All Entries Tagged With: "Music Events and Conferences"

Big Boi & Killer Mike Hit The Road For “Shoes For Running” Tour + Killer’s Performance on David Letterman

The A-town is coming to a city near you!  Outkasts’ Big Boi announced this week that he’s going on tour and he’s bringing Killer Mike with him.  The Shoes For Running tour will travel the U.S. starting March 23 in Tampa, Florida.  This tour is major for Big Boi considering he hasn’t been on tour in two years.  In efforts to continue his promo for the Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors album, this tour is definitely a no-miss event with Killer Killer added as the icing on the cake.

Check out the tour dates below…

03-23 Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor

04-18 Athens, GA – Georgia Theater

04-19 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel

04-20 Charlottesville, VA – University of Virginia

04-21 Baltimore, MD – Sound Stage

04-23 Providence, RI – Lupo’s

04-24 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl

04-25 Williamsburg, VA – College of William & Mary

04-26 University Park, PA – Penn State University

04-27 Philadelphia, PA – TLA

04-30 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue

05-01 Chicago, IL – Vic Theater

05-02 San Francisco, CA – San Francisco State University

05-03 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave

05-04 Memphis, TN – Beale Street Festival

05-05 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater

05-07 Denver, CO – Cervantis

05-08 Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theater

05-09 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot

05-13 Portland, OR – Roseland Theater

05-15 Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst

05-15 San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine

05-18 Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues

05-19 Albuquerque, NM – Observatory

05-23 Houston, TX – Bayou Music Hall

05-24 Austin, TX – The Backyard

05-25 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom

05-26 Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Fest

05-30 Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works

05-31 Chattanooga, TN – Track 29

06-01 Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen

06-02 Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Co.

06-04 Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live

06-05 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution

06-06 Jacksonville, FL – Brewsters Megaplex

06-07 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

06-08 Charleston, SC – Music Farm

06-09 Wilmington, NC – Brooklyn Arts Center

06-11 Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theater

06-12 Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend

06-14 Washington, DC – Howard’s Theatre

06-15 Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom

06-16 Toronto, Ontario – North By Northeast

06-19 Boston, MA – Paradise

07-12-14 Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival

In related news, Killer Mike received some major shine last night.  He was the special musical guest on Late Night with David Letterman.  In case you missed his performance, here’s Killer’s performance of  ”Untitled” featuring Scar & El-P.

Photo Credit:  Fader

Event Recap: DTLR Hosts VIP Reception for Rapper French Montana

French Montana @ DTLR VIP Reception, March 13, 2013

Today, the good folks over at Atlanta’s DTLR sports store held a private VIP reception for BadBoy/MMG artist, French Montana.  The Cocaine City Records CEO was in tow to meet and greet several media outlets and fans. As you know, French Montana is set to release his debut album Excuse My French on May 21.  After garnering recent success with tracks like “Pop That” (featuring Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne) and “Ocho Cinco” (feat. Diddy, MGK, Red Cafe, & Los), French is finally gaining the real attention he needs.

With drinks flowing and free soul food on deck, the VIP reception was pretty chill. I’m sure he needed the brief down time due to video shoots, radio appearances, and scheduled performances he was said to be in town for.  Luckily, STACKS Magazine was on hand to get a few snapshots for the French Montana fans. Check them out below…

Bels (STACKS Mag) & French Montana

Smoak (DTLR), French Montana, & Guest

Born Fly Clothing Co & Bels (STACKS Mag)

In case you missed French Montana’s latest video “Freaks” feat. Nicki Minaj, click here!

Photo Credit:  Dnice Photos

So So Def Rocks Out w/JD, Jay-Z, Monica, Jeezy, Mariah Carey & More @ Fox Theatre [Photos + Video]

The Fox Theatre was turnt up Saturday night as Jermaine Dupri and his So So Def family celebrated their 20th Anniversary.  As expected, a sold out crowd and the majority of the So So Def roster came out to support music legend JD.  Da Brat, Jagged Edge, J-Kwon, Xscape members LaTocha & Tameka Scott, Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Lil Jon, Bone Crusher, Anthony Hamilton, Dondria, are just a few names that were in attendance to perform some of their most recognized hits.

But, JD pulled out all the stops with a few surprises up his sleeve. His longtime friend and musical partner, Mariah Carey, came out to celebrate. Usher Raymond, Ludacris, Lil Scrappy, Nelly, Pastor Troy, Young Jeezy and to everyone’s surprise Jay-Z stepped out on stage to pure pandamonium. Check out a few pics from the event…

In case you missed the concert or live telecast on Direct Tv’s channel 340, here are a few performance highlights from the So So Def concert:

Kris Kross

Monica

Jay-Z

Jay-Z & JD – “Money Aint A Thang” & Young Jeezy “RIP”

Damn! We sure hate we missed this one…

Photo Source: AJC.com

Who Rocked It?!… 2013 Grammys Red Carpet Fashions

The 55th Grammys Award show went underway last night. Besides tuning in to see the great performances, many people tuned in to see the red carpet arrivals. Who doesn’t love to see the latest in fashion trends on some of our favorite celebrities?!!  Get into a few of the looks from last night…

Who ROCKED IT at the 2013 Grammys?? 

