SEAL OF APPROVAL: (DC) DAVID JAMES of NDELIBLE @ SHEEA YELEEN FUND RAISER - 3/10/10 DARLINGTON HOUSE

Shea Yeleen International (http://www.sheayeleen.org/), an organization whose purpose is to create sustainable economic development in West Africa by creating women owned cooperatives that create shea butter products for resale has a wonderful mission. Tomorrow night, do take the time to come out and support the work of this wonderful organization as they present a silent auction to benefit the organization, as well as presenting David James from local hip hop/soul/rock fusion band Ndelible.

Not quite sure of Ndelible and what they bring to the table? Check this action packed live performance of single "Time and Chance," and visit http://www.ndelible.net/ for more information!

THE DROP: An EXCLUSIVE SIT DOWN INTERVIEW w/ The ROLL WIT US ALL STARS!

DOWNLOAD INTERVIEW HERE

2010's breakout stars of DC's hip hop community are indeed Malik Starx and Mr. Clif, the Dark Planet Records affiliated Roll Wit Us All Stars. In the midst of an aggressive touring schedule locally with plans of East coast expansion in the offing, the duo, like American Express has proven to be "everywhere you want to be." It's just not enough to be stalwarts of the social scene however, the group has absurd talent as well. This talent has been noticed by the likes of Tittsworth, Starks and Nacey, DJ Lemz and James Nasty, and with two EPs prepared for release, the future looks bright for the pair.

Dominant at flowing over the electro that dominates the airwaves, as well as having an affinity for west coast styled g-funk and pretty much any other genre that has achieved any modicum of popularity in hip hop, Malik and Clif's exuberance about their careers is pretty much infectious, and in this interview, it's fairly difficult to not get a sense that the duo legitimately enjoys the art of hip hop. This pride in craft extends to their appreciationof music in general, which portends greatly for their diverse interests and future in the industry.

Definitely sit down, relax and take a listen to what the future of hip hop in the Mid-Atlantic, and if you believe them, worldwide, will sound like. Visit http://www.rollwit.us/ for more information!

THE DROP: Introducing Bmore's Newest Top Trackmaster, DJ Lemz

DOWNLOAD INTERVIEW HERE

Baltimore's known for being a city stocked with DJs and producers who truly epitomize the concept of being "on their grind." You want to see the hardest grinding DJ in the city right now? There he is, in the person of the fresh faced young twenty-something shown above, DJ Lemz. Early into his career as a DJ, he's performed with and learned from some of the best in his craft, in having worked with Blaqstarr and been the tour DJ for Rye Rye on her inaugural Australian tour. With a style that is inclusive of many dance styles, but trends toward the hard, bass heavy type offerings of say, the Bloody Beetroots, he presents a VERY unique blend of popular concepts. Stateside Lemz has crafted tracks for ex Yo Majesty frontwoman Shunda K, as well as DC's rising Roll Wit Us All Stars. Also, he's opened for the Electric Six as well as a plethora of other groups with international renown. Lemz drops an EP this spring with DC's Dark Planet Records, and I was happy to get a few minutes with likely the busiest young DJ in the Mid-Atlantic region. Do enjoy this look at a quickly rising star in the national DJ scene.

For more info check his Myspace, or follow on Twitter. 

#DCMUSICWEEK - Teen Idles - Deadhead

 

Anti-hippie punk by straight edge teenage kids who play loud, play hard, play fast, but don't necessarily at this point, play well. Fast forward 30 years and Dischord Records was likely the most important label in American punk and hardcore history. But this song, "Deadhead," by four Georgetown punk kids, the Teen Idles, and Dischord's first release, is all sorts of amazing with the sheer amount of tightly funneled yet in retrospect misguided teenage angst recorded for posterity. 

When I think of the early days of DC punk, the first words that come to mind are exuberance and enthusiasm. The liberating feel of being allowed to have that freedom of expression that the music allows, really jumps off the stage at you and smacks you square in the face. The violent nature of the DC scene comes in my mind from the sheer amount of embittered emotions and newfound entitlement to express it that many of the bands have. "Deadhead, whose lyrics are listed after the cut, is a fine, fine example of exactly what I'm discussing, and a phenomenal example of when DC does it right.

BIG PARTY COMING SOON...TGRIOnline.com presents...FRIIIENDS!

Springtime will be upon us soon, a time for reneweal, a time for rejuvenation, a time for good times, beauty, positive attitudes, happiness, and yes, those that we celebrate all those feelings with, friends. Soon, TGRIOnline.com will become your friend, with "FRIIIENDS," revelry inspired by that time in life when we first recognize what friendship means, our youth. The party is also buoyed by our interest in the British sitcom "The Inbetweeners," which is a comic celebration of the precocious hope and heartbreak of that time in our lives, and provides the perfect themes upon which to build a hilariously good time.

"FRIIIENDS" will bring the joy into your life, and will be the night where the pain, stress, and angst of adulthood will melt away with the aid of heaping spoonfuls of Brit pop, Teen pop, Bubblegum pop, and the most exuberant and youthful sounds in dance and club music. Keep your eyes peeled for more, as soon, you will all know that "WE ARE YOUR FRIIIENDS!"

