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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > April
April 2008
Atlanta Rapper Baby D In Ohio Jail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper Baby D released a new CD Tuesday but it’s unlikely he’s celebrating behind bars. Koch Records has confirmed that their artist is today, and has been, in an Ohio jail since March 26, when he was arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine in Dayton. Baby D (above) is being held without bond in the Butler County Jail. In addition to those federal charges, the member of Atlanta’s Big Oomp Camp — probably best known for the 2000 single “Eastside Vs. Westside” — has three pending assault charges in Tennessee, according to Koch. And a warrant for his arrest in his home state was dismissed, the label says. Still, Koch put out Baby D’s third CD “A-Town Secret Weapon” yesterday, featuring guest appearances from fellow local phenoms Sean P of the YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Shawty Low, Gucci Mane, BackBone and DJ Jelly. The first single, “I’m Bout Money,” is enjoying local airplay, and the video is in rotation on BET and MTV Jams. See the YouTube video below, and weigh in on how you think this will affect the still relatively underground rapper’s career.
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Rate T.I.’s New Single
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. has made good on what he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution weeks ago in his first sit-down interview since his arrest, and subsequent guilty plea on firearms charges— today he released a new song on the site he endorses, streetcred.com.
At the time he wouldn’t go so far as to say “No Matter What” is the first single from his September CD “Paper Trail.”
But it is the first new recording from T.I. (above) since he was arrested on gun charges in October, hours before the BET Hip-Hop Awards.
And without being specific, he deals with that situation, over and over:
“I did a song to make it known that the king lives on, pimpin’,” T.I. says in one line.
“Facing all kind of time, but smile like I’m fine.”
Then the chorus goes: “I ain’t dead/Naw/I ain’t done/Naw/I ain’t scared/ For what?/I ain’t run/From who?/But still I stand/Yeah/No matter what people, here I am/Yeah/No matter what, remember
“I ain’t break/Never/ I ain’t fold/ Never/ They hate me more/ So/ Yeah I know/Ha-haa/So here I go/Yeah/No matter what shorty, here I go/ Ha/No matter what shorty”
What do you think of “No Matter What”? Is it what you want to hear from T.I. now? Does it sound like T.I. of old?
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Frankie Reveals Keyshia Cole, And More
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The second season of Atlanta R&B singer Keyshia Cole’s BET reality series, “The Way It Is…” hits stores tomorrow, but here’s what’s in the special features, today.
There’s “Meet Keyshia’s Glam Squad” - a less-than-three minute introduction to her manager (already prominently featured in the show), and the people who do her hair, make-up and styling. (Thanks).
The deleted scenes are pretty good - especially the moment where Cole’s sister Neffe meets with her ex-husband, and he rather unemotionally tells her, to her face, he wants a divorce.
But as anyone who’s seen the show would expect, “Frankie Reveals” is just jarring. Cole’s recovering crack addict mother discusses what it was like to see herself in the first season, when her daughters visited her in prison. (“I wanted to throw a hammer through [the television]”…Everybody know how you look when you’re f-, tore up”). She talks about how she expected her superstar daughter to treat her. (“I knew she was going to roast me like a Planters peanut)”. She goes into their tenuous relationship now, and how she sometimes feels “she don’t love me, she feel sorry for me”. And in one of the more hilarious moments - actually in the deleted scenes — Frankie returns to the corner in Oakland, Cal. where she and her friends used to get high. Or as the often comical mother puts it, they were “smoking like broke stoves”.
Have you followed Cole’s reality show from the start? Think it was an honest portrayal of a family, or somewhat exploitive? Hope there’ll be a third season?
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A Star-Studded Thursday Night In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another Thursday night, another impressive showing on the Atlanta music scene.
No, Whitney and Ray J didn’t resurface, but enough celebrities to fill out a photo gallery did.
Things got started at Straits, Atlanta rapper-actor Ludacris’s new Midtown restaurant. (The old Spice to some). The artist born Christopher Bridges (above) used the occasion as a fundraiser, and for $100 a plate not only could guests have a three-course meal including chicken lollipops, wok fired mussels and roasted pineapple bread pudding, but B98.5’s Vikki Locke, 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. and others contributed to AID Atlanta.
After about an hour at Straits, Ludacris and his managers/business partners at Atlanta’s Disturbing Tha Peace record label (Chaka Zulu, Jeff Dixon) loaded up the luxury vehicles and headed for the Ralph Lauren store in Lenox Square, where the fundraising continued, this time for the Ludacris Foundation.
There, the number of music notables went up exponentially, including Ciara, Fergie, India Arie, Dallas Austin, Q and Daron of 112, Polow Da Don, Bryan-Michael Cox, J Que and DJ Trauma. Not to mention the other radio (Hot-107.9’s Rashan Ali, 95.5 The Beat’s CJ, V-103’s Ramona DeBreaux); fashion (Pieces of Adrene’s Adrene, Dap Rugget’s Cedric King, Envy’s Jilene Coggins); music industry (Disturbing Tha Peace’s Aiyisha Mitchell, Block Entertainment’s Rico Brooks) and legal (Charles Mathis, Phaedra Parks, Donald Woodard) forces, there, and hopefully spending, as 15% of the purchases that night went to Ludacris’s children-focused organization.
