"you girls really need to step it up, nails done, hair done, i do that on the regular..." desiree (u be killin em remix)
dezi is hitting it hard; letting the competition know it's game...over! new website, new pix, same swag, same dezi. this time she's taking it to the mixtape hustle one track at a time. here's an excerpt of her updated bio from her website:
"in june of 2010, desiree moved to miami to further her education and career, which she says was one of her smartest decisions ever. although desiree will be turning 19 in 2011, she is already approaching her third year of college at florida international university in miami, with a major in public relations. in just her first year at the university, she has become an active sister of phi sigma sigma, which has allowed her to perform at numerous events around campus such as fiu's golden idol and the annual phi sigma sigma fashion show.
although hip hop has always been a male dominated business and few believe that slowly but surely r&b is following the same footsteps, desiree wants to change that. with her strong love for hip hop, desiree tizon is stepping into the game with some experience under her belt and letting the game know that it’s ready for a make-over." (desireetizon.com)
check out the website and definitely keep up with dezi as she continues to do her pretty girl rock!
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
j.a.y. is at it again. back with the long awaited mixtape "double up". he had a minor set-back when his computer crashed where all his recordings were stored. but "double up - the 2nd coming" is even better than the first according to j.a.y.
"there were a couple of things off each finished track i want to change but because i lost the sessions, i'm unable to do so. even with that being the case, this mixtape is still sh*ting on alot of mixtapes out there," j.a.y.
and he's right. i previewed the mixtape and i must say j.a.y. changed it up; keeping the average rapper out of ear's reach. r&b, techno, fast tempo, slow...it's all in there. with memorable features with r.e.a.l. like "f*ck love" ft 2URAW and "padded walls" ft ms. tylee, this mixtape is a 5-mic sensation. waka flaka, lil wayne, and eminem would agree that if you make it a hit, j.a.y. will make it a classic...and that's r.e.a.l. if you haven't noticed, the art at the top was done by none other than j.a.y. promoting his graphic design venture "2TP" or 2UTHOED Productions. hit him up for low prices on good ish. the wrap up: mixtape to be released any day now so follow @2UTHOED on twitter for exclusive info on that and his new webisode "a day in the life of dub". hmm...i wonder where he got that idea from.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard....
back in my city with a long time friend of mine, singer/songwriter sincere grant and he's oh so sincere! i ain't even gotta google him but ya'll might after this. soulful singer and the pipes speak for themselves. life gave him a story to tell. the hood taught him how to tell it. but when it comes forth, it's definitely all his own. recently, he's been taking his act on the road, but now that he's back in town, i had to chop it up with my schoolmate to get the latest. i gave just a glimpse of who he is, but now you get to hear from the man himself. i used to be in choir back in the day, but you will not catch me trying to out sing this brotha. now dancing is a different thing but i might have to stretch, practice and get my wind back [haha]. what you think sincere? "...why wait, gone 'head do your dance, either way they gon' hate..." (lyrics from "looking like a model" by sincere grant)
Dom: define sincere grant. Sincere: first thing people need to know is i'm pretty much one of the saviors of real music. i do real r&b and soulful music. yeah i got club bangas and things like that but i'm really about making real music.
Dom: i like that. what is music missing nowadays in your opinion? Sincere: real soul. real raw and uncut talent. the music game is watered down. i'm here to put some flavor back into it.
Dom: you're right about that. a lot of artists wouldn't have a career without auto-tune. i ask this question a lot and every one's story is unique, but what made you want to become a singer? Sincere: i started singing in church. after a while, i started getting a lot of compliments about my voice and some would say 'wow you can really sing'. so i started writing and i formed a group with a few friends. unfortunately, after a while, the group broke up, but since i was doing all of the writing i kept doing my thing. and i've been writing and recording my own music since 2003.
Dom: that's what's up. so what is the first main body of work that got you a lot of buzz? Sincere: that would be my first album "sincerely yours" back in 2007.
