CitaGrandson (The Lost Episode)
Sep 28, 2011 Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
This is an episode that aired on June 19, 2010 somehow it was lost during the transition to the new server in May of this year. So, just in case you missed it, it is reposted here.
Meet John Francis
Better known as John-John. John-John is a young man with an old soul. He is what used to be known as a “Crooner” He hails from Trinidad & Tobago and has a voice that is soulful beyond his years. He records on the Highway Records Label with Chromatics, Crown Prince of Hip Hop and can be heard delivering ear pleasing hooks on many of Chromatics’ and other Hip-Hop Artists on the label.
John-John also has his first solo CD available titled CitaGrandson. He chopped it up with Hostess Diana Broomfield on Conversations and among other things explained the name of his CD. Take a Listen to the interview and the music and follow John-John on Facebook.
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Tags: funk, Harmony, hip-hop, independent, independent record label, music, Old School, performer, RnB, singer, singing, smooth, Soulful, Talent, Vocalist
D,Rel
Aug 21, 2011 Beyond The Music, Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
On August 20,2011
Our Musical guest for the evening was D,Rel a down to earth grounded young man, who is also a “Cool Cat”. The type of Brother who puts God first followed a close second by his family. A MAN full of Talent, Positivity and Humbleness. Right from the start the Hostess and He clicked. Take a listen to the interview and decide for yourself, we have, and in our opinion, he’s the REAL Deal.
D,rel, vocalist and songwriter has got it all… the Body, Style, Attitude and Intelligence. His music is real and alive – it has substance and flavor. His voice is captivating. His moves are sensuous and natural. Not only does he write and sing, but he’s a true artist who gives a “Gotta See” performance.
D,rel has traveled through many ups and downs in his personal life and professional career, but because he’s passionate about music and has believed in himself – the remarkable gifts and talents God has favored him with – D,rel has penned that negative energy and the inconsistencies into romantic songs of love and heartache. You can hear it in his voice and live it through his moves. D,rel sings about life with class and a unique style.
D,rel began his career at the age of 2, dancing and singing on table tops entertaining family and friends. But as he got older, D,rel decided that he had a talent that must be seen by the world. He began taking singing and performing seriously. D,rel joined the Ammons Brothers of Chicago in hopes of launching his career. Through this relationship he performed on stage with various artists. He’s also opened for Destiny’s Child during their early years and was privileged to meet the incredible Whitney Houston.
At the present, D,rel is working with several artists such as Destiny Garrett, a new gospel sensation and 12-year old R&B vocalist, Amen and gospel rap group P.R.O.S.P.E.R.. He’s writing hooks, verses and making music and vocal arrangements for a variety of projects. You can hear his work in several songs on R.G.H. Production’s gospel compilation that was released in 2007. And on Total Corruption’s World Chaos CD (released in 2004) he wrote a verse and did a hook for the single “Thank You”. Now D,rel’s working on his own R&B CD, “Relationships” that will be coming your way in 2009.
A remarkable performer with a high energy level, flexibility, persistence and endurance, D,rel is here and ready for the world.
Keep up with D,Rel by visiting his website.
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Tags: arranger, composer, copyright, education, encouragement, funk, giving back, Gospel, hip-hop, producer, RnB, singer, smooth, songwriter, Soulful, Talent, Vocalist
Spoken Word
Aug 14, 2011 Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen, Worthy Charities
August 13, 2011
Our guest, Spoken Word returned to Conversations and talked about her craft, her passion for the REAL Hip – Hop and her Activism.
Spoken Word also talked about her next project saying “It will be more political than her previous offerings.” and that is “Coming Hard” Spoken Word is also developing new talent. Find out more, keep up with her appearances and make a contribution to her efforts by going to her website. You can purchase her work from any download site like CDBaby, Napster, iTunes and the like. You can also check out her organization Word Life Production where you can also make a donation. Listen to the interview via the link below.
(EXPLICIT CONTENT)
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Tags: arranger, encouragement, giving back, hip-hop, independent, independent record label, motivation, Old School, poet, preformer, writer
Yung Bam
May 29, 2011 Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars, Undiscovered Talent
On May 21, 2011 we caught up with Bam a talented young man we had the pleasure to meet about a year ago. He is continuing on his path to greatness. He is currently enrolled in a school of the arts in the Atlanta area. He says he wants learn it all so when goes into the studio he won’t even need an engineer. That what we’re talking about. You go Bam!
