Monica Blaire Live At the DIA

On Friday January 8, 2010 Detroit's soulful songstress, Monica Blaire, broke records. I know what you're thinking..."Did she hit a high note and break a glass?" "Did Monica get the most amount of roses thrown on the stage in one show?" "Oh I know...Monica had the most costume changes?" Well unfortunatley she broke none of the above records. But what she DID do is bring in the most amount of people in the DIA's performance theatre. Over 900+ people were blown away by Monica Blaire's performance. I will be honest, I had never seen a show in the DIA, but I felt like I was in the packed room at the Fox Theatre.

This was no tiny show either. Monica is a show stopper. I've seen her perform countless times, but never in a setting like this. Monica didn't just give you a show, she gave you two! The first set was fun and full of energy. She even started the show on a low-rider bike...so gangster! She brought down the house in her first set with a surprise performance of "Renaissance State of Mind" with Ro Spit. What made the set even more epic was the big screen behind her stage set up that added a visual layer to the show.

The second set reminded everyone in attendance of where they were...Motown! Monica Blaire is the essence of Detroit Soul. Her band isn't just a DJ playing her tracks. Her band has horns, keys and percussion! If that weren't enough, she brought out Detroit Hip-Hop heavyweight Marv Won to spit a few quick bars. AND IF THAT weren't enough (at this point I honestly thought the show could get no better)...*shapow* out comes Burn Rubber Co-Owner Rick Williams who absolutely bodied the stage in a skat/tap duet with Monica Blaire. With the soul and power of Aretha, the energy of James Brown and the captivating presence reminiscent of Eryka Badu, Monica Blaire is a force to be reckoned with. And I promise you, you will look back on this year and go, "yea that was Monica Blaire's year"

I hooked you up with some goodies below.

Check out M-Bleezy's performance of "Promise Me" with Rick Williams....



Now on to what you've been waiting for...stills from the classic night. I did my best to capture moving moments throughout the night. I hope you like them.

Electric Slideshow: Ro Spit "Oh Sh#!t Project" Release Party (Drews)

TIP: If you click the link below the slide show, you can view the slide show full screen.

"Oh Sh#! Project"

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Late Night with Russell Howard/Ron Dance

When you hear about a rap show in Down River, you never really know what to expect.

When Ron Dance says he's putting on a show with a live band... you REALLY don't know what to expect.

On Thanksgiving weekend Ron Dance put on action packed show at a small venue in Southgate.

I wouldn't categorize this as your typical hip hop show. You know...DJ spins...rapper raps...dj spins again...more rappers rap....end scene.

This was more like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, but the Ron Dance version.

Sounds by DJ Phrikshun.

With performances by Ron Dance, Marv Won, and Ro Spit (101)

House Band: The 22nd Street Band (Which tore it down!)

Surprise Guests: Dwele and Black Milk

The crowd was a little chilly from the jump but Marv Won's #bars and comedy warmed them up in no time.  If you've never seen Ron Dance and Ro Spit perform "16...8...4...2...1" live, you are missing out. With the band behind them, they ripped shit!  But the surprise mini-performance by Dwele brought the house down. By the end of the night, Ron Dance's crowd was singing along and two-stepping to the Michael Jackson tribute by the 22nd Street Band.

Peep the photos below...

"Ron Dance Coming Home Show"

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The Fresh Air Tour. (Brother Ali, Evidence, Toki Wright & BK-One)

In celebration of Brother Ali's new album release "Us" (Rhymesayers Ent), he put on a very aggressive cross-country tour with Evidence, BK-One and Toki Wright. When I say aggressive I mean Kimbo-Slice-aggressive. 50 shows in 60 days. That's on some Major League Baseball schedule type shit. The pace of this tour is so serious that Evidence even gave up the greenery until the tour is over.  Now that is intense! 


BROTHER ALI
Now you will have to forgive me, but I will have to request a late pass on Brother Ali. This cat is dope and he sold out Ann Arbor's legendary concert venue, the Blind Pig.  Ann Arbor goes hard on a Tuesday nights apparently. Just one week prior, the place was almost as packed for my favorite rapper of all time, Ghostface Killah.