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Miguel & More Win Big During Grammy’s Pre-Telecast Ceremony

On Grammy Sunday, several of your top entertainers took home the golden record player for their work during 2012.  Some of the names and awards our readers may be most interested in knowing are as follows:

Best R&B Song – “Adorn” by Miguel

Best Traditional R&B Performance – “Love On Top” by Beyonce

Best R&B Performance – “Climax” by Usher

Best Rap Album – “Take Care” by Drake

Best Rap Song (Songwriters) – “N—-z In Paris” by Jay-Z & Kanye West

Best Rap Performance – “N—-z In Paris” by Jay-Z & Kanye West

Best Country Song – “Blown Away” by Carrie Underwood

Best Jazz Vocal Album – Esparanza Spalding

Best Comedy Album – “Blow Your Pants Off” by Jimmy Fallon

Best Gospel Song – “Go Get It” by Mary Mary

Congratulations to all of the Grammy award winners.  To see the full list, go to www.grammys.com!

Event Recap: Shawty Lo, Drumma Boy, DJ Demp & Others Salute The DJs @ The Atrium

Drumma Boy & Shawty Lo

After witnessing the second inauguration for President Barack Obama (and celebrating Martin Luther King Jrs birthday), the excitement continued on Tuesday night (Jan. 22) at the Atrium. Located on the east side of Atlanta, hundreds of DJs, artists, and music notables packed the club in honor of DJs.  Salute The DJs Awards, founded by Lady Shack, honors the men and women who rock the clubs, break records, and keep the streets bubbling with new music.  This year marked the fourth year for this event.  For it being STACKS Magazine’s first year attending, I can say it was a real cool experience.

The official emcee for the evening was local funny man Crum.com. Also, in the building were many Atlanta notables such as Ms Debra Atney (Mizay Ent), Shawty Lo, Bone Crusher, Drumma Boy, DJ T-Roc, DJ Bigga Rankin, DJ Demp, P. Brown (Streettalk), Wingo (Jagged Edged), DJ Unk, DJ Kutt Throat, Travis Porter, Jack Thriller (ThisIs50.com), Tex James, DG Yola, Mykko Montana, Suga Shane, Rich Homie Quan, Tight and even a surprise visit from Trinidad James.

As part of the show, independent artists/groups had the opportunity to perform.  Some included a childrens group called The Hard Team, YNV, Jewlz, Deacon Uly, Deja Vu, and DDS (pardon me if these names are spelled incorrectly).   There were also a couple of very special performances by Shawty Lo, Rich Homie Quan, and Tight.  The actual DJ awards were given out later in the evening. Some of the categories and winners included:

DJ To Take Most Risks – DJ Blue

Best Show DJ – DJ Prime Time

Most Overlooked In The World – DJ Such-N-Such

Hottest Female DJ – DJ Nina9

DJ Of The Year - DJ Demp

Here are a few pics and videos from the event…

Shawty Lo’s “Petition”

Rich Homie Quan’s “Difference”

Jermaine Dupri Announces Plans To Commemorate 20 Years w/So So Def Anniversary Concert

So So Def Records founder Jermaine Dupri, and various former and current artists, hit up Atlanta City Hall today with exciting news. To commemorate So So Def’s 20th Anniversary [wow...it's been that long], JD plans to set the city on fire with a big ”All Star Anniversary Concert”. The concert will take place on February 23 at the Fox Theatre.

Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed was also present to give a few kind words to JD and his So So Def family. He credits Jermaine Dupri and L.A. Reid with “birthing what Atlanta has become in music in entertainment.”  As for the artists, So So Def was well represented today with Xscape’s LaTocha & Tameka Scott, Da Brat, Kriss Kross, Jagged Edge, Dem Franchize Boyz, J-Kwon, BoneCrusher, Dondria, and Anthony Hamilton. In the 90′s, So So Def was the premiere music label and very beneficial in the creation of Atlanta’s music scene. As stated by JD…

“Now people come to Atlanta with a different mentality,” Dupri said. “In the ‘90s, kids thought it was a dream, but now they come here almost expecting success. But we’re still the frontrunners. 2Chainz, Future, Jeezy, Luda, T.I., all of those guys…I travel all around the world and what I see are people who still look at Atlanta as [being at] the forefront of music.”

So So Def’s “All Star Anniversary Concert” is expected to be one of the biggest concerts of the year for the city of Atlanta.  JD, along with Mayor Kasim Reed, both expressed the importance of this concert and encourages everyone in the city to come out.

“It’s only right we take over the city. You only get one time to do this,” he said, adding that he’ll host a VIP party for the label roster on Feb. 21 and an “incredible party” on Feb. 22.