Check out the recent interview and when you can check out the previous interview he did with his cousin Zack another talented young man who can be heard on Bam’s music as well.
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Tags: arranger, funk, hip-hop, independent, independent record label, music, rapper, writer
Courtney E – Welcome to the Miseducation of Hip-Hop
Feb 1, 2011 Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
Ms Courtney chopped it up with host Diana Broomfield on “Conversations” and shared her finished project “Welcome to the Miseducation of Hip-Hop”
It is a CD full of encouragement and positivity, just as the Artist intended. It is so refreshing to talk to and hear this young lady’s style. But you needn’t take our word on it, just listen to the interview and make your own decision. I would certainly encourage my kids to listen to her music. It has all the infectious beats that the less desirable artists use to get their (children) attention with none of the wrong messages they deliver, but again listen and decide for yourself.
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After you listen the podcast, check out her video:
Tags: beats, encouragement, hip-hop, independent record label, lyrics, motivation, music, performer, positive-messages, rapper, Uplifting, writer
Ms Neysa
Nov 3, 2010 Stars with a Pen, Today's Stars
It was an extreme pleasure to be visited by Ms Neysa on Conversations last Saturday, 10/30/2010. She was a delight to talk to. Yes she is a fabulous singer and songwriter. She says she likes to tell stories in her songs. All I know is that I feel all of them 
. Not only does she have Talent, she also has goals and not just for herself. Take a listen to our chat and you’ll see what I mean. Look more from Ms Neysa in the near future.
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And when your done, check out her video.
Tags: encouragement, funk, happy, Harmony, hip-hop, independent record label, music, Old School, preformer, prolific, singing, Soulful, Talent, Vocalist, writer
Man vs Machine
Sep 12, 2010 Beyond The Music, Today's Stars
Chromatics was a guest on Conversations on Sept 11, 2010, due to technical difficulties, we are not able to post that interview here, but this reprint sums up our discussion very nicely:
Published: 12 Sep 2010in The Guardian
T&T rapper Chromatics takes the spotlight
in front of the Citadel Network offices
as he and fellow Awesome Limited artistes
protested that radio station’s action to
remove Awesome’s music from their network.
Two Fridays ago a small group of artistes braved the weather to stage a protest march on a popular up-town radio station. Their beef? The owner of that radio network pulled the artistes’ music off the air. One of the most visible of the angry artistes was Richard Rajkumar, alias Chromatics, arguably the closest thing to a rap superstar we have in this country. Here, the Sunday Guardian’s Dennis Tayé Allen asks Matics whassup widdat…
Q: Banned from radio? What happened man?
A: A number of radio stations and Synergy TV have refused to pay (Awesome) the royalties owed to us for hundreds of plays we received this year and subsequently have removed all of Highway Records’ music from their system, so not to incur anymore debt.
Q: What was the song that really took this thing into the
A: Well the songs that got a lot of airplay and attention were: Hitmaker (featuring Kane and Lil Saint), and Cold Blooded; along with the subsequent video which featured John John. That was the number one video in the country for the entire month of June. All of which have disappeared from station’s line-ups save for 94.1 FM.
Q: The impasse between Awesome Ltd—the party responsible for collecting your royalties in T&T—and the radio stations…this goes way back. How long have you been caught in the middle of this?
A: Well Highway Records as a publishing company assigned Awesome the right to collect for us in March of this year (2010). The radio stations were approached in July to pay the royalties and this is when we found ourselves in this situation.
Q: When one considers what you and the rest of the Awesome artistes had to do to draw attention to the impasse, how difficult was it to make that choice to get political and make that protest in front of Citadel?
A: It was very, very easy for me and other members. Citadel is breaking the law and denying me as an artist my rights as stipulated in the copyright amendment act, after having used my music. Most artists are afraid to stand up for their rights. The artists and the listening/viewing public have been brainwashed by these same media chains into thinking they are powerless and have no choice. I have educated myself thoroughly over the years about the music business so that no one can take advantage of me or my work. The heads of radio and media have tried to discredit our movement and fool the public into thinking that we are wrong to stand up for what is rightfully owed to us. They have been constantly trying to cover up this injustice, this crime, with mud-slinging and propaganda, so we had no choice but to take it to that next level to alert the public and other artists of the seriousness of this matter. They brought it upon themselves.