After that, Ludacris was headed to the airport, for Dallas, to continue filming a movie. But his increasingly model-like guest at the Ralph Lauren store, Ciara, made her way to the Luckie Food Lounge, where she, Ali and Grammy-nominated Atlanta rapper Yung Joc co-hosted BMI’s Unsigned Urban Showcase. R&B superstar Usher (above) and wife Tameka; singers Lloyd, Joi, Bobby Valentino, Johnta Austin, Keri Hilson and Scar; rappers Lil Jon, Chingy, Gorilla Zoe, Diamond and Yelawolf; DJs Drama, Doc and Will; Hot-107.9’s Emperor Searcy and Beyonce (along with former radio personality Poon Daddy); and executives Jazze Pha, Shakir Stewart, Christopher Hicks, Ryan Glover, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Bernard Parks and Rico Wade were in attendance. Lil Wayne, Sean Garrett and Teyana Taylor performed. And rapper Trimm won the competition.
Were you at any of these events? And of the BMI showcase in particular, did you think Trimm stood out among the other three finalists? What about songwriter Sean Garrett’s first live performance - how do you think it went?
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Tips For Tonight’s BMI Finalists — And Other Aspiring Artists
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight, aspiring Atlanta acts Jarren Benton, Brandon Hines, Holly Weerd and Trimm will compete for cash, Gibson/Epiphone guitars, recording and photo sessions and other goodies at BMI’s 11th annual Unsigned Urban Showcase, at the Luckie Food Lounge.
But today, BMI vice president Catherine Brewton tells us what stood out about each of the finalists, those same finalists give their own take on their music, and finally a judge at tonight’s showcase — DJ Montay — offers some tips to them, and others who want to find themselves on the top of the charts someday.
“Jarren (above) absolutely, immediately stuck out to me, out of all of the finalists,” says Brewton. “Lyrically, his flow is like Jay-Z’s. I’m serious!”
“What I’m trying to do is show that Atlanta is bringing - no disrespect - something more than snap and trap music, but quality rap music,” adds Benton, who’s been working as rapper and producer almost 10 years. “I’m going to stick my hand in my chest, take my heart out, and let the people get a glimpse of who I really am. Take it home with you if you want to!”
“Brandon (above) is a very, very solid R&B act,” Brewton says. “I mean, he’s opening for Estelle [and appears in the new British sensation’s ‘American Boy’ video, below], and he doesn’t even have a deal yet. That says something right there.”
Hines has been singing seriously, he says, for about two years. “And my music is kind of weird man, because I like a lot of different genres of music,” he explains. “I love alternative, old-school, grungy hip-hop and R&B, and that’s all there…And as for the showcase, I didn’t even know it was a competition. I don’t even care. I mean, I’m from the original Motown, but Atlanta is our Motown of today. The epicenter of music. So I want to really do my thing in that city.”
“[Holly Weerd] are eclectic, very early OutKast, and I’d say the ones to beat,” predicts Brewton. “Their live show is amazing.”
Dreamer of Holly Weerd (above) attributes that accolade to the fact that “we are like a local supergroup,” who have about four years of musical experience between them; and are artists in residence, of sorts, at the Drunken Unicorn and Sugar Hill.
“We actually came up with our name one night at Sugar Hill, just jamming together at Joi’s improv night [on Tuesdays].”
“What’s interesting about Trimm (above) is he’s been trying like the last two or three times to be in this showcase, and he’s always been on the cusp,” Brewton recalls. “But this year he delivered. He came with the total package.”
“I do music that feel good all the way around,” continues Trimm, who says he’s been performing about two years. “From the hood to the suburbs, I can speak to you.”
That may be so, but there are still three things one of tonight’s judges — Hot-107.9 and the Big Oomp Camp’s DJ Montay — suggests to all he’ll see tonight, and others who want to get in, and continue to have success in the music business:
1) You’ve got to learn how to take criticism. 2) Don’t be afraid to step outside the box. “What worked with [rapper] Flo Rida is I tried to make the kind of beat everybody wasn’t making - and it worked.” (“Low” was the No. 1 single in the country for weeks). 3) Network. “Make sure your face stays familiar, and keep letting people know what you’re working on. I still do that, and I have hits!”
Any knowledgeable music people out there with any more tips? What about fans of the unsigned finalists performing tonight? Are you planning to be at Luckie Lounge — perhaps just to see Lil Wayne, Sean Garrett and Teyana Taylor on stage?
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Newnan’s Jacksons Coming Home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was already a big deal from the start: Country superstar Alan Jackson and his successful author wife, Denise, coming back to Newnan Tuesday to be given the first Richard Brooks Award — along with late writer Erskine Caldwell — for their contributions to the arts in Coweta County.
But you know, Denise has a new book out (“The Road Home”). So before the 7 p.m. ceremony April 29 at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts (1523 Lower Fayetteville Rd.) , she will be signing it and her first best-seller (“It’s All About Him”) at 2 p.m. at Scotts Books (28 S Court Square, 770-253-2960) in Newnan.