“This concert means the world to me,” Dupri said. “I don’t feel any other label has every artist still alive and still kicking…It’s not just Atlanta history, but music history.”

To purchase tickets to the concert, check out to www.FoxTixAtl.com. Tickets go on sale on January 19.

Source:  AJC.com

Event Recap: Respect The Grind Talent Showcase @ Major League Bar [Photos + Video]

On November 28, STACKS Magazine had the pleasure to host its first talent showcase. The Respect The Grind Talent Showcase featured great performances by several underground artists. The showcase, hosted by funny man Henry Welch, was created to give underground artists (i.e. rappers, spoken word, musicians, singers) the opportunity to show their talents in front of STACKS Magazine supporters.  Each performer also was given the chance to have their performance video taped and participate in on-the-spot interviews.  Thus, giving each artists a platform to have their talents seen via our online website and social media outlets.

Here are a few pics from the event…

Video Recap:

Special thanks to all of the artists who participated:  Midnight Black, RedBoy, Trey, Snappa R.E.D., Starr Jamezz, Yung Streetz, Tikie B, DoughBoy, Bravo, and JB Kool. Also, we’d like to thank Da B.R.O.A.D.S sisterhood organization for their time and committment and KC and the staff at Major League Bar & Grill. We appreciate your assistance with the event.

Thanks to all of the supporters who showed up. Please stay tuned for future events in 2013.  To check out all of the pictures from the showcase, go to our Facebook page !! Follow us on Twitter @ STACKSMag !

The Grammy Nominees We Care About…

The biggest moment in music is on its way. The night of February 10 will mark the 55th year for the Grammys. The annual music awards show honors the musical achievements of your favorite artists. Although, some dispute how winners are chosen (i.e. music peers, Grammy committee, group of men/women who have no clue), the lucky artist (s) could care less knowing that they’ve reached a huge pinnacle in their career.

This year, most of the same categories surfaced. All genres of music are being represented: Rock, Pop, R&B, Rap, Country, Dance, Blues, Americana??.  To our surprise, Frank Ocean has like five nominations.  In addition, Toronto-native Drake does good with three nominations. Check out the full list (we care about) below:

Album of the Year

» The Black Keys – El Camino

» Fun. – Some Nights

» Mumford & Sons – Babel

» Frank Ocean – Channel Orange

» Jack White – Blunderbuss

Best New Artist

» The Alabama Shakes

» Fun.

» Hunter Hayes

» The Lumineers

» Frank Ocean

Best R&B Performance

» Estelle – “Thank You”

» Robert Glasper Experiment feat. Ledisi – “Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)

» Luke James – “I Want You”

» Miguel – “Adorn”

» Usher – “Climax”

Best Traditional R&B Performance

» Anita Baker – “Lately”

» Beyonce – “Love on Top”

» Melanie Fiona – “Wrong Side of a Love Song”

» Gregory Porter – “Real Good Hands”

» SWV – “If Only You Knew”

Best Urban Contemporary Album

» Chris Brown, Fortune

» Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream

» Frank Ocean, Channel Orange

Best R&B Album

» Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio

» Anthony Hamilton, Back To Love

» R. Kelly, Write Me Back

» Tamia, Beautiful Surprise

» Tyrese, Open Invitation

Best Rap Performance

» Drake feat. Lil’ Wayne – “HYFR (Hell Ya F—ing Right)”

» Jay-Z & Kanye West – “N—as In Paris”

» Nas – “Daughters”

» Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – “Mercy”

» Young Jeezy feat. Jay-Z & Andre 3000 – “I Do”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

» Flo Rida feat. Sia – “Wild Ones”

» Jay-Z & Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean & The-Dream – “No Church in the Wild”

» John Legend feat. Ludacris – “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”

» Nas feat. Amy Whinehouse – “Cherry Wine”

» Rihanna feat. Jay-Z – “Talk That Talk”

Best Rap Song

» Nas – “Daughters”

» Wale feat. Miguel – “Lotus Flower Bomb”

» Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz – “Mercy”

» Drake feat. Lil’ Wayne – “The Motto”

» Jay-Z & Kanye West – “N—as In Paris”

» Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars – “Young, Wild & Free”

Best Rap Album

» Drake, Take Care

» Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1

» The Roots, Undun

» Nas, Life Is Good

» Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don’t

» 2 Chainz, Based on a T.R.U. Story

Who are your picks??

Rita Ora, Alicia Keys, Pitbull Heat Up The 2012 MTV EMAs [Video Performances]

The 2012 MTV European Music Awards aired last night with explosive performances from many your favorite artists.  Taylor Swift, Ludacris, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, to name a few, were all in Frankfurt, Germany to honor music’s most notable artists who’s made a major mark in the European circuit.  Besides the red carpet though, viewers mainly tune in to see the performances. Last night, Rita Ora, Alicia Keys, and Pitbull definitely did their thing.

