Artist Of The Week – Sleepwalkas

Anyone who has been to an underground Hip-Hop show in New York City in the past handful of years has, at some point in time, met the Sleepwalkas duo of Ciph Diggy and K.Gaines (pictured L to R). As two of Brooklyn’s finest, Ciph and Gaines have made a name for themselves both with their music and their tireless work ethic. Ciph explains the group’s ideology, saying “we embody that free thinking, no gimmic, Hip-Hop that you can relate to.” This week I caught up with both him and Gaines to find out more about their music, their nonstop networking, the all important “Five C’s” that make up their next album, and how dentures are a part of one of their ultimate goals. Click here...

Artist Of The Week – Azeem

I’ve been a fan of Azeem since I first heard Craft Classic in 2001. Each one of his albums since then has either met or exceeded my expectations. Lyrically gifted, Azeem’s music is both politically poignant and fantastically funky and over the years I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing him for a number of publications and websites. Just last month, in a huge accomplishment for a socially conscious artist, his video for “Open Em Up” was voted a favorite by BET.com users. This week I caught up with Azeem to talk about his life and his work and he opened up about dropping out of school at a very young age, the creativity behind another one of his videos, “Latin Revenge,” and what he sees in America’s immediate future. Azeem is known as a bit of a Nostradamus as many of his predictions from his previous albums have come true, so don’t take his words lightly, we might very well end up living them! Click Here...

Artist Of The Week – Farchild

Influenced by everyone from Nine Inch Nails to Lauryn Hill, Farchild is an artist who defies categorization. Her debut album, Chivalry Has Died, is a testament to what can happen when a person refuses to allow themselves to be boxed in by genre specifications. According to Farchild, “I’d be as happy as a clam if someone popped my CD into a player and said, ‘wow, this is absolute madness, a Farchild kind of madness!’” The former University of Florida volleyball star was getting ready to fly to Puerto Rico to compete in a pro league this winter when I caught up with her to find out more about her music, the life story that inspired it, and why she hid her work from her friends for so long. Click Here...

Artist Of The Week – MarkmyWords

When one hears phrases like Nature of the Beast and Homeland Security images of a government gone wild with its power come to mind. According to Nature of the Beast emcee MarkmyWords, however, that’s not what his music is all about. Nature of the Beast is a duo made up of MarkmyWords and DJ Sinn and after checking out their album, Homeland Security, I sat down with MarkmyWords to find out what the real, very personal, meaning is behind their album's title. During the interview the Cali native also opened up about how being a skater helped him develop his love of Hip-Hop, and why he feels word of mouth is still the best form of promotion. Click here...

Artist of the week - Uncut

After eighteen years of hard work Uncut is finally ready to shine. A survivor of Father Panik Village, a notoriously violent section of Bridgeport, CT, Uncut has opened for the likes of Biggie and Fat Joe and appeared on the Free Mongo series of mix-CDs. Uncut, who’s a member of Mongo Maddness’ Deviouz Dollarz team, has spent the bulk of his career educating other artists, but now at age 30 he feels it’s time spread knowledge globally. This week I sat down with him to find out more. Read more...

Artist of the week: Jewn Sabbath

Born in Hawaii, but a California native since the age of five, Jewn Sabbath has been making a name for himself in the music world with his mixture of reggae, blues, rock, Hip-Hop and soul, all the while playing his guitar. He’ll soon be releasing his debut album, Absinthe Minded, which was conceived and written while on a vacation from, well, everything. You see, Jewn, at the time, was in hiding. He describes the album that has come from that experience as a reflection of his time in Hollywood, a time that very few, if anyone shares. Recently Jewn called in to my radio show and we talked about some of those experiences, the 180 he’s done in life since then and what his goals are now that he’s a changed man. Read more...

Artists of the week - Track Lacer & Phat Daddy Bu

You don’t hear about a lot of rappers from Milwaukee. Most people would assume Hip-Hop doesn’t even exist there, but Track Lacer & Phat Daddy Bu are doing everything they can to try to put their city on Hip-Hop’s radar. About an hour and thirty minutes from Chicago, IL along the shore of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is probably most known for beer. Track Lacer says it’s not an easy place to perform, noting “it’s too violent a city to support much live, local Hip-Hop. Every time we've ever had a weekly venue booked, it got canceled due to idiots fighting or shooting.” This goes against everything the duo stands for as they point out “we are role models, by default. Hip Hop is raising kids across the U.S.A. If we don't accept responsibility for what we say negatively, then we in turn won't take responsibility for how kids act as a result of our negativity. Milwaukee has led the nation in teen pregnancy rate for 7 out of last 10 years, so...it's not parents raising our kids, it's basically Momma and Young Jeezy.” This week I sat down with Track Lacer and Phat Daddy Bu to discuss their role as role models, their music and some of the issues they’d like to open people’s eyes to. Read more...