Q: The Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) had been approached by Awesome to get recognition as your legit collection agent. That was met with a very lukewarm response. Has that changed since the protest?
A: No! According to the TTPBA, they have no right to implement policies or dictate how an individual station operates….so they are cool with one of their members breaking the law, is no scene. But when I went to a certain radio station to do an interview that might have reflected badly on them, they have the power to get me kicked off the show. Hypocrisy!
Let’s turn away from that whole situation for a moment…
Q: You were at the studio when you were contacted for this interview. How often are you recording?
A: Everyday! Sunday to Sunday, holiday or not. It might not be my music specifically but between me and the other artists on the label John John, Kane, Lil Saint, Andrew Prescod and of course paying clients who come to Highway Records to do productions we are in there round the clock.
Q: It is well known that you broke away from the Spotrushaz a while back. Since then you seem to have had more measurable success as a solo artiste. Is the age of the “rap crew” over?
A: Never! There are new and incredibly talented crews namely 6326 The Movement, Cloud 9, Arima Uncensored, Sovereignty…the list goes on.
Q: How many album releases do you have to your name?
A: My first album, Against The Grain—which sold over 2,500 copies in T&T alone—was released in 2007. I will be releasing my second album entitled The Business of Art, next month (October 2010). It is a collaborative effort between me and producer Beebo.
Q: What’s your opinion of the state of hip hop lifestyle in T&T?
A: Great! It is ripe for the picking! Hip-Hop artists have revolutionised the way we approach the business end of music. Rappers understand the many means of promotion, personal sales, online marketing, merchandising, throwing their own shows, etc. and have the quality products and material to back it up.
Q: You and your record label, Highway records, have made a serious commitment to the art. Where is the industry headed?
A: An explosion of all things local with Hip-Hop being one of the biggest contributors. We have never depended on the mainstream forms of media to reach the public. It’s just sad that these same radio stations who are denying us our royalties this year were really embracing the music until they found out they had to pay for it and thus putting a spoke in the wheel of progress for music to be a viable source of income. This is really the biggest hurdle for the industry right now. They would like people to believe that there is no money in local music outside of Soca, but that is really to control who makes the money—REAL TALK!
Q: A lot of T&T artistes and celebs have observed that they get treated “better” when they are outside of the country. What has been your experience with foreign promoters, especially further up the islands? Is there a demand for Caribbean hip hop in the way there is a demand for soca and dancehall?
A: There is a demand for hip hop all over the world, regardless of where it comes from. I just came back from a month in England doing shows and radio interviews and the love and support was overwhelming—they loving the Trini hip-hop over there—and I am returning next year on a two-month long tour. Performing in Barbados for the Virgin Atlantic Music festival in 2008 was the greatest welcome and artist treatment I have ever received. I mean, even if you go Tobago they treat you with more respect than here in Trinidad.
Q: Over the last few years we have seen a tremendous upsurge in local reggae and dancehall, with artistes like Prophet Benjamin breaking through into European markets. What’s that team doing that the hip hop team isn’t?
A: Nothing. Prophet’s music was big here before he could’ve truly broken into those markets, just like Marlon Asher. Once local media embraces the music it’s easier to break into other markets with that weight behind you. They transferred local success into international success which is a familiar story in the music industry worldwide: Jay-Z, Nelly, Cash Money, Midnite, etc.
The government has said in the recent budget that they are revising the way they treat arts and culture. What directions and policy changes do you think are needed for local hip hop artistes?
A: Nothing, we will help ourselves as we have always done. We are the poster children of Independence. The policies that need to be implemented should not be for any one genre or group, but for all artists and creative people (for instance the proposed 50 per cent local quota on radio would encompass every genre). We are just a part of the creative community.
Q: Finance Minister Winston Dookeran, in his 2011 budget speech on Wednesday, mentioned a Book of Heroes—will we be seeing a chapter on Captain Chrome?