Check out their performances below:

Rita Ora – RIP

Alicia Keys – New Day/Girl On Fire

Pitbull – Don’t Stop The Party

What I Learned from the A3C… + Video Recap

The A3C happened practically a month ago. This three day festival of hot honeys, home grown entrepreneurship, and hip hop has been making waves as of late. In Atlanta, it is THE event for hip hop. Some liken it to being a “Hip Hop Disneyland”. Yet, this past A3C festival had its ups and downs.

The Good

As usual, the A3C kept having acts that were worth the moment of time and purchase. If one took time to watch performances by Raekwon, Chino XL, Ab-Soul, and even Twista, they know what I am referring to. They still had multiple stages to migrate to which lessens the intake of boredom. Plus, many of the artists were roaming around and enjoying the scene. Unsurprisingly, it still had its feel of a musical amusement park.

Another infused idea that actually worked is the inclusion of the “regional stage”. On the Chicago Stage, you could enjoy the sounds of GLC, King Louie, and Twista. Many supporters came strong for that one (even Scienze, whom is from Brooklyn). The Detroit Stage was just as live. With Jon Connor, Clear Soul Forces, and Slum Village doing their thing, it was an exciting time. In short, the regional stage allowed for familiarity on one stage at one time.

The Bad

The biggest takeaway from this is that there were too many concerts off-site. I understand that the A3C is expanding. Still, having so many artists caused an issue with housing them in one spot. So, they decided to expand off the site. While this allowed for more concerts, it also causes a disparity in seeing those artists. I recommend keeping everything at one place (The Masquerade) from here on out.

The Conclusion

The A3C was as good as expected. It gave the people of Atlanta time to check out their favorite artists performing their favorite music. However, spreading out to offsite places for performances was a headache for many concert goers. Preferably, they will keep every event at one spot for next year. In the end, the A3C was still a great time in the arena of celebrating hip hop.

Check out STACKS Magazine’s video montage of A3C 2012:

Waka Flocka’s “Triple F Life Tour 2012″ Coming to Cities Near You

Brick Squad Monoply’s Waka Flocka is going on tour yall!  The energetic Clayton County rapper is set to bring his high energy show to a city near you. In addition to Waka, his label mates Wooh Da Kid and Reema Major will also perform. The tour will begin at the Norva Theater in Norfolk, Virgina.  If you are a fan of Waka Flocka, find out about his upcoming dates for the Triple F Life: Friends, Fans and Family Tour 2012 at www.wakaflockabsm.com\tour .

“Testosterone-filled” Red Carpet Photos: BET Hip Hop Awards 2012

Bottom line…there were not enough female artists at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.  Stephen Hill and Debra Lee, WHERE THE HECK WERE THEY???

The 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards are normally attended by just as many females as males. But since the demise of the female dominance in hip hop, the award show has received less participation from the women of hip hop.  If they were in attendance, media outlest damn sure didn’t see them walk the red carpet.  The only representation from hip hop were male artists: T.I., Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Busta Rhymes, and others.  So, in honor of the ladies (or lack thereof), here are few red carpet photos from Saturday’s event.

50 Cent

2 Chainz & his daughter

Busta Rhymes

Diggy Simmons

Meek Mill

Mystikal

Q-tip & Kendrick Lamar

Rick Ross

T.I.

Wiz Khalifa

Photo Credit: MTV/Getty Images

Foolery: Gunplay’s Maced After Altercation with 50 Cent’s Entourage @ BET HipHop Awards

Rick Ross & Gunplay

BLACK FOLKS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ACT!!!!

Over the weekend, BET hosted the 7th Annual BET Hip Hop Awards at the Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia. As many of our favorite artists walked the red carpet and headed inside for a few unforgettable performances, the mostly peaceful evening quickly turned sour when rival artists (Rick Ross and Young Jeezy) ran into one another backstage.

According to several reports, the two came into close contact while backstage of the awards show.  Surrounded by their security, Ross and Jeezy shared a few harsh words and things went left. Although, no one was touched and quicly deaded by BET staff, APD, and their security, the beef drifted onto their entourages later on in the parking lot.

Apparently, Gunplay, Rick Ross closes comrade and MMG/Def Jam rapper, got into a dreadful argument with an unknown out of 50 Cent’s camp.  It has not yet been confirmed exactly who from 50′s camp go into squabble with Gunplay. But, according to the video footage below (from WorldStar HipHop), some dudes apparently jumped on Gunplay. But, Gunplay being the known goon that he is, turned the tables on one of the fools and jumped back.  Police were in the vicinity and quickly sprayed mace on the rapper and apprehended him.

No word yet on if Gunplay was taken to jail and/or released.  Until the full story comes out, take a look at the blurry footage of the fight.

WHEN WILL THE UNNECCESARY BULLSH*T IN HIP HOP STOP??? 