Artist Of The Week – Young Harden

Artist Of The Week – Young Harden Interview

“Grind with the miss next to you.” Everyone who saw Young Harden perform this song instantly fell in the love with both it and the on-stage chemistry he had with R&B artist Rain. Rain didn’t originally do the hook, but with her on it the song seemed destined to be big. Destiny has a funny way of being interrupted at times, though. A bad management situation put delays and dampers on a lot of things in Harden’s life, but those times are over as the bi-coastal MC, who resides in both California and Connecticut, is back to making major moves. Recently Young Harden sat down with me to discuss his trials and tribulations, the art of the live performance, and what really went on between him and his former group. Read more...

Artist Of The Week – Tim Dillinger

Artist Of The Week – Tim Dillinger

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Time Dillinger grew up singing in the church. His early influences were gospel artists like Andrae Crouch, The Hawkins Family and Reba Rambo. Dillinger’s incredible voice would soon have him working with numerous gospel greats, but as he grew older he discovered soul music and fell in love with the music of Stevie Wonder, Teena Marie, Rick James and Aretha Franklin After moving Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 Dillinger decided to shift gears and started doing soul music and with producer Dale Babb (Juvenille, Grandaddy Souf, Haystack) he created his debut album, Love Is On My Mind, in 2004. The album scored a #1 single on London's Jazz FM and garnered Dillinger two Southern Entertainment Award nominations (R&B Artist of the Year and R&B Album of the Year) in 2005. This month Dillinger is releasing the follow up to Love Is On My Mind, The Muse. It's a decidedly different album which features collaborations with Frank McComb and gospel legend Daryl Coley. Recently I sat down with Dillinger to discuss his latest work, what’s missing from the current R&B scene, and the dreaded “Blue Eyed Soul” tag. Read more...

Artist Of The Week - X:144

L to R: SPS and X:144

When one hears the name X:144 Hip-Hop may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Once the Orlando MC who goes by that name catches your ear, however, all that will change. As one half of the curiously named duo X:144 and SPS, X:144 is setting out to take the Hip-Hop community back to its roots, back to when the culture was more than just one big MC battle over who has the nicest jewelry and the biggest guns. Recently X:144 called in to one of my radio shows and during our conversation he broke down the root of his unusual moniker, the development of Orlando’s Hip-Hop scene, and what he feels the real job of an MC is. Read more...

Artist Of The Week - Kameko

Artist Of The Week - Kameko

Soul, how many singers really have it? The idea of the soul singer is one that seems to have gone by the wayside in favor of R&B singers who stick strictly with love songs. While loving women is great, whatever happened to the artists who brought up real issues in their music? Kameko is here to bring that very feeling back to music. He started by giving listeners Evalt: Evolutionary Alternative, an album that featured both powerful songwriting and incredible vocal skills. In 2006 he’s returning with Evalt: Chapter 2. For this particular project Kameko worked with Michael Jackson on the track, "Down and Out" as well as M-1 of Dead Prez on "Tired Of Being Broke." Previously Kameko's worked with Vanessa Williams, Toni Braxton, Grace Jones, Peabo Bryson, CeCe Peniston and a host of other major recording artists. Evalt 2 may not be hitting the streets until October, but you can find out more about this talented individual today as Kameko is this week's Artist Of The Week. Read more...

Artist Of The Week - The Square Egg

What the heck is a square egg? I know a lot of you may be thinking that right now and the answer is: one of the hottest up and coming musical groups in the country. The Square Egg is a 10 piece band that was formed in Miami in 1999 and now resides in New York City. Loosely defined as a Hip-Hop band, they’ve opened for Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross and Jahiem and have made not one but TWO appearances on Mun2’s The Roof. The Square Egg has performed everywhere from The Blue Note and The Knitting Factory in NYC to American Airlines Arena and Dolphin Stadium in Miami. They’ve earned a reputation for tearing the house down with their intricate mixture of musical stylings and have a way of making instant fans out of everyone who sees them. Three albums, and one greatest hits album, deep, The Square Egg is a group people need to stop sleeping on which is why I sat down with LEE, the lead vocalist of the group (pictured with hat), for this week’s Artist Of The Week feature. Read more...

Artist Of The Week – Hired Gun

A hired gun. A third party. Both ideas go against the norms of American society. Maybe that’s what makes them so appropriate for this week’s Artist Of The Week. Hired Gun formed his first band at the age of 15 and been making music ever since. The list of artists he’s worked with includes Breez Evahflowin, Fatlip, The Demigodz and Wordsworth and right now he’s making noise with his current group, 3rd Party. 3rd Party has released two albums, Pressed for Time, and their 2006 release Separation of Powers. Hired Gun is an educated Hip-Hop head who's never gone about things in the traditional way. Read More...

Concept - Artist Of The Week

As one of the founding members of Brooklyn, NY’s MINDSpray crew, which now has nine MC’s in all, C.O.N.C.E.P.T. has worked with a myriad of artists. From Def Jux all-stars like Aesop Rock, Cage, Mr. Lif and EL-P to members of Stronghold they’ve all shared stages with C.O.N.C.E.P.T. A dual citizen, C.O.N.C.E.P.T., who was born in America but raised in Toronto, enjoys the massive amount of travel that comes with being an MC. He’s rocked stages up and down the east coast of the U.S., including his monthly stage time at Style Factory at The Knitting Factory in NYC, and even Canada, most notably being on MTV Canada. The MINDSpray compilation Shot In The Dark was released in 2004 and this year he and LEFTist, the other founding member of MINDSpray, are readying the release of their album, Intervention. The duo just finished recording the mix-CD that will act as a preview for the album. All in all C.O.N.C.E.P.T. is a man who’s working hard to make quality Hip-Hop music and with his visionary ideas it only seemed logical to make him this week’s Artist Of The Week. Read it...