Dom: i remember that one. (still waiting on my copy but that's not what we here to talk about...i'm just saying haha) what did you learn from that project that helped you progress in your career? Sincere: i learned everything from that project. people said it was so good, but i grew up so much during that project that i felt like i needed to go back and redo that album, and i did redo some of the writing and recording before i released it. one major thing i learned from it was studio etiquette.
Dom: indeed. very important. what ended up being your biggest single from that album and why? Sincere: "in the zone". it's the first club single i ever did (produced by ron wallace). the beat was so crazy that it got people moving and on top of that, it's about drinking patron and patron had just come out at that time so it was hot track for that particular moment.
Dom: okay, that was then, what you got now? Sincere: i just released my single "looking like a model". it's another club single, my latest club single. it's been out for almost three months now and is doing really well. it's getting spins from many dj's locally and international so i'm excited about that. i also got an entire album ready but i'm not looking to release it until i get signed to a label and get a distribution deal.
Dom: i don't blame you. make the people work for it. (by the way i'm tryna be one of the first to hear it before you get signed so uh...let's hook that up haha). now as far as artists in the game right now, who do you look up to in the game? who are you often compared to? who is the biggest threat to your career that you wouldn't mind seeing flop a little bit to help your album sell? Sincere: i respect r kelly because no matter what obstacle that comes he puts out hit music. to me he is the standard as far longevity goes. as far as who i might sound like, other people have compared me to raheem devaughn, john legend (even though i don't see it), and jamie foxx. and the answer to the last one would be trey songz. enough said on that one [haha].
Dom: it's all good [haha]. i've said it before, and i'll say it again. until somebody overshadows him, trey songz is running the game right now. what else you got going on? Sincere: i'm working on new songs daily. i'm always scouting new beats so i can put new music out.
Dom: definition of a grinder. any collabo's we need to be looking out for? Sincere: as for as beats go, my go to guy is ron wallace. then i got too many tracks to count with yung villan. also i got a few collabo's with c nezzy and lil rick from muskogee.
Dom: tell c nezzy i said what up?! last question. sincere grant has the stage and the world is listening. what does he say? Sincere: google sincere grant. look at everything. comment on everything. everything that's out there ends with /sinceregrant.
check him out. request the single. if the radio station near you don't got it, make 'em feel stupid for not having it then comment about it right here on this post haha! sincere, you know what it is. take a bow, you have earned the Dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
let's get into it. this is my top 8 artists of 2010 that have been on the blog.
#8 - singa bromfield "latenight jam session" has that feel-good vibe that makes it enjoyable. only true musicians can bring instruments to life like that. singa on the blog
#7 - hana pestle hana's album is a must listen. "need" is melodic, heartfelt, and very passionate. gotta love someone that can bring you a hit like that. hana on the blog
this is where it got hard so i just made a 6 way tie for #1. i play each of these artists every day and for different reasons but the common thread that ties these artist together is pure greatness. besides it's my blog...i do what i want!
#1 - six way tie (no particular order) money militia "u girl" is self-explanatory. like money said, he told a girl what he wanted and she fell for it. check out his vids coz he got some fire that ain't even been released yet. money on the blog
j.a.y. j.a.y.'s single "magazine girl" ft ize open is a metaphoric masterpiece that makes the ladies feel special. anytime you have a "rapper turnt singa" there is no room for error. i'm sure t-pain would be proud. j.a.y. on the blog
mary rose speaking of t-pain, this artist created a buzz that took the blog in a whole new direction when she did an acoustic cover of one of pain's hip-hop artists. that led to recording her single "what this means" in t-pain's studio, a song in which she looks back at a relationship for what it was. 2011 is shaping up huge for mary. mary rose on the blog
r.e.a.l. when it comes to huge, these cats know how to "do it big". "big body whip, call that bitch precious"...um, j.a.y. said it, not me. i'm just quoting. haha...anyway, this song was definitely in my head for days after i heard it so i play it all the time now. i can't resist it. what up r.e.a.l.!?! r.e.a.l. on the blog
b. payne the lightswitch mixtape is sick if ya'll ain't heard it. all he did the whole time was beat the tracks up one at a time with the punchlines. his street team (#TeamPayne) proved their presence on the blog by making him #1 on the blog for a week straight. what do you think about it, b. payne? "i found success and i like it, this time it's really on, lightswitch..." b. payne b. payne on the blog
blais last but certainly not least, we have the current #1, blais! with tracks like "make my heart go boom", "come", and his remix to nicki minaj's "right thru me", it's gonna be hard to keep him from rising to the top in 2011. stay tuned to the blogspot bcoz we will be doing a follow up with blais. blais on the blog
this was 2010. let's see what 2011 brings us. i'm sure most of these artist will be on the next list as well. til then, this is the wrap up. if you know somebody that deserves to be on this list, hit me up at bookdomunique@gmail.com. we shall continue six degrees of separation next year. keep it hot coz i'm listening...