Photo Credit:  Vibe.com 

T.I. & Ludacris Rocks the Crowd @ Midtown Music Festival

The city of Atlanta’s Piedmont Park was off the chain this past weekend. As the host spot for the Midtown Music Festival, over 20 thousand screaming fans packed the outdoor facility as a wide-range of music artists performed. Rock banks like Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters rocked out for adoring music lovers. But, it was the hometown favs T.I. and Ludacris that added some urban flavor to the mix.

In case you missed the festivities, here are a few pics from the event:

The fans enjoyed themselves as T.I. and Ludacris performed their past hits, and present ones.  Here’s a bit of footage of Luda’s set. Enjoy!

A3C Hip Hop Festival Returns To ATL, Oct 11-13…Up To 300 Artists Will Perform

Who’s ready for some real hip hop?!!  The annual A3C Hip Hop Festival is set to return to Atlanta on Oct 11-13. The annual music showcase features well-known and underground artists from across the U.S.. This year the A3C team has stepped it up by featuring approximately 300 artists! Grouped up by regions and/or sponsors, this years talent is sure to have the city rocking.

Today is the last day to purchase 3-day passes for $33 to see newly announced artists like Paul Wall, Ab-Soul, 9th Wonder, Freeway, Devin the Dude and more at Atlanta’s annual A3C Hip Hop Festival October 11-13, 2012.

 

In addition to headliner Twista, King Louie, GLC and Mikkey Halsted will represent the Midwest in the Taste of Chicago showcase presented by Xtreme Promo and Fake Shore Drive. Taste of Chicago also features YP, Mush Millions, Fresh, Squart and others.

 

Continuing to showcase regional Hip Hop sounds, A3C’s Texas showcase presented by Pushamania includes Paul Wall, Killa Kyleon, A.Dd+, The Niceguys, League of Extraordinary Gz, Doughbeezy, Kydd and Worldwide.

 

Long time A3C Partner, Fadia Kader returns to the festival with Perfect Attendance presented by LiveMixtapes all three nights at Little Five Point’s Five Spot. Saturday night, hosted by Dirty Glove Bastards, features Devin The Dude, Don Trip, Starlito, Young Scooter, SL Jones, Cory Mo, OG Ron C and DJ Burn One. Thursday Night will be hosted by GoodMusicAllDay and Friday will be hosted by The Smoking Section with artists still to be announced for both evenings.

 

A3C alumnus 9th Wonder also returns with his independent label Jamla Records and performances from artists Big Remo, Actual Proof, Rapsody and others.

 

Creative Revolution Union (CRUx) and EarMilk join forces to present Right Brain headlined by Ab-Soul. Sponsored by Rocksmith Clothing, the Right Brain showcase also features Ducko McFli, FKi, Zip, Kenney and Mach Five.

 

A3C is still accepting artists’ submissions through ReverbNation and Sonicbids until August 31. A3C staff listen to every submission and are looking for talented artists from across the country who can bring something unique to the festival. All artists that submit, regardless of selection, receive a 3-day festival pass through Sonicbids or a code to purchase discounted tickets through ReverbNation.

 

Tech N9ne, Freeway, Gunplay, CunninLynguists and Hopsin are just a few of other artists confirmed to perform at the 2012 event in addition to a special appearance by Ghet-O-Vision/Shady recording artist Yelawolf. For a complete list of 2012 performing artists visit www.a3cfestival.com/artists.

The A3C has not only become the largest Hip Hop festival in the southeastern United States, but is the premier gathering place for MCs, DJs and producers that create Hip Hop music as well as participants and fans of the culture. In addition to more than 200 live performances and showcases, the A3C Hip Hop Festival features turntable, emcee, producer and breakdance competitions as well as educational and community programming including panel discussions and workshops.

Specific showcase, panel, artists and event updates will continue to be announced through the A3C website through the start of the festival on October 11, 2012.

[Related Post:  10 Things I Learned From The A3C Festival]

Source:  A3C

Drake, MMG, Jill Scott, D’Angelo & More Performs @ Made In America Festival [Photos]

Labor Day weekend brought out thousands of music fans to Jay-Z’s first music festival. “Made In America” festival combined a diverse group of artists in a single day full of great performances.  In addition to Pearl Jam, a host of popular artists made their way to the stage like Drake, Jill Scott, D’Angelo, Run DMC, and others.

Check out a few pics of the performers:

D’Angelo

Janelle Monae

Jay-Z

Run DMC

Wale, Maybach Music Group

Jill Scott

Photos: AJC

Jay-Z’s “Made In America” Fest Set To Takeover Philly On Labor Day Weekend

If you live in Philadelphia or the surrounding cities/states, you may be interested in attending one of the hottest music festivals this year. Set to jump off on Labor Day weekend, Jay-Z’s “Made In America” two-day concert is expected to bring out over 100,000 people to downtown Philly.  The concert will feature Drake, Skrillex, AfroJack, Chris Connell, Run DMC, Jill Scott, and Pearl Jam.