Artist Of The Week – Ope (O-Asiatic)

Influenced by artists such as Public Enemy's Bomb Squad and NWA's Dr. Dre, Ope, also known as O-Asiatic, started doing production work in 1990. Six years later he started his own company, Ope Entertainment, to further his career. Since then he has worked with numerous artists, some of whom he's gotten airplay for on New York's Hot97. Ope's own work includes the 2001 release GET SHORTy! which was bootlegged overseas and used in the independent film Kingston High. In 2003, after rapper Substantial asked Ope to manage him, Ope turned Ope Entertainment into an artist mangement company and merged it with Substantial's company to form Unlimited Vinyl Ink (UVInk)/ Ope Entertainment. The company is home to Ope, Substantial, Insanate and Fresh Daily, among others. Oh yeah, and when he's not busy with his own company he's working up at 1515 Broadway at a little place called MTV. I met Ope a handful of years ago at a Boo Yaa Tribe album listening party, and today is your opportunity to get to know this rising star. Read more...

Artist Of The Week - Rack-Lo

A few weeks ago I bumped into Rack-Lo at the Boot Camp Clik listening party in NYC. It had been years since I last interviewed Rack and as it turns out he’s up to even more now than he was back then. He has an album w/ Thirstin Howl III, Lo Down & Dirty, due out this summer, a concert DVD, Skill or be Skilled, on the way which will feature footage from Norway, London, Amsterdam, Miami, Ohio, NYC, San Francisco and Boston, he’s hosting his own internet radio show and he has a line of t-shirts and custom sneakers on the way. Rack also has two books ready to be released, one being his autobiography and the other is a coffee table photo book on Brooklyn’s “Lo” fashion movement. Rack, a founding member of the Lo Life movement, is one of the busiest men in the biz, and he’s this week’s artist of the week. Read More...

Artist Of The Week - Conscious

Renaissance man. It’s a phrase that isn’t used very often in 2006, but how else could one possibly describe Conscious, a man who’s an MC, producer, painter, poet, actor, Jask clothing model and internet entrepreneur? Very few people can say they’ve performed poetry for those incarcerated in our prison system and rocked shows with the likes of Hank Shocklee and Immortal Technique. Conscious, however, is that man, which is why I caught up with him this week to feature him as my Artist Of The Week. Read it...

Artist Of The Week - Bekay

If you had to pick the one name that was generating the most buzz coming out of Brooklyn it would have to be Bekay. Yes, his moniker is the also the nickname for the borough, BK, but in addition to that his new 12 inch, “Where Brooklyn At?” features the late great ODB, he has a mixtape out hosted by the drama king DJ Kay Slay, and he’s currently working with a veritable who’s who of Hip-Hop including The Alchemist, Saigon, Masta Ace, RA The Rugged Man, Pumpkinhead, Inspectah Deck, Mr. Met and Wordsworth. Bekay’s LP, Hunger Pains, is due out soon and despite his horrible experience with MTV’s Making The Band, “I refused to sign the contract so they threw me off the show,” he’s filmed a pilot for his own reality series. Bekay has his hand in everything and it’s paying big dividends which is why he’s this week’s Artist Of The Week. Read it...

Artist Of The Week - Creature

Hailing from Corona Crown City Queens, Creature has become well known as one of New York City’s fiercest MC’s. Though he was signed to a major label, Island Records, a decade ago as a part of the group Triflicts, Creature has gone the independent route since the group parted ways. He’s worked with an incredible array of artists including The Beatnuts, The X-Ecutioners, MF Doom and Atmosphere. He currently has his Never Say Die album available for sale and will be releasing a number of projects in the fall including another solo effort, Hustle To Be Free, and a collaboration with Preacherman called Creature N Preacher C.P.T. After seeing Creature perform at the most recent Style Factory show it was clear that even if the calendar didn’t read October it was most definitely time for a Creature Feature, which is why he’s this week’s Artist Of The Week. Read more...

Artist Of The Week - Tosha Makia

Tosha Makia is an artist on the move. After gaining notoriety in Connecticut for her song “Be Yourself” she became a part of the Hot 93.7 radio team, but it didn’t take long for the Puerto Rican beauty to graduate to a much bigger market. After her appearance in The Source’s Dime Piece section Philadelphia’s 100.3 The Beat quickly gave Tosha a call and brought her to the city of brotherly love. Her show, Tosha Makia and Da Stripper, is the #2 show in the market and when Ms. Makia isn’t making things happen on the air she’s busy recording for her next album and hosting clubs that are nearly 1,500 people strong. She knows the ins and outs of the music industry both from the radio side and the recording artist side which makes her quite the unique individual and a very interesting person to speak with as this week’s Artist Of The Week. Read interview...