While watching Brother Ali rock the mic, I turned to a friend and said, "Man, this place is definatley at capacity" He turns to me and said "Yea...Ali always brings the people out!" Brother Ali reps the midwest tough. He hails from Wisconsin and grew up as a soulful emcee in both Minnesota and Michigan. I knew he was a force to be reckoned with when he slipped in a sneak diss on UM and NO ONE hated on him for it. (People are liable to get your leg swept for speaking anything but praises in Wolverine country. I've seen it happen) 


I have my homework to do on this cat, but I like what I see. I remember at one point, I honestly felt like I was at church. Not because I felt like I was being preached to...but because the speaker had a message. He also has soulful and gospel infused delivery that only encourages call and response. Brother Ali is genuine, sincere and a baaaaad mothufucka! (Sorry B.Ali, my battery died before you got on stage :/)


Peep some his live stuff...



(Footage from Fresh Air Tour Stop, Tempe AZ, 10.22.09)


TOKI WRIGHT
If this was twitter, this is what I would say...


#tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright #tokiwright 


I can honestly say that I can not remember the last time any hip hop artist has won me over immediately from the on set. I can honestly say that NO hip hop artist has won me over from the jump LIVE! I can honestly say that I haven't heard a debut album from a hip hop artist in almost 10 years that was spectacular from track 1 until the end... until this past Tuesday. 


Toki Wright hails from Minnesota (Home of The Twins, Prince, Bob Dylan and Kirby Puckett). He's been around for a minute now and is just now releasing his first record. "A Different Mirror". Toki hosted the evening and stepped in as Ev's "hype man" during his set. But don't get it twisted. Toki aint a hype man fucker he a live band! I was absolutely floored when he took the stage. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand. I gave this guy a 10 out of 10 within 10 minutes based on his energy alone. The dude was so hype that he lost his shoe during his performance. Mid way through his set he asked who in the crowd had never heard of him before. I would say that about 85% of the crowd, if not more, had never heard of him. By the end of his set, it was clear that Ann Arbor would walk away knowing the name Toki Wright! Absoulute Dopeness! 


I got a chance to chop it up with him after the show. He gave me a copy of his CD. Real talk...I haven't stopped listening to it since I got it. I put it in the minute I got in the whip after the show and I am actually listening to it right now as I write. He took his sweet time carefully crafting this record and it shows. Most debut albums have beats and cuts from homeboys and sound like shit. His production is epic. 


How would I describe Toki? Take Blackstar's substance + Marvin Gaye's soul + KRS One's consciousness = Toki Wright. 


Peep the vide from one of my favorite songs on "A Different Mirror" : "Devil's Advocate" (Pay attention to everything in this video and watch it until the very end. Debut vid cuts right down to the soul of this song.)





EVIDENCE 


I have to say to say that I have been a fan of Evidence and Dilated Peoples for quite some time now. "Neighborhood Watch" was pretty much glued to my truck's cd player when it came out. The first time I saw Dilated Peoples was back in 2000 with Jurassic 5 on the Word of Mouth Tour at St. Andrews Hall.  I've been a fan ever since. 


Since Ev's work outside Dilated Peoples, he's been on his grind. The Weatherman LP....the business. The Layover EP...the business... His Step Brothers collab with the Alchemist... the business.  My favorite line from Evidence....


"Got that don't call me I'll call you type-a-fire...Fake it 'till you make it....I'm such a good liar" 
(from: The Weatherman LP track "Mr. Slow Flow") 


I think I say this to myself about once a week! 


You would thank that with the moniker, "Mr. Slow Flow" Evidence would be laid back in the cut on stage. And yes....yes he was...for a FRACTION of the time. Brother Ali, revved up the crowd's emotion, Toki got the crowd happy, BK-One kept the crowd moving and Evidence lit a fire in the audience. The crowd had their hands in the air the entire time. Evidence put on a captivating performance.  If you catch him live, cross your fingers and hope that you get to hear the "Pros/Cons" a cappella. Dopeness! 


Not only is Evidence a sick emcee, his production work is monsterous. Every single track that BK dropped resonated and shook the fuck out of the Blind Pig.  The beat for Mr. Slow Flow is sick. If you haven't heard it...your late pass has been granted and signed. 