During the two-day concert, performances will run from 2pm to 11pm. Over thirty acts will perform on three stages, of which will be located near the Museum of Arts (spot where the movie “Rocky” was filmed).  In case you are wondering how much it costs to attend, two-day passes are currently $135.  One-day passes are $75.  VIP and travel packages range from $350 to $2,200.  The closer it gets to Sep 1 prices are expected to increase.

For more information about the” Made In America” festival, go to www.madeinamericafest.com.

Source: AP

Event Recap: ONE MusicFest Press Conference & Roundtable

On Sept. 1, the 4th Ward Historic Park and Masquerade Music Park will collide as the host site for the third annual ONE MusicFest.  ONE MusicFest (OMF)  is an outdoor concert showcasing a diverse group of artists uniting for the love of one thing…music.  In past years, a wide range of national and international performers graced the stages of OMF (i.e. Common, De La Soul, Goapele).  This year will be no different. The wide-range of artists on the bill to perform at this years festival includes Marsha Ambrosius, Santigold, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Dougie Fresh, Eric Roberson, and Big KRIT.  The music lovers attending will also enjoy a Food Truck Block Party, Steamhouse Lounge’s shrimp and crab fest, DJs, and other various social and environmentally-conscious activities.

“The whole idea behind ONE MusicFest, the logo, the name…was to figure out a way to actually bridge some of the gaps and barriers in Atlanta, and using music as that vehicle.” – J. Carter

To kickoff the festivities, a press conference was held for local media outlets to learn more about OMF 2012.  The evening also consisted of a roundtable of industry experts who shared their views on the current ”State of the Atlanta Music Scene”.   The panelists included Shanti Das (Press Reset Entertainment), Maurice Garland (Vetern Music Editor), Keinon Johnson (Interscope Records), Peniece Legall (SESAC), Aaron Arnold (Music Is My Business), Salah Ananse (Celebrity DJ), Mali Hunter (Treesounds Studios), and J. Carter (Founder of ONE MusicFest).

With V-103FM radio personality Egypt Sherrod filling the hostess seat, each panelist shared their journeys into the music business and fielded questions regarding artists and the  music business.

Singer Kameron Corvet was also on hand to grace the audience with his smooth sounds.  Check out a quick video of his performance below:

To learn more about OMF, go to www.onemusicfest.com.  If you’d like to attend OMF 2012, tickets are on sale now. Until Aug 10, tickets are on sale for special discounted price just use the code “our people”.

Special thanks to The Garner Circle for the invite!

MTV Jams and Reebok’s ‘The Closer to My Dreams Tour’; Tyga Headlines

After recently wrapping up his Careless World Tour, Tyga is about to be on the road again. The YMCMB member will be headlining MTV Jams and Reebok’s 2012 ‘The Closer to My Dreams Tour”. Supporting acts include Iggy Azalea, Kirko Bangz, Ca$h Out, and Sterling Simms.

The 15-city tour takes flight on September 4^th in Los Angeles and make it final stop on September 23^rd in Boston. Check out the tour schedule below…

9/4/2012 – Los Angeles, CA – Club Nokia

9/7/2012 Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Amphitheatre

9/8/2012 Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center

9/9/2012 Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom

9/11/2012 Fargo, ND – The Venue

9/12/2012 Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom

9/13/2012 Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom

9/14/2012 Minneapolis, MN – Epic

9/16/2 Chicago, IL – Congress Theatre

9/17/2012 Detroit, MI Detroit – The Fillmore

9/18/2012 Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion

9/19/2012 Washington DC – The Fillmore

9/20/2012 New York, NY – Best Buy Theatre

9/21/2012 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory

9/23/2012 Boston, MA – House of Blues

2 Chainz Announces 1st Solo Tour

Having made major moves on the music scene lately, 2 Chainz is about make even more moves as he journeys on his first solo national tour. The tour which bares the same name as his upcoming album Based on A T.R.U. Story will kick off in Virginia shortly after the album’s release.

Coming fresh off of Drake’s Club Paradise Tour, the rapper says “One of the things I enjoy the most about being an artist is the opportunity to get on the stage and give the fans everything they deserve. Everything they’ve come to expect from me. I’ve performed alongside some of the best in this business, but this time will be something special. This time it’s all me.”

Tickets go on sale July 26^th. Check out the dates below. It’s being said that more dates may be added.

August 30 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva

August 31 – Richmond, VA – The National

September 2 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

September 5 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s

September 7 – Chicago, IL – Metro

September 9 – Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club

September 10 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre

September 27 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa

“Riding round, I’m gettin it”

Run-DMC to Reunite @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

After calling it quits back in 2002 due to the loss of their beloved DJ, Jam Master, some have wondered if the surviving members of the infamous rap group Run-DMC would ever hit the stage again. Well it looks like Rev. Run (Joseph Simmons) and DMC (Darryl McDaniels) are about to break out their Adidas and do just that.