Now we just learned this afternoon that hubby will join his wife (shown above on their wedding day — everybody saw “awwww”) in the signing, offering up his “Alan Jackson” to his recent No. 1 CD, “Good Time”. It will be the first one they’ve ever done together.
Planning to make your way to Newnan this Tuesday? Or are you already there, and have known the Jacksons for years? Heard “Good Time” and/or read “The Road Home”, and if so, what grades would you give them?
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Gospel All Day And Night
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s Wednesday to you, but it’s Doves Day over at Atlanta’s Gospel Music Channel.
And in celebration of the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards tonight at 8 p.m., GMC has been airing a Best of the Doves marathon since 7 this morning. It features some 200 performances and 130 artists from the previous 38 years of Doves, including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Whitney Houston with the Georgia Mass Choir — remember them together for the movie/soundtrack “The Preacher’s Wife”? — BeBe and CeCe Winans, Kirk Franklin, Dolly Parton, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Yolanda Adams and our own Third Day (pictured above).
Who with hometown roots are you rooting for at the Doves tonight? GMC - which will air the broadcast live from the Grand Old Opry in Nashvile — is touted as the nation’s fastest growing television network. Are you a viewer? And if so, what do you think it does well; and perhaps, what could it improve on?
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Atlanta Botanical Garden Line-Up Announced
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now you know exactly who you can see this summer in one of the most picturesque venues in the city.
Yes, the 2008 SunTrust Concerts in the Garden series has been announced today.
Blues pioneer Buddy Guy performs May 30. Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin is June 20. John Hiatt and the Ageless Beauties have a date July 11. The author of the classic “Mr. Bojangles,” Jerry Jeff Walker, will surely play it July 18. Americana favorite Lucinda Williams (above) takes the stage July 25. And (somewhat) suddenly you’ll see Scottish pop sensation KT Tunstall Aug. 1.
Anything sound interesting? Have you been to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens before to see a show? If so, how would you rate it as a concert venue?
Discounted tickets ($31.50) go on sale this Friday to Garden members - to become one call Membership services at 404-591-1539 - and May 9 to others. The general public tickets are $35 each at the Atlanta Botanical Garden gift shop, at Ticketmaster online or its retail outlets, as well as by calling 404-249-6400.
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AthFest Artists Announced
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The 17-piece rock ensemble Dark Meat , pop act Modern Skirts (pictured above) and reggae’s Dubconscious will headline Verizon Wireless’s AthFest 2008, June 18-22 in downtown Athens, Georgia.
Other acts on the bill of 150-plus include Elf Power, Twin Tigers, Cinemechanica, We Vs. the Shark, Centro-matic, A. Armada, Pegasus XL, Contraband, Venice Is Sinking, Velveteen Pink, Folklore, Don Chambers + GOAT, Bloodkin and Ken Will Morton.
What do you think of the line-up? Heard any of these acts perform before, or plan to? And with Athens pioneers REM and the B-52’s both coming back to their home base this year to record, is it feeling like a resurgence of the Athens music scene?
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Khia’s Gone, But An Atlantan Could Still Be Miss Rap Supreme
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Less than five minutes into the second episode of Ego Trip’s “Miss Rap Supreme”, Atlanta rapper Khia was disqualified.
It seems that the freestyle rhyme she was charged with coming up with off the top of her head, and recited in the debut of the VH1 reality show last week - “R-E-S-P-E/Respect me” - was actually recorded, and appeared on her 2006 sophomore CD “Gangstress”.
So Khia (above) was kicked out of the Fembassy, and Atlantan Ms Cherry goes on to compete for the crown and $100,000.
No problem — Khia contended earlier today on Hot-107.9’s “A Team Morning Show”. “It was all promotion,” she said. “Everybody knows I’m already Miss Rap Supreme…It worked out for me.”
And you know, she kind of has a point: After all, six years after her lone hit, people are talking about Khia again. She claimed on the radio that ringtone sales have lept for “Respect Me”. And when you think about it - would Khia really be on the same channel as artists on the level of a Madonna or John Mayer if she hadn’t done this? Not to mention all of this attention comes just before she releases her new CD “Nasti Muzik” in July, on Atlanta’s Big Cat Records.
Doesn’t it look like she used this to her advantage?
Granted, this increase in attention has also made for heightened criticism. Hot-107.9’s Emperor Searcy asked her address talk that she looked like “a hot mess” on the show. (She basically laughed it off). And then, acknowledging the one-hit wonder talk, he asked if she has actually had a record since 2002’s “My Neck, My Back”. And co-host Rashan Ali reminded him of her single with superstar Janet Jackson, “So Excited”.
See the YouTube video below:
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So what’s the big deal with Springsteen?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Up until a year ago, my knowledge of Bruce Springsteen didn’t go much further than those few seconds of Courteney Cox “Dancing in the Dark” on MTV video.
And that was fine with me.
Then I started dating a Bruce fanatic.