Ev reps CA all day. While not on tour, he's getting it in at the stu working on his sophmore solo LP "Cats and Dogs". Im in eager anticipation of what this will sound like. He's steady been in Europe over the past year and I know he's been digging the crates so I'm interested to hear what influenced him overseas. He's also been getting in work with Fresno representative Fashawn who recently released "Boy Meets World"


Peep "Our Way" from "Boy Meets World"





Now that I'm done hyping up the Fresh Air Tour.... peep some pics below.

"Fresh Air Tour"

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Detroitrap.com's Monthly Mixer Turns Into the Sixer!!!

One on very special Thursday every month you can go to the Bullfrog in Redford and peep The Monthly Mixer put on by Detroitrap.com. Michigan's hungriest producers duke it out round after round on the wheels in beat battle with what they consider some of their finest work.  You will often catch artists like Street Justice and producers like Malaki The Most Hi, YC, DA the Don stealing the show.

But this month was dedicated to the born day of the hardest working lady in show business...SIX'TWO! Six put a show together of some of her favorite Detroit hip hop artists. The heavy hitting line up included Miz Korona, Moe Dirdee, Earlly Mac, PL, The Lyricists and of course Ro Spit.

Peep the Electric Slide Show....

"The Sixer"

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Lessons Learned From A Long-Hair-Dont-Care Roadie

At the Detroit Taste Makers League Sundays are my day to vent and give you personal stories about the tv show that is my life.

As a single lady *Beyonce plays* it's a little difficult to navigate the social landscape of dating at times. I'm not playing a victim here, I just know that it's complicated for both men and women. We grew up in the 80's and 90's where we watched music videos and epic movies that played a role in shaping how we view things. Thank God for parents who balance that out!

Well as most of you know already I grew up with a thing for white boys. No particular reason... it was my environment. But not only did I like white boys I like white boys with attitudes. Like the wise cracking Mike Sever from Growing Pains. Donnie "the Thug" Whalberg from the New Kids on the Block. Corey Haim...The 80's player. Rob Lowe the sex freak. You get my drift. Bad Boys.



Ive since grown up and shaken my primary affiliation with the vanilla vagabonds and opened up my world to an array of dudes who are no good for me.  Let's review shall we?

(The names have been changed to protect the guilty)

Exhibit A ("Rudolph"): This one was a charmer. Tall... handsome... successful...funny... the list goes on and on. But what I failed to realize is that about 1,000 other females thought the exact same thing! We chopped it up, had a little face to face time, communicated every day buuuuuuuuuut it never really got anywhere? Hmmm okay something is wrong here (You will learn from Exhibit B that I am catching on a lot quicker now) In following the structure of yoga/buddhism it is always wise to follow the path of least resistance. That road was chock full of resistance. Turns out he's getting busy w/someone that I know!! For almost a YEAR!! Wow? Really? And she knew I was interested in him? Odd. Being played from both sides sucks. I was like a little bunny being attacked by a sexy lion while a Hiyeena stood in watch and laughed over my carcass. But hey he said he didn't play me like he could have. Thank God. Which he essentially is saying. "Hey Adrienne at least I ran you over with my Ford Focus! It could have been a School Bus"

Exhibit B ("Bryan"):  We met. Exchanged numbers. Misscommunication happened. I dissed him, hard and a few times. Got back with my ex...Bryan was still on the brain...broke up with my ex again. Ran into Bryan...*stars shoot out of my eyes, cartoon hearts and bunnies and rainbows everywhere..."When the Moon hits your eye like a big-a pizza-pie that's amore plays* O sniggity snap. This guy is like the man of my dreams! He's talented, funny, has a heart of gold, amazing family, works hard, loves Caribbean culture...perfect right?? We start hanging out...feelings get stronger...months go by...he's still hurt from the diss...wants to take it slow...I'm patient...more months go by...no traction...just stares, moments, more interaction...WOOPS! After about 8 months of this...his homie gets a little liquid courage and tells me he has a shorty in the carribbean. What? Okay....#fail.

Exhibit C ("Dizzy"): We meet. We go out. We are dating. A few months go by...a young lady pops up out of NOWHERE and wants to be my bff. She's heard so much about me...bla bla bla. She calls me all the time, wants to hang out. But wait Adrienne...this doesn't sound too bad so far. Well my friend at this same time Dizzy becomes very distant. No returned texts, short on the phone. Alone time is short and awkward. Beginning of the end...I ask her if she's going to a particular party that night. She says she's not sure. Then asks me if I know if Dizzy is going. I said: Don't know. Probably. She said "O ok. I haven't seen  him since this morning, so I don't know either."

woah Woah! WOAH! Pump yo brakes biatch. This morning???? Last time I checked when I see a dude in the AM I am either leaving his place or he's leaving mine. Breakfast buddies aren't the norm.