The two will reunite this fall at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas. We’re pretty sure it’s safe to say that their blast from the past will include performances of some of their greatest hits such as “My Adidas”, “Walk This Way” and “It’s Like That”.

A full lineup of performers will be announced on July 12^th. The festival will take place November 2-4.

This should truly be a treat for those who will be in attendance!

2012 Essence Music Fest Brings Out the Stars [Photos] + D’Angelo’s Live Performance

The 2012 Essence Music Festival went underway this weekend.  The city of New Orleans welcomed thousands and thousands of Essence-goers to a fun-filled weekend of parties, food, drinks, and concerts.  The performances, which is known as the 4-day highlight of the festival, didn’t dissapoint this year.  Check out some of the concert pics from #EMF2012:

Also, here’s a rare performance of “How Does It Feel” by D’Angelo.  Check out his outstanding performance below:

Photo Credit:  Michael Crowe/Essence

Xscape’s LaTocha Scott Is the “Truth In The Booth” + Official Single “Bad Timing”

Last week, at a small yet intimate place called the Koo Koo Room, media/press were invited to meet former member of Xscape, LaTocha Scott.  The meet-n-greet is one of several promotional tools LaTocha’s team will use to help re-boost her once budding singing career.  To many, LaTocha is known as the former lead singer of the group Xscape.  Her vocal abilities are powerful and deep rooted in soul and gospel.  This voice is something fans all over have been waiting on.  So what has she been doing all this time?  She’s recorded a few songs throughout the years which garnered some decent airplay.  But for artists from the 90′s, it’s the season of the “comeback“. And it is apparent that LaTocha is set to do just that…reclaim her spot in R&B.

So as fans of the group Xscape, the STACKS Magazine team was elated to meet LaTocha and find out why she’s been away from the spotlight so long and the happenings with her new music.

What have you been doing lately?

I’ve been doing a lot. I’ve been writing and mentoring women. I started my foundation called Golden Girl. Writing music for my mixtape and my album right after.  So, I’ve been doing a lot…working behind the scenes.

So, your mixtape that’s coming out, T.N.T.B., what does the acronym stand for?

Truth In The Booth. We were in the studio one day and my management team came in and said, “Girl, you’re the truth in the booth!”. So I was like, we can call the album “truth in the booth”. It’s a nice title. So it just stuck.

Will you have any collabs on the album with your former group members (Xscape)?

My sister and I was talking about this the other day. And I really want to do something with the girls. Everybody’s kind of busy right now. But if we don’t do something as a group, then it’ll be just the two of us. But, I do have some collaborations with other artists that are out now.  I don’t like to throw names out there. But it’s going to be a nice album. A real nice album.

The new mixtape T.N.T.B. is coming soon. Everyone who digs good ole sangin’ should check it out.  In case you are wondering if she’s going to stick to R&B, she says yes! But she’ll also, “… add little bits of hip-hop, pop, gospel…something that we’ve always done. I never got away from that [gospel]. That’s where my whole roots come from…church. “

LaTocha Scott & Bels (STACKS Mag)

To stay connected to LaTocha Scott, go to www.latochaonline.com.   Also, follow her on Twitter @IamLaTocha.

“Bad Timing” by LaTocha Scott  (Official Single)

Special thanks to Aleesha Carter, PR/KAC Images and U LLC for the invite!

2012 BBMA’s Fashion Fierceness + Top Winners List

Monica & hubby Shannon Brown

Sunday night, the Billboard Music Awards 2012 aired on ABC.  This year many of your hottest  artists brought hot performances, delightful commentary, and unique fashions.  But before the spectacle started inside Las Vegas’s MGM hotel, the red carpet gave us subtle fierceness.  Check out a few looks below:

Brandy

John Legend & Chrissy Teigen

Wiz Khalifa

Amber Rose

Usher

Alicia Keys

Swizz Beatz

And just in case you didn’t catch the show, here are several of the winners from last night:

Top Artist  – Adele

Top Hot 100 Song – Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & Goonrock

Top Billboard 200 Album -  “21″ by Adele

Top Duo/Group – LMFAO

Top New Artist – Wiz Khalifa

Top Male Artist -  Lil Wayne

Top Female Artist – Adele

Top Hot 100 Artist – Adele

Top Social Artist – Justin Beiber

Top Streaming Artist – Rihanna

Top R&B Artist – Chris Brown

Top Rap Artist – Lil Wayne

Top Dance Artist – Lady GaGa

Top Pop Album – “21″ by Adele

Top R&B Album – “4″ by Beyonce

Top Rap Album – “The Carter IV” by Lil Wayne

Top Dance Album – “Born This Way” by Lady GaGa

Top Radio Song – “Give ME Everything” by Pitbull feat. Neyo AfroJack and Nayer

Top Streaming Song (Video) – “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj

Top R&B Song – “Motivation” by Kelly Rowland

Photo Credit: Billboard

Event Recap: DJ Traci Steele’s 2nd Annual “Pretty Girls Rock: Art, Music, and Fashion”

DJ Traci Steele, of Hot 107.9FM, hosted her 2nd annual Pretty Girls Rock: Art, Music, and Fashion event last night. Over 500 people attended the event, held at Justin’s restaurant in Atlanta, to support Traci and help benefit The Love Offering Foundation.