Most of the time he keeps his obsession to himself. But I have heard from him — and countless
colleagues — that Bruce is not only “the greatest musician who has ever lived” but that his concerts are a “religious experience.”
I had hoped to just take their word for it.
But now Bruce is coming to Atlanta on Friday night. And I have been asked to go.
So it’s time to see for my self.
It’s my boyfriend’s 50th show. And my first.
Anything I should know, look for, expect?
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Whitney Houston and Ray J In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Late Thursday night former Atlantan Whitney Houston and current R&B hitmaker Ray J (his CD “All I Feel” tops Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop chart this week) showed up at Hot-107.9’s “Hot Off The Runaway” as quite the couple, and four days later people are still buzzing about it.
Apparently they were spotted cuddled up around the city. Did you you run into the twosome anywhere over the weekend?
Well (of course) TMZ did at Hot-107.9’s event at the Compound - thus, the shot above. And here are the rest of the pix
(Create your own captions if you like).
And if you want to see other pictures from “Hot Off The Runway”, Here’s the accessatlanta.com photo gallery
Oh yeah - and as soon as Beyonce from Hot-107.9’s “A Team Morning Show” has that link to the video of Ms. Houston, we’ll add that too. So check back.
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If Akon’s Not Really A Heavyweight Ex-Con…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that The Smoking Gun has reported that Atlanta rapper-singer-producer Akon apparently embellished his convict past, other questions arise, including:
Do you think Akon really trades on an image as a one-time head of a carjacking ring? Sure, his first major single was “Locked Up”, and he calls his record imprint Konvict Muzik, but isn’t he better known for more sex-minded tunes like “I Wanna Love You” and “Smack That”, or the relationship-centered hit “Don’t Matter”? And does it matter to you now if the Grammy nominee made up part of his past?
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Jermaine Dupri’s New Record Deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The head of So So Def Records and the Island Urban division now apparently has yet another record label imprint to run.
That’s right, Atlanta’s Jermaine Dupri will serve a president of a new, New York-based, hip-hop record label called TAG Records; a partnership beween Island Def Jam Music Group and Proctor & Gamble’s TAG body sprays.
“Today, we make history in the music industry with TAG Records,” Dupri said in a statement, when the deal was announced. “This label is going to provide new artists with a chance of a lifetime. New artists will receive ten times the typical marketing support — a first in the industry. I’m hand selecting and molding these artists to make history in hip-hop.”
Dupri did help make history when So So Def artist Da Brat became the first female rapper to sell a million albums. Do you think he can mine new gold (or platinum) in hip-hop? Or are his strengths these days in pop (Mariah Carey) and R&B (Usher)?
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Dallas Austin in Athens Tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You probably know Dallas Austin, the TV producer — after Peachtree TV’s “Dallas Austin Presents Drumroll:SWD”.
There’s a good chance you know Dallas Austin, the film producer — after the success of his debut film “Drumline”.
And of course there is Dallas Austin, the music producer — Grammy-winning producer at that, who has worked with everyone from TLC to Madonna, Boyz II Men to Natalie Cole, and Aretha Franklin to Gwen Stefani.
But you really have to be steeped in Atlanta Music Scene history to know Dallas Austin, the performer. Yes, he was once a part of a group called the Highland Place Mobsters, which was signed to Atlanta’s LaFace Records.
And who knows — Austin just may revisit some of the material from their lone CD, “1746DCGA30035”, tonight when he and Novel, Colin Munroe, Sy Scott and other local talents join forces tonight in Athens’ legendary 40 Watt Club, for what is being billed as The Dallas Austin Experience.
The show marks one of the rare times Austin - a longtime behind-the-scenes player — actually takes the stage. Are you planning to head to Athens for the event? What’s your favorite Austin production — TLC’s “Unpretty”, perhaps? Or maybe Pink’s “Just Like A Pill”? And do you actually remember the Highland Place Mobsters?
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Sean Costello
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sean Costello. Photo: Delta Groove Productions.
It’s a gloomy week for Georgia music. The passing of a bright young talent such as Atlanta guitarist Sean Costello is sad beyond words.
It’s difficult to listen to Costello’s version of the traditional gospel tune “Going Home” today. “Soon I will be done with the trouble of this world,” it begins, in the gravelly voice of the acclaimed guitarist, singer and songwriter who died Tuesday. That song is one of the highlights on his just-released fifth album, “We Can Get Together.” For those who missed the news of Costello’s passing, the story is here, and the guest book is here.
Shock seems to be the common response from fellow musicians. “Our friend is gone. Our hearts are broken,” reads the message on the MySpace page of Atlanta blues band the Breeze Kings.
Despite his youth, Costello was an old musical soul. His influences were definitely old school. “When I want to really enjoy music, I tend to pull out the old classics,” he told me in an interview back in early 2005, about the time his self-titled fourth album was released. “I listen to a lot of old soul records, a lot of gospel music, and I’m a huge Dylan fan.”
Carol Peters of Peters Management Syndicate, Costello’s manager, is a Chicago native who saw many blues greats, including Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. She became an instant fan the first time she saw Costello play. “He didn’t just perform, he became the music,” she writes in an e-mail sent to the AJC on Wednesday. “Every finger, shoulder, footstep and facial expression communicated the music. It came from someplace within him and poured out of him.”