A: I expect not, for the simple fact I am a hip hop artist. We are the generation of artists that has been forgotten, scorned, mis-judged, vilified, discriminated against, rejected and described as “wannabes”. My chapter will be written in the lives of the artists that come after me, who will continue what I started and stand for, which is progress. That is worth more to me than any honourable mention in any book of Heroes. Peace!
Live performance:
You can see Chromatics perform live at Coco Lounge, on Ariapita Avenue, on September 21.
WDGPradio.com respects and appreciates all of the Independent Artists that contribute such wonderful musical expressions as Highway Records does and we are requesting that every music lover, artist, producer and the like contact Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association by mail and/or email to let them know how unjust this decision really is.
Read More about this issue.
Tags: arranger, composer, hip-hop, independent record label, law, music, musician, politics, preformer, producer, rapper, royalties, Trinidad & Tobaco, unfair
ChromaticS – “Crowned Prince of Hip-Hop”
Jun 5, 2010 Home Page, Today's Stars
Our Special Guest on June 5, 2010 was ChromaticS. An Attractive, Talented and Humble Young Man. When I told him I had read that he was the “Crowned Prince of Hip-Hop”, he responded, …”Well, maybe in Trinidad and Tobago”
Here is his interview:
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Then enjoy the videos:History:
Chromatics was born Richard Raj-Kumar on the 18th August, 1982 in the island of Trinidad. Trinidad is known as the land of Carnival and Soca Music, Chromatics however felt more at home with the Hip Hop element. Chromatics grew up with Heltah Skeltah, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls and Rakim and with his cousins’ encouragement he began to write hip hop songs when he was twelve years old. This led Chromatics down a long and arduous road that would mould his character and test his resolve.
Chromatics joined up with “Spotrushaz”, at the time a young and developing group of rappers, and began to really consider making music his career. “Spotrushaz” quickly transformed into the most recognizable Hip Hop act in the country and they were constantly working. The group released a flurry of singles (and videos) and radio stations took note. “Triniman”, “True Soldierz”, “Mary Warner”, “Put the Chips Up”, “Blow” and more recently “Iron” cemented the group’s name and allowed the group to perform alongside some of the world’s biggest hit makers. They opened for the likes of Ms. Jade, Sean Paul, Slick Rick, Dougie Fresh, Shannon, Lloyd E Stef, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man.
Chromatics eventually parted with the group in 2006 and formed Highway Records Ltd. with his manager and business partner Stuart Fortuné. He has since released his debut solo album “Against The Grain” which sold very well. The album included many hit singles such as “Start It”, “Put It Up”, “Basement Party” and “The Ballad”.
In 2008 Chromatics began to be recognized as the #1 Hip Hop act in the Caribbean. He performed dozens of times including the Virgin Atlantic Barbados Music Festival, the Heineken Green Synergy Trinidad DJ Finals and Southern Caribbean Finals and also hosted Jus Jase/ Highway Records “I Am Hip Hop 1 ,2 &3. Chromatics was also able to release two Hit singles in 2008, “Take Over” and “Money Back” which were both heavily rotated on various local radio stations.
Chromatics continued his reign in 2009 with the release of “The Beat (Keep It Moving)” (Single and Video) and “They Know”. With this hit single release he was featured on Source Magazine in April 2009. He was chosen to represent Hip Hop at the Hennessy Artistry Trinidad’s concert at Club Zen in April. In June Chromatics traveled to Toronto Canada to perform at the North by North East Music Festival where he was among the top five in Roger’s Fan Choice Awards. This was being done all while producing and hosting “The Grind” (the only weekly Hip Hop radio program in the Caribbean at the time). In November Chromatics became the first artist to be allotted a one hour Live special on Synergy TV’s Friday Night Live. This show, “A Rebel Without A Pause”, received very high ratings and showcased his versatility as a performer interacting with a live band.
Chromatics is currently working on the release of his sophomore solo album “The Glass Ceiling” which should be released in 2010. He has just completed shooting the video for the albums’ first single “Cold Blooded” and is expecting to release it worldwide as soon as January. A collaborative mixtape with Bang Em Smurf titled “Caribbean Heat Wave” should also be out soon. He’s also busy with Highway Records “On Top Fridays” where he showcases Trinidad’s new and upcoming Hip Hop artist. Chromatics has been grinding many years and now has the assistance of S-Con Promotions. S-Con Promotions is an international promotion company and this alliance has already paid dividends with the recent release of “The Science of Colors” CD recently released in France and countless on air interviews across Europe and North America.