This year, Traci Steele was accompanied by several notable women in Atlanta:  Ebony Steele (of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show), Rashan Ali (former radio personality and correspondent on NBA TV), and Nina Brown (radio producer).  The women collaboratively shined the spotlight on other women who are making their marks in the field of art, music, and fashion.  Athletes, fashion designers, artists, music industry artists, and others all were in attendance to show support.

L to R: Rashan Ali, Traci Steele, and Nina Brown

The evening was not only filled with fellowship and plenty of networking. But, there were also performances by D. Woods (formerly of Danity Kane) and Latocha Scott (of Xscape), Mika Means.  Although, I wasn’t able to stay for the performances, I hear that each of the ladies are currently working on independant projects. So I will definitely be checking for the new music in the future.  In addition to the music, art was represented by abstract paintings. Also, several fashion designers were there showcasing their newest creations.

Honestly, my main focus was to finally catch up with DJ Traci Steele.  Luckily, I was able to sift through the crowd and catch up with her to find out the purpose behind the Pretty Girls Rock event.

This is the 2^nd annual Pretty Girls Rock: Art, Music, and Fashion. It’s all about women, women, women. Women fashion designers, female DJs, female artists, female everything. I want women to come out and support each other and what we do in this art. If you have a talent, you come out and support each other. Women need to uplift each other and stop bringing each other down. And that’s why I did this.

Not being an avid radio listener, I also asked Traci when can people catch her on the air.

On the weekends, Saturday and Sunday, Hot 107.9FM. Log on to www.tracisteele.com to find out where I am.

If you weren’t there last night, you missed out on a great event.  For women to celebrate other women is spectacular. Hopefully, more events such as this will occur in the future.

Vid: 2 Chainz Sold Out ATL Performance @ CenterStage [Mini-Documentary]

Back in March, we mentioned that 2 Chainz would release a mini-dcoumentary capturing his sold-out Atlanta performance. Well, here it is.  Brought to you by Street Execs and Live Mixtapes, check out 2 Chainz journey as he preps for the March 6, 2012 show at Center Stage:

Shout out to Pesh, of LiveMixtapes!

SALUTE! Beastie Boys Newest Inductees to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

L to R: Adam Yauch, Mike Diamond, and Adam Horowitz

This weekend, legendary rockers and music impresarios gathered in Cleveland, Ohio for the 27th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.   One of hip hop’s most respected rap groups, the Beastie Boys, were given their spot in the hall of fame. Many note the Beastie Boys as the first white rappers to integrate hip hop (a genre that’s primarily populated by Black rappers).  It’s safe to say that they led the foundation for several of hip hop’s caucasian rappers like Eminem, Bubba Sparxx, Paul Wall, and Pit Bull (although he is not white, but of latin decent).

Regardless of the skin color, hip hop has always focused on skills. Beastie Boys definitely could spit rhymes with the best of them. As the group got older, the music didn’t die down. They eventually infused rock music into their sound and was able to expand their fan base.  Congrats to the Beastie Boys for continuing to ROCK ON!  They definitely earned their spot in hip hop and in rock and roll.

Check out this blast from the past, “Brass Monkey”, performed live at Madison Square Garden, NY.

Other hall of fame inductees included Guns-N-Roses and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.  The 27th Annuall Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will air on May 5 on HBO.

2012 Grammy Awards Red Carpet Looks

Check out a few of your favorite artist and their hot (or NOT) 2012 Grammys red carpet looks…

Nicki Minaj

LL Cool J

Wiz Khalifa & Amber Rose

Rhianna

Fergie

Bruno Mars

Alicia Keys

Kelly Rowland

A3C Beatz and Lyrics 2011 Mixtape [Download Link]

In case you missed the showdown last October in Atlanta, of the best of the best in underground hip hop, here’s a chance for you to peep what the hype was all about. The good folks from A3C has put together all your favorite MCs on one live mixtape, A3C Beatz and Lyrics – 2 Go, Vol. 2.

According to A3C…

The 22 track mixtape is a mash-up of new collaborations between artists and producers that previously may not have worked together.

The project features notables MC: J-Live, Reks, Termanology, Sha Stimuli, Focus…, Boog Brown, Stanza, Ultra Beast (Senor Kaos & 4ize), Laws, and many more. There is also a stellar line-up of producers featured on the project. Beats fromFocus…, Illastrate, King I Divine, D.R.U.G.S., Shade Cobain, Nefarious!, and many more!