The Atlanta blues scene has a lost a big chunk of its heart.
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Sister 2 Sister — The Atlanta Edition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before the April issue is pulled off the stands, you may want to grab the latest Sister 2 Sister magazine.
From front to back it’s all about Atlanta — literally.
TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas is on the cover. The back page is a Pepsi DJ Division ad that includes our own DJ Drama of the Aphilliates.
And in between, not only is there the eight-page story on Thomas (above with her son Tron) — who discusses why she is no longer working with Akon, her no longer dating CNN’s TJ Holmes, and yes, briefly, Usher — but an obviously dated piece on Bishop Thomas Weeks. (Here he maintans he did not attack his wife, evangelist Juanita Bynum. But on March 11 he pled guilty to aggravated assault.)
But back to Thomas, in the cover piece she discusses solo singles “Straight Jack” and “Game Proof”, but the light these days is on “Dumb Dumb Dumb”. Hear it here and offer up your grades/reviews.
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The North Georgia mountains and Mountain Heart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mountain Heart.
Once this cold snap passes, spring fever will be in full bloom. It’s the perfect time for a little road trip through some beautiful country — and a fine time to indulge in some world-class bluegrass while you’re at it.
On Friday, April 18, modern bluegrass sextet Mountain Heart teams up with the extraordinary Tony Rice for a performance at Ellijay Elementary School in the lovely North Georgia mountain town of Ellijay.
Rice was one of the pioneers of the progressive bluegrass movement of the ’70s. Technical brilliance meets subtle and soulful artistry when Rice’s fingers fly across his guitar’s fretboard.
Mountain Heart, a sextet that continues the progressive bluegrass tradition, won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s emerging artist award in 1999. Banjo player and tenor Barry Abernathy is a Georgia native with an impressive résumé that includes stints with IIIrd Tyme Out and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver.
Doors open 6 p.m. and tickets are $15-$30. The Ellijay Elementary School Auditorium is located at 32 McCutchen St. in Ellijay. For tickets, call 706-276-6888 or go to Mountain Heart’s online home.
The high lonesome sound of bluegrass seems like the ideal soundtrack for spring. What is your favorite musical accompaniment for this green and glorious time of year?
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“Miss Rap Supreme” Includes Atlantans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The search for female rappers moves from the charts — where there are only two (Missy Elliott, Lil Mama) in Billboard’s Top 25 — to the TV at 10 p.m. tonight, where VH1 will debut “ego trip’s Miss Rap Supreme”.
The eight-episode series finds Michael “MC Serch” Berrin (of short-lived, early ’90s hip-hop group 3rd Bass) and pioneering rhymer Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker choosing from 10 rappers to earn the title — and $100,000. Among the 10 is Atlantan Ms. Cherry, and fellow local artist Khia (who claims her native Florida in the show).
Yes, that is the same Khia who had a club hit with “My Neck, My Back”, and sold hundreds of thousands of copies of her album with that single, “Thug Misses”. (Hear the clean version of her new single “Be Your Lady” HERE ).
It’s an odd inclusion among the other relative unknowns. And Serch points that out in the beginning, asking her what it’s like to go from “800,000 albums sold to almost obscurity, now to this show?”
“I like her, but is she more than a one-hit wonder?” Yo-Yo asks.
“I really thought she was a judge,” adds one of Khia’s competitors.
Oh she’s far more than that. As the more accomplished among them, Khia already believes — and acts — like the crown is hers; and that makes for an interesting dynamic in Los Angeles’s Fembassy Hotel Suites, where they’re all staying.
In other words, as the announcer says in the intro, “The claws will come out.”
Ever wonder why there are so few female hip-hop artists? Jason Geter of Atlanta’s Grand Hustle record label said recently that women are part of the problem — “they’ll buy a guy’s music and won’t buy a woman’s…And they’re harder on women, sometimes, than dudes are.” That’s a point also expressed in this show, before the first challenge — where the 10 rap for women in a beauty salon, a sorority house, and then a group of nuns.
Do you agree with Geter’s point? And what about hip-hop today — is it in need of more female voices, in your opinion?