Chromatics doesn’t plan to take a rest anytime soon and with all of his success he still remains humble. He is open to any idea and enjoys spreading his music to the four corners of the globe. He is a serious lyricist and his versatility is unbounded. He intertwines the local Trini jargon with an international flow that leaves listeners amazed. His Stage presence is that of a seasoned veteran and he always leaves the crowd wanting more.
Tags: arranger, art, collaborator, composer, director, hip-hop, hot, independent record label, lyicist, motivation, music, performer, poet, prince, rapper, singer, smooth, storyteller, Vocalist, wrier
Save Planet Earth
Mar 13, 2010 Today's Stars
Various Artists
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| Webpage: http://www.myspace.com/allmightyentertainment | ||||
| Location: Rock Hill, NY, USA | ||||
| Description: | ||||
| Biography:
Hailing from the Bronx, Almighty Kay Gee was first introduced to what is known today as Hip Hop, in 1971 when he witnessed a DJ Smokey party where he first saw b-boys, graffiti writers and D Jing. Still in third grade, Almighty Kay Gee couldn’t afford equipment to be a DJ and his parents would kill him if they caught him writing graffiti. His only option at that point was to break dance. Almighty Kay Gee learned to break dance from the original “Mr. Freeze” and “Crip.” Almighty Kay Gee learned to rap in 1974 after he heard Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 3′s. During this time Almighty Kay Gee became a member of the all Jamaican “Cheeba Crew.” While with the Cheeba Crew, he learned to emcee and DJ simultaneously. He met DJ Charlie Chase in 1978 at an emcee convention and in 1979, after practice, became a part of the Cold Crush Brothers. Highlights in Almighty Kay Gee’s career were going to Japan in 1982 on the Wild Style Tour. They were also the first group signed to CBS Records, through the Tuff City label. Almighty Kay Gee influenced Chuck D, who he considers a “powerful emcee” as well as Kool Keith, who Almighty Kay Gee met in the third grade. He has collaborated with such artists as C&C Music Factory, KRS-1, Funk Master Flex, Doug E Fresh and more. Almighty Kay Gee has produced “Flesh not Bone” on the Spooks first album and wrote a score for the HBO movie “Disappearing Acts.” Almighty Kay Gee has also performed with the Cold Crush Brothers at the grand opening of the “Experience Music Project” in Seattle. The Cold Crush Brothers are also on exhibit within the museum as one of the groups that contributed significantly to Hip Hop history. They also brought down the house, along with LL Cool J during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the museum’s “Hip-Hop Nation: Roots, Rhymes and Rage” exhibit when it opened at the Brooklyn Museum of art. |
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Tags: Break Dancing, colaborator, composer, DJ, Emcee, hip-hop, music, Save the Planet
Arvell Bates – ALB Productions
Mar 12, 2010 Today's Stars
Arvell Bates — paving his own road to success
President and Producer, ALB Productions
Arvell Bates was dissatisfied with the way the music industry was treating his local production company…
But instead of giving up, he decided to go another route by making a name for himself internationally… Bates, CEO of ALB Productions, is now receiving phone calls on an hourly basis from countries like the Philippines, India, Australia and Belgium requesting the music of his artists…
“You think about the hoopla of the way [the music industry] wants you to do
things,” he says… But Bates didn’t want to sit around and wait for a mega-label to come along and acknowledge the talent that he knew he was developing… So he re-invented the wheel… “They want you to get out there, make your own name, get some buzz behind your name and get some sales… If you [are] doing all that, my question is what do they bring to the table other than just a name?” he challenges…
During the days when Chicago’s man music was house music, Bates was producing house beats with his own signature style… “I used to make tracks for people’s cars so they could get looked at and noticed because they were beating something different from everyone else,” he recalls…
Going against the grain may have secured Bates international acclaim, but making good music is what’s going to keep him at the forefront of the music industry… “We strive to be the best that we can be and we are doing that by making good, quality music,” he affirms…
-autumn williams-
Join us as we listen to some of that music and chat with Mr Bates and form your own opinion.
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Tags: arranger, composer, hip-hop, independent record label, preformer, singer, Talent, writer, youth
