta.

Vonetta Cosmetics

Welcome to the V Lifestyle!

Vonetta Cosmetics

V Cosmetics Atlanta’s High end premier Skin care and Makeup Line. Founded in 1993 as Vonetta Cosmetics, V cosmetics is on the verge of being called Atlanta’s best kept skin care and makeup secret for diverse skin tones. With invisible V mineral makeup and V Gentle Cleansing Gel our clients are always pleased and return back for more.

V Cosmetics does more than just sell make up and skin care products. We teach a lifestyle. By placing each client on a daily skin care routine, we believe repairing the skin and highlighting its wonderful features the Modern woman can have flawless skin and use our V mineral make up to enhance there already beautiful tone. We also schedule follow-up appointments to make sure that our clients’ skin is staying healthy. Remember your skin is affected by what you eat therefore we will also provide a list of skin friendly foods and meals depending on your skin type.

V Lifestyle

For a free samples please come by the shop 675 West Peachtree St. N.W. Suite C-4 Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 888-0553

Visit the website at:  www.vonetta.com

How Much For Hip Hop

NottHeads

written by: R. L. Burney – Staff Writer – Hood Rat Radio

How much for Hip Hop? – Questions for the hip hop soul
Damn. It’s been a long time since I’ve bought a hip hop cd out a store. What about you?

Mail On Sunday - Flo Rida

More than likely it’s been a minute for you too and majority of American consumers, in fact. Since 2005, hip hop record sales have nose dived into near oblivion and rarely are new rappers making millions in this category.

As of today, August 11, 2009, there are only two and “a possible” hip hop records in the Billboard Top 20. The Loso’s Way soundtrack brought to you by Fabolous, Eminem’s Relapse, and Black Eyed Peas’ The E.N.D. (considered the “possible” as the Black Eyed Peas would probably be classified as pop, but it’s still hip hop to us) are the only albums representing our beloved genre. Oh yeah, Lady Gaga is still there…and hey, Maxwell is back!

Lady Gaga

But what does this say about the hip hop industry? Is it dying as Time Magazine so anxiously inquires? No! It can’t be dead, Nas. If it is, all these hungry artists standing on the strip haggling with their homemade CDs are just zombies in a cold world. Most would argue though, that the game has just evolved and only the poppiest and the most mainstream sounds get sales.

Flo Rida? Well past 10 million singles and albums sold worldwide? This is an example that there is still hope somewhere, I think. But is the hood bumping Flo’s Mail on Sunday album or did you or anyone you know go out and buy “Low”?

This is the state of hip hop. You have millions of young (and old) people trying to break through right here in the United States and countless more in other parts of the world. Can artists still look forward to going platinum (via RIAA ratings) and living the dream as so many of our rap heroes? I doubt it. But maybe that’s not what it’s about anymore.

Flo Rida - Roots

Hip Hop is a culture. Some people make the music just for expression and never have the want to blow up off it. Most do want to at least “blow” or get a deal; make some money doing what they love. For the most part though, hip hop has become the way we live, the way we think, the way we feel and express ourselves. So it’s time that we find new ways to get to where we want.

And we already have, with the “mixtape”, bootleg albums available in every hood and the internet offering everything for free. So we all are looking forward to seeing where this ends up. How will hip hop continue? Who is the next big thing? Where do we go from here?

My Fair Silver Maiden

Miko - Silver (S. Pierre Price Photography)

Oh my fair silver maiden
I see your eyes in the stars that light the dark,
Your hair in the swaying summer grass,
Your smile in the majestic sunrise
Oh my fair silver maiden
Your scent is always on the next wind
Your sweet, intoxicating scent.
Oh my fair silver maiden
Tell me where you are
So that I might find you
And my heart be complete.
Oh my fair silver maiden
How I long for you
How I cry for you
How I search for you.
Oh my fair silver maiden
Always beyond the next wind.

Silver

Tell me where you are
So that I might find you
And my heart be complete.
Oh my fair silver maiden.
cameron bird

(march 11,1991 / Carrollton, Texas)

S. Pierre Price Photography

Model – Miko

Taking Entertainers to the Next Level

Char Epting

Entertainers are always looking for an outlet and some sort of platform to be seen.  Char Epting, publicist and owner of My Lil Pink Book, is providing this service to clients throughout the Chicago area and beyond.