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T.I. On T.I., Musically
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before he wrapped up his first sit-down interview since his arrest, and subsequent guilty plea on firearms charges, Atlanta rapper T.I. also discussed at length his upcoming CD “Paper Trail,” due in stores in September: When are we going to hear some new music? “People are so eager to hear what I’ve got to say they’re digging up unauthorized old records trying to say that this is ‘Paper Trail’ material, when it’s really not. And we recognize that, and we appreciate that. So we have chosen a record that we’re about to get mixed and we’re about to actually put something out there within the next two, three weeks.” “Log on to streetcred.com if not the Tuesday coming up, the Tuesday after that.” What’s the name of the record? “If it’s not ‘It’s All G’ it’s ‘No Matter What’. What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to set streetcred up for new music Tuesday, where we will also have the Young LA “Ain’t I” remix with me, him and Young Dro. We’ll have that premiering one of these Tuesdays.” DJ Toomp [an executive producer on ‘Paper Trail’] has already said people are comparing this CD to 2Pac’s “Me Against The World”, would you agree? “It’s ‘Me Against The World’-ish, yeah, in a way. It’s very sincere. It’s heartfelt. It’s reflective. It’s apologetic in some ways. It’s motivational in some ways. It’s inspirational in the sense that when people counted me out, I knew better. And all that did was light my fire. Make me go hard. And it’s a lot of endurance shown. It’s deep. It’s deep in a sense where you can kind of hear where I was whenever all these songs came out. You can say ‘Well he probably heard about that that day’ [while he was on house arrest]. Or ‘he probably read this that day’. “I think ‘Me Against The World’ is a little darker than this one is going to be. I’m going for moreso ‘All Eyez On Me’. Kind of like when he got out of jail, rather than when he was going in.” Toomp and Kawan Prather also said they’ve given you tracks for the album… “Yeah Toomp. K.P. . Frank Ski sent me something - we’re still working on that one. He sent me a deep one. It’s like a real - it’s out there for me. It’s not normal T.I. listening so it’s going to take me a little while. Drumma Boy. We did a lot of work with Drumma Boy. Lil C. Me, Lil C and Ricco - Fantasia’s brother - he blessed me a few different times. We have a new R&B artist and writer named Mitchelle’l. And Ricco’s signed to us as a writer and an artist. And he’s got heat. “And let me see who else we’ve worked with — Danja Handz, again, we worked iwth him. A guy named J.R. — he’s a producer out of L.A.. J Rock — he’s a producer out of Miami, I think. Nard and B — they’re also Grand Hustle producers. And I believe that song’s got B.O.B on the hook. “We have a lot of different things, different irons in the fire. And we haven’t even really set out to start doing collaborations yet.” Surely you have a lot of people interested… “Well you know, only so many fit. Of course I’d love to go do songs with everyone but now we’ve got to make sure it fits with what we’re doing.” Who do you want to work with at this point in your career, that you haven’t? “Right now I think I’m about to do something with Amy Winehouse. I don’t know if it’s for [her CD] or for mine, but I’m definitely looking forward to that. Me and Cee-Lo spoke about doing something. I’ve just got to get in touch with him and arrange it. We’re already cool. We’re homies. We’ve just got to get into the same place at the same time. Justin [Timberlake] — I figure that’s worth revisiting. Usher as well.” Do you have an All-Time-Love-To-Work-With Artist? “OutKast. Dr. Dre and OutKast. I’m working dilligently on getting that OutKast record. I just need Three Stacks to just feel like it right quick. If he could just feel like it between now and August, I’ll be good.” Headed into your sixth album with Grammys and millions sold, do you think you’ve made it yet? “I don’t think where I’ve been is half as successful as where I’m going. I think my future is brighter than my past. Still. And the reason I know that is because of how many people are trying to stop me from getting there. They’d just leave me alone and let me go if they thought we weren’t going to do nothing but go on and fall off. They assume that ‘He[’s] going to be bigger than ever if they let him get through this, man. I need to start hating. Hard. Quick. Pleeaaase lock him up. If y’all let him get through this he’s going to be, man, the best thing since hot grits.’ And they’re right.” Do you agree with T.I. on that last point? Do you think the anticipation for ‘Paper Trail’ is the most ever for a T.I. CD? And who would you like him to work with; what would you like to him her rap about now?
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Third Day honored by Georgia General Assembly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Third Day, pictured after being honored with a House Resolution from the Georgia General Assembly. From left, Representative Jay Neal, Third Day band members David Carr, Mark Lee, Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Representative Amy Carter and Speaker Glenn Richardson.
Third Day has 23 Dove Awards (from the Gospel Music Association), three Grammy Awards, a pair of American Music Awards and the Atlanta-based quartet has sold more than six million albums. Last week, they received another honor to add to that impressive list — House Resolution 1978 from the Georgia General Assembly.
The resolution “commend[s] them for their contributions to the citizens of this state which they have provided through their musical message of faith and hope.” You can read the entire text of the resolution here.
The commendation also mentions the band’s upcoming album, “Revelation,” which will be released in July. The album will include guest shots by Chris Daughtry, Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosley and steel guitar maestro Robert Randolph.
The band was on hand to receive the honor, which was presented on April 1.
In a press release from the band’s label, guitarist Mark Lee says, “We are very honored to receive this House Resolution, not just because we consider it a major recognition of our music and work, but because it comes from our home state.”
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Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday night at Philips Arena was hip-hop and hip-hop/soul as many had probably never seen it.
Chandeliers and string sections.
Grown couples in evening attire holding each other and dancing.
And a VIP section behind the sound board so packed with music industry powers that one had to expect whatever nearby hangar private jets fly into must have been packed.
That was the scene as multi-Grammy-winning singer Mary J. Blige and legendary rapper Jay-Z brought their sold out “Heart Of The City” tour to Atlanta last evening.