So I put two and two together. Random brawd who knows Dizzy wants to be my BFF. She saw Dizzy in the AM. They are going to a wedding together...ok...Adrienne...exit stage left.

Fast forward to 1 year later...She has the nerve to tell me she knew about me??? What the F is going on these days?????

So I was commiserating with some dudes at St. Andrews hall last week. Really cool guys. I was in a quandry about a fellow. (Not a shocker) They were more than willing to offer dude advice.  So this LONG hair dont care roadie asks me out on a date. I said..."ummmmmmm" He says this:

"Hey listen, I know I'm probably not your type but I'm a really nice guy. And judging by the situations you keep putting yourself in, maybe you should reconsider what your type is. Have a nice night beautiful. O and you have a nice ass" (Real story.)

Pardon my french but FUCK MY LIFE! Why is it that I just can't seem to link up the nice dude with nice looks. Am I wrong for being attracted to the attractive? Does that make me shallow? I mean it's not the only thing I look for but shit! It's not my fault these handsome dudes that I like are charming as all get out. I can't say "O excuse me Mr. Sexy you are probably a dick so I'm not going to talk to you." I thought that exact same thing about someone and ended up in a relationship for almost 10 years. I saw him and said to myself..."Naw. He's too fine. He's definately a player. I'm staying away from him" ha....fast forward eight years and we were practically married. #fail. (Sorry for the twitter hash tags...its ruined my life)

I just know what I like and it just so happens to be womanizers. *sigh* Maybe it's a Virgo thing. We don't like to lose ever. So whenever I'm presented with a challenge or resistance, I do everything in my power to overcome it. I almost feel like I'm lazy if I don't. It's a tough row to hoe being a perfectionist. I also don't like being told I'm not good enough or I can't do it. That just makes me fight more.

Nice guys don't finish last with me...I just don't really ever notice they are racing. I'm too busy paying attention to the douche bag in the winners circle posing for the paparazzi with his medals and groupies.

.......

Ma$e - Feel So Good
by lilmarcus

God Bless Jimmy Fallon for Supporting Hip Hop (Wale)

I don't have cable. So I have to rely on internet buzz to see what's poppin on tv. I'm not opposed to that. Helps me step my research game up.

Peep Wale on live on Jimmy Fallon with the Roots. (Dopeness)

If you haven't purchased Wale's new album "Attention Deficit" I recommend you cop heavy. They were running out left and right in stores, but Wale put out on twitter that management will be shipping out lots more soon. So noh worry. (It is Noh Worry Wednesday after all) I gotta support the homeboy since he's from my place of origin...Washington D.C. (I bet he knows my cousin...everyone knows my cousin)

Wyclef X Akon Collabo. (woah Woah! WOAH!)

Color me confused!!!

What in THEE hell are Wyclef and Akon doing??????????

What is this?

Where is this?????

What is going on. (UBER PAUSE)

Via: Pause Police

What They Really Said Wednesday...(My Perrogative)

My Perrogative.

Classic Joint.

The King of R&B is confident, sure and focused.

But what's he really saying?

Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Uploaded by jpdc11. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

What He Really Said Was: I can bang old as Whitney Houston and bring children into the world and become a crack head if I so please. I don't need permission. I make my own decisions.

What They Really Said Wednesday...(Wasted)

"Rock star lifestyle might don't make it..."

I am going to confess, when I'm a little tipsy on the bubbly I start singing this song. Or I just keep repeating the phrase "I'm Gucci Mane Wasted" (I need to grow up, yes I know)

I've uncovered the deeper meaning behind this song: "Yes I'm intoxicated, but my Nig* gave this dope ass beat for like $45.00 so I am going to capitalize on suburban vernacular and the rock star lifestyle..."

End Scene.



FTR (For The Record) I also like saying "Gucci Mane" in front of other things that aren't necessarily good things like...

"I'm Gucci Mane busy"

"I'm Gucci Mane tired"

"I'm Gucci Mane broke"