Justice vs. Simian - We Are Your Friends
Uploaded by rooroo. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

#DCMUSICWEEK - Rare Essence - Pieces of Me

  

One of the best elements of go go music is the ability of a live band to cover a popular track and instantaneously breathe new life into it. This has been one of the lifeblood notions of the music for years, live performances on PA tapes (yes, for those unaware, recordings of go go shows on tape that were directly from the PA system) being dominated by takes on popular urban radio tracks. The practice has been done for years, and none may be truly better at it than Rare Essence. "The Wickedest Band Alive," the group has existed for over 30 years, and may be most famous to mainstream music fans for performing as the backing band for Ludacris at the 2002 MTV VMAs for "Pimpin' All Over the World."

However, the greatest achievement in the world of covers for the band may be their cover of Ashlee Simpson's 2004 smash hit "Pieces of Me." Featuring one of the lushest hooks and tightest grooves of the first decade of the 21st century in pop music, the jam was an unusual decision for being covered by a go go band, but, then again, this is Essence, and yes, at the time, were in the business of employing Kimberly "Ms. Kim" Graham who takes the song and elevates it from just another pop hit to something truly special.

The most important thing to note here is just how professional and typical the band sounds at the start of the song. It's as if it's just another cover on just another night, just another crazy idea probably launched by band's de facto leader Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson. But listen to how Ms. Kim handles her voice and handles the track and it slowly evolves from cover song into winning proposition of enormous proportions. By the time we get to the second round of choruses, it's a full fledged groove, and has become property of the band, in a manner, yes, better than the triple platinum work of a teenage girl expressing her love for Ryan Cabrera.

ALBUM REVIEW: Crookers - Tons of Friends

Only the Crookers could make this album. One of the key and most influential grandfathering groups of the current underground dance craze, Bot and Phra, the Italian Stallions of bass have taken the underground completely into the mainstream on their new Southern Fried Records release Tons of Friends released stateside on Monday, March 8th. At 22 tracks with 31 guests, this album is both bloated and audacious. However, in coming off more like a "Now! That What I Call Hipster" compilation more than anything else, the album succeeds, as for the more interested and adventurous typical music listener, the finest quality performers of electro, dub, club, bass, breaks and dance are all here, alongside some of the better vocalists with voices attuned to the unique qualities of the sounds presented.

#DCMUSICWEEK - Stinky Dink - One Track Mind

 

By 1991, go go music, the percussion driven, jazz, soul and hip hop style borrowing musical hybrid familiar to Washington, DC was a household concept. Hurby Luv Bug, the producer of Salt N Pepa and Kid N Play amongst many, had used the style to create the distinctive and unique breaks that would propel them to international superstardom. As well, Spike Lee, in wanting to lend some true HBCU authenticity to School Daze had DC's Experience Unlimited (EU) throw down "Da Butt," and the entire universe got to see what coeds at Howard, Virginia Union, and pretty much any HBCU in the area were intimately acquainted with. Go go music is a party, an insistent groove that once it locks in with your body, allows for the most amazing things to occur.

But what next for the sound? The go go evolution into truly incorporating hip hop elements was not a foreign concept. However, on Stinky Dink's 1991 classic "One Track Mind," he takes elements of hip hop, a magical sample of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," a tight go go break, and his unique and well known "riggity raw" rap style, and creates a hit. 

TGRIOnline.com presents #DCMUSICWEEK

So, I recently moved back to Washington, DC. The less said about the seven years where I didn't live in DC proper the better, but, I'm here, back to my city of birth, and I couldn't be happier. Yes, as always, if you read the page you'll read where I have rather extremely pointed things to say about the nature of the development of culture here, so, with that being said, I've decided to do my part to bring some DC cultural folklore back to the table. See, I love DC, and I think there's depth and worth here on a musical level on the level of, or comparably better than other cities in the US, and let's even extrapolate that to worldwide. But I think the city's lost its way. I'll posit this theory here. DC has become completely a city based around satiating the desires of a transient population. I think we've finally hit the tipping point, to the destruction of a unique DC culture. Yes, there are bands, acts, food, artists, etc., but none of it feels truly and uniquely organic as go go, hardcore or even on another level, Cool Disco Dan felt 30 years ago.

If people come and people go with alarming regularity, where's the need for creating concepts, styles, sounds and ideas that have any permanence, roots or truly soulful reality? I argue that there isn't one. However, let's reflect on a time where DC was a valuable and positive cultural center of the universe and turned the world's head around to the three stars and two bars.

This is the week where we celebrate and rediscover what makes DC special. Do enjoy!

SEAL OF APPROVAL: (DC) PREGAME featuring NACEY - 3/5/10 - POLICY

Like any good button-down, 9-5er city, DC loves the happy hour. But for DC's Hustlers of Culture, the thought of grabbing dollar drafts with Hill hoi polloi is a non-starter.

Policy, the stylish restaurant/lounge in the heart of the action at 14th & U, aims to change all that. The appropriately named Pregame event has featured some of DC's finest DJ talent, from Jackie O to Jerome Baker. Tonight, Pregame's guest is Nacey. Whether you know him from Nouveau Riche, KIDS, or The Bizness, you know that he plays only the best party bangers - from electro to hiphop, and everything in between.

Pregame, however, puts a new spin on things, letting DJs play the music they kick it to in their living rooms. Nacey has promised to bring a little taste of New Orleans, like the funky jazz of the Rebirth Brass Band. It's sure to be a treat. And we can't argue with these drink specials.