And even Blige couldn’t help but remark on it all from the stage: “It’s just amazing, amazing what Atlanta has become…Give yourself some love tonight please…I mean, Tyler Perry’s in the front row!”
And yes, that was Jay-Z’s reported new bride Beyonce in the front row of that VIP section on the floor, along with fellow artists Rick Ross, Monica, Jazze Pha, Kandi, Divinity (Beyonce’s bassist) and DJ Drama; executives Jermaine Dupri, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Kevin Liles, Lyor Cohen, Chaka Zulu, Devyne Stephens and Michael Kyser; as well as Usher’s producer brother J-Lack.
But on stage were the main attractions — an obviously, vocally-stronger Blige charging through a medley of hits including “Reminisce”; “Real Love”; “Be Happy”; the stand-out “No More Drama” and the more recent hit she recorded here with Atlanta’s Jazze Pha, Tricky Stewart and the opening act on the tour, The Dream, “Just Fine.”
Then after appearing with Blige at the beginning to do their collaboration, “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” and again midset, Jay-Z took the stage to do mostly longer versions of his catalog of hits. And while showing hometown love by seguing into local rapper Shawty Lo’s “Dey Know” — and bringing Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy on stage, was a highlight, the energy level went up higher when a picture of President George W. Bush flashed on the screen. Many booed. “You’re ready for change right?” Jay-Z asked. Then the picture changed to Senator Barack Obama — generating wild applause.
The capacity crowd hit frenzy level though when he started playing bits from his collaborations with Beyonce, such as “Crazy In Love” and “Upgrade U”.
Alas, she didn’t take the stage. But V-103’s Miss Sophia reported that she showed later at Dupri’s after-party with Jay-Z at Studio 72 (along with Usher and his wife Tameka; and rapper Nelly). Blige, Diddy and Lil Kim were due at Dreamz. And Elle Duncan of V-103’s “Ryan Cameron Show” was planning a birthday party at Luckie Lounge.
Were you at the show last night? (See the accessatlanta.com photo gallery ) If so, what grade would you give it? And did you have enough energy to make it to the many parties afterward?
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Queens of the Stone Age replaced for free ATL show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Against Me! Photo: Sire/Warner Bros. Records
In March, organizers for the SoCo Music Experience announced that Queens of the Stone Age would headline this year’s Centennial Park edition of the free festival. Not anymore. No reason has been given, except for the usual “circumstances beyond our control” statement from the Queens’ spokesperson, according to a release from the festival’s publicists.
Nouveau-punk Floridians Against Me! will now occupy the show’s top spot when the fest returns for its third year at Centennial Olympic Park on May 17. Like the title sponsor, the event is for folks age 21 and over.
Support acts remain Ghostland Observatory, Supersuckers, Ryan Shaw and Bang Camaro.
Previous Atlanta editions of the festival have featured the Flaming Lips, The Roots, Son Volt, De La Soul, Sick Puppies, Cypress Hill, Mickey Avalon and Galactic.
Atlanta is one of six cities that will host the SoCo Music Experience this year, with Denver and New York being added for the first time. For more info and updates, check the event’s site.
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When Athens met China
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blue Flashing Light (l-r): Joshua Schwarber, Ian Schwarber, JJ Bower, Adam Monica and Ryan Cattie. Photo: Chris McKay for ConcertShots.com. Stylist: Kim Singer.
“China was absolutely fantastic,” says Ian Schwarber, frontman of Athens’ band Blue Flashing Light. He and his band mates recently returned from a mini-tour of China, where they performed in Beijing and at the annual International Peach Blossom Festival in Chengdu from mid- to late March.
The anthemic rock quintet was selected to perform at the festival by the Atlanta-based US-China Cultural & Educational Foundation.
Schwarber was blown away by the response from the audiences. “I would come out and start clapping and they’d all start clapping with me,” he says. “We certainly had the experience of a lifetime.”
“It’s so humbling,” Schwarber says of the enthusiastic response the band received. “You might think your head could blow up over there, but in reality you know you’re returning to America where you have to work…to put people in seats, so you just enjoy it.”
In the village where the peach originated, Schwarber even received a peach blossom crown from the daughter of the local mayor. The crowning denoted that she would be amenable to a proposal of marriage. Schwarber graciously declined, and adds that the mayor was apparently none too keen on the match, either.
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Usher’s new video debuts today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BET is scheduled to air R&B superstar Usher’s new video “Love In This Club,” featuring fellow Atlantan Young Jeezy, every hour on the hour today, starting at 11 a.m.
(The video will debut on MTV and VH1 as well.)
As of this posting, it wasn’t on Usher’s site, but you can watch a SNEAK PREVIEW of the video of the recent No. 1. single from his upcoming CD “Here I Stand,” due in stores May 27.
From the snippet, what do you think? Is Usher (above, giving the “A” sign for Atlanta) on the way to another multimillion-selling CD? (As you may recall, his last one, “Confessions,” sold over a million copies its first week in stores, setting a record for male R&B artists.)
Oh yeah, there’s one other local connection: Usher’s female lead in the video is top Atlanta songwriter-turning-recording artist Keri Hilson.