She is serious about her work and will quickly write off anyone that undermines her ability and talents.  Often it is those people that are dying to get exposure that set their own traps for failure.  That’s why Ms. Epting makes it clear from the jump that she is about business and though she is out to improve the image of her clients, image of her organization is priority.

Epting is working with artists like Troy Man, winner of 106 & Park’s Wild Out Wednesday, Gem Avery, LAX Boyz, Kenan the Great, Black Kadafi and Glenn Gordon to name a few.  She also represents radio personalities like Jerry Butler and Jim Starr who have already made a name for themselves in the windy city.  Obviously she is on her grind and will stop at nothing to prove that she is the woman for the job.

Her humble beginnings as a single mother of three on welfare who struggled working many jobs to support her family are the fire behind her drive.  She explains that “The ability to visualize something so much that you can taste it…” is what motivates a person to wake up each morning and face the day head on.

So she opened My Lil Pink Book with little money and support.  Based out of her home, she faced criticism and discouraging words as she tried to chase her dream.  But without doubt, she continued her journey, and within a year had a clientele of over 12 artists and other entertainers.

NottHeads

Backpack Loaded – Advice from My Lil Pink Book

Notes from Char Epting (My Lil Pink Book)

Hood Rat Radio

You just finished your demo or mixtape loaded them into your backpack, and as soon as you run it down to your local radio station you will be on your way to stardom!

Every dude with a home studio, a MAC, and some ambition can produce a mixtape or demo tape. You’ve seen them, the backpack dude with the personal music that you must have at the low-low price between $3 or 2 for $5. Let’s see, I can download an album from a known artists for $6.99 or I can buy your music off the street not knowing exactly what quality of music I am about to pay for. This is an everyday occurrence around the world, talented individuals dreaming of a music career, but not knowing how to move their works to a bigger platform.

As a publicist and owner of My Lil Pink Book, I am challenged with the tasks of deciphering who I can help, who I want to help and are they ready for the bigger spotlight. Most folks focus on the SHOW, I am about the BUSINESS. The entertainment industry has one primary goal which is to make money. The reality check is that if a Record Label does not see where they can immediately package your talent, for exposure to a larger audience, so that they can make money (not the artist/group), then there isn’t a snowball chance in hell that they are going to sign you to a deal. With that said, never did I make a statement about your talent, or your ability to perform.

I would ask aspiring artists/groups to prepare better for an opportunity to achieve the stardom they dream of.

My Lil Pink Book – Profile

The My Lil Pink Book agency brings a uniquely personal, yet substantive approach to the vast world of public relations; specializing in publicity, media management and event planning.

With a background covering the entertainment, educational, corporate and non-profit arenas, My Lil Pink Book tailors the approach to the client’s needs. Our customized efforts insure concrete results.

It’s been said, “Image is everything.” Well, Image is our thing. We put your best face forward to the media and therefore the world at large. We take pride in the fact that when we represent you, we are representing ourselves.

Our priority focus at this time is Internet radio, record pools and college radio. I know everyone would love to have their music played on a mainstream station, but I have built relationships with show host and DJs in my priority areas.

My promise is to provide you with as much exposure as I can. I not only network every day I network on your behalf the client. Because when I am blessed with a good resource I can pass the blessing on to you the client to help benefit your career. Now that I have told you that let me explain what I do.

Char Epting - Lil Pink Book

As a publicist, my objective is to give a client the maximum exposure they need. I give a client the necessary and appropriate exposure to various outlets. Publicists get you into the entertainment industry through magazines, newspapers, television, web, and radio interviews. Publicists do not secure your employment. Securing your employment is the job of a manager or agent. However, through my dedication to you and your career, and by working with time proven methods and using various outlets, in time, you will eventually get more bookings and higher pay rates.

Char receives a lot of questions so here is a little advice.

• Learn how to communicate via the phone and via email. Before you call a publicist or anyone in the entertainment business.
• Please…. Please do NOT send out music or any other material if it is not professional.

Now, if you have a relationship with someone at a label that is different. If you are not ready, meaning you do not have a press kit, photos and etc., please don’t bother people about helping you until you take care of your business. I wish you guys the best of luck.

Char Epting

NottHeads.com – Hood Rat Radio