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Sweet (and Supercharged) Return For Sugarland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a sentence, it was a hurrah of a homecoming.
From the very beginning as Jennifer Nettles sang the opening lines to “Baby Girl”; to the thunderous applause after the spare plea “Stay”; to the shots of Turner Field, Eddie’s Attic and West Peachtree Street shown during “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”; to the rocking encore - a cover of Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, Atlanta country duo Sugarland’s concert Thursday night at the Fox Theatre felt more victory parade than concert performance. Minus the floats and confetti.
“People come up to me and say how nice it must be to be living your dream,” Nettles said before “Something More”. “And I’m telling you what Atlanta, Georgia - I’m looking at all of your smiling faces and you know what I’m saying? ‘[Your] damn right!’ “
Hours before the first of his band’s two sold-out performances at the Fox, Kristian Bush looked around in a kind of awe about what was about to happen.
Sure Sugarland (above) had been nominated for a Grammy, won two CMT Music Awards, a CMA and an American Music Award — but in all of his years toiling the Atlanta music scene, “I have never played the Fox. This is already major, and the show hasn’t started.”
Were you at the Fox Thursday? (See our photo gallery ) How would you rate the show — opener Zac Brown included? Or are you planning to go tonight?
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Stone Temple Pilots return
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s official. The rumored reunion of ’90s rock behemoth Stone Temple Pilots is definitely happening, with a 65-city tour scheduled to begin May 17 at Columbus, Ohio’s Rock on the Range Festival.
The other dates will be announced on Tuesday, April 8, the day after a special tour launch event/benefit/performance taking place in a secret locale in Los Angeles. We’ll let you know as soon as we hear of an Atlanta date for the re-assembled rock quartet, but you can check the band’s online home for more info.
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A Feist Move, James Taylor Addition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
More news from the tornado-damaged Tabernacle: The Feist (above) show scheduled there April 18 is now happening at the Masquerade Music Park.
Tabernacle tickets will be honored. For more information call the Tabernacle (404-659-9022), the Masquerade (404-221-1211) or go to Feist’s site.
Also, since the May 24 and 25 shows sold out, a third — and supposedly final — James Taylor show has been added May 26 at Chastain Park Amphitheatre.
Tickets are $38.50 to $75 and they go on sale April 7 at the Live Nation site, Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 404-249-6400.
For more information on the Taylor show call Chastain Tickets (404-233-2227) or got to James Taylor’s site,
Had you planned to go to the Feist show? Is the move to Masquerade a better one for you? What about the Taylor concerts — are you among the thousand who have already sold out two of this three dates?
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Wind Down This Wednesday, Forward
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saxophonist Jeff Sparks launches the annual Wednesday WindDown free concert series today at Centennial Olympic Park.
It’s from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Southern Company Amphitheater in the park. And the series runs through September.
Here’s a look at the contemporary jazz and R&B acts booked there thus far:
April 9 Khat Phud
April 16 Milkshake and his quartet
April 23 Madoca
April 30 TBA
May 7 Brian Clay
May 14 Just A Few Cats
May 21 Steven Charles
May 28 Bob Baldwin
June 4 Chandra Currelley
June 11 Infinity Show Band
June 18 TBA
June 25 Julie Dexter (above)
For more information, go to the Centennial Olympic Park site
Have you been to Wednesday WindDown before - and if so, how would you rate it? Any of the scheduled acts of interest? Do you miss the other summer concert series that used to happen in this area, like On The Bricks?
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Local bands - and fans - on TV
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Shanghai Gesture
The Young Antiques
Want to be on TV? You might get the chance tonight as Comcast on Demand presents a night of local bands at Smith’s Olde Bar.
The cable company will be filming segments for their Bands on Demand clips at this evening’s showcase. The lineup includes Blackberry Smoke, Red Rocket Deluxe, Thee Crucials, Can Can, Siberia My Sweet and the Hot Rods.
A couple of the best reasons to head to Smith’s tonight are at either end of the bill, headliners the Young Antiques and the first band up, the Shanghai Gesture.
The Shanghai Gesture, fronted by long-serving Atlanta musician Ray Dafrico, makes a shivery swirl of power pop, glam rock and New York punk, then garnishes it with a sliver of garage-y darkness. Former Nightporters and Kathleen Turner Overdrive member Dafrico is joined by drummer Mike Davis, former Catfight bassist Katy Graves and, most recently, keyboardist Lorin Milk. Sample tracks from the band’s album “Mojo Pagoda” at their MySpace page.
The Young Antiques have been an on-again, off-again proposition. Frontman Blake Rainey and bassist Blake Perry, childhood friends who grew up near the Alabama border in Cedartown, started the band around 1999-2000. The trio took a breather for a few years around the middle of this decade and returned to the scene last year. These guys reside where punk meets pop, in a neighborhood that includes folks such as Hüsker Dü, the Jam and the Replacements, adding a touch of literate Southern charm to the community.
Doors open at 7 p.m. April 1 at Smith’s Olde Bar (1578 Piedmont Ave., Midtown. 404-875-1522) and there’s a $5 cover charge.