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
hey peeps. check out this artist on the rise. here's her bio from her reverbnation page:
"In the summer of 2009, Fourteen year old Ashleigh Jerkatis had the amazing opportunity to work with Grammy Award Winning Producer Barry Goldstein from New York City to bring to life just a few of her many self written songs. Ashleigh believes in following her dreams. Since she was only 5 years old, that dream was to be a professional singer and to let the world hear her voice! When Ashleigh was 9 years old, she began singing in many Chicago area restaurants. Ashleigh began writing songs at the age of 10, that were years beyond her experiences. Many times she would wake up with a song coming to her and she would get out of bed grab the guitar and begin writing. She has self written nearly 100 songs to date. At the age of 13, she began opening for various bands including a 45 minute acoustic performance at The Majestic Theatre in Streator, Illinois. Also in the summer of 2009, Ashleigh traveled to Rochester, New York to co-write the song "Break In Two" with the amazingly talented Richard Fink IV and Johnny Cummings at Castle Nine Entertainment. Since 2009, Ashleigh was a Decatur Finalist in The Colgate Country Showdown, and was the 1st place winner in both New Lenox Idol and Orland Days Singing Competitions in her home state of Illinois! Ashleigh is a member of The Nashville Spotlight Kid's Club and has performed at The Nashville Palace many times. Ashleigh is very excited to keep moving forward with her career!!! She hopes to someday inspire others to follow their dreams!"
billings, montana...star of the big country sky. hana pestle is primed to be the first big star out of billings by way of georgia (her birthplace). it's rare that i find an artist with a voice that makes me stop what i'm doing to listen to the melodies that are flowing from my speakers. hana is that and then some. according to a friend of mine that caught hana's performance at the whiskey a go-go in california, recordings just don't do her justice. hana's debut album feature's her single "need" which sounds like a perfect fit for the twilight series; many twilight fans agree. although her fanbase is growing daily, she remains focused on her mission to motivate others.
"I just want to be able to make music and support myself out on the road for as long as possible. I really want to reach out to new people and inspire them to create their own art. Truly, just getting to a point where my music could really support my lifestyle would be amazing. I want to continue to release music for as long as I make it." - Hana (hanapestle.com)
going back home this holiday, my gift for my city is to put on some of the local cats that don't get the national spotlight that others that i work with do. so i did some listening around and put together a list of artists that have been creating a buzz for different reasons.
from one song i found a handful of artist worthy of some positive buzz.
"fallin in love" eddye k ft yung villin, mellokie, and miss unique big collabo here with three an up-and-coming female rappers and one of the top male rappers out of the area. yung villin refuses to stop dropping mixtape after mixtape while reppin his city to the fullest with tracks like "gotta get it" featuring the soulful singer sincere grant. grant is the only r&b singer from the streets that i know that can sing with the likes of anthony hamilton while smoking a black on stage. the boy got talent. (reverbnation.com/yungvillinreverbnation.com/sinceregrant)
as for the female rappers, eddye k is not afraid to challenge a man's sexuality in her single "enough" with a style similar to lauren hill. by the way she has a video shoot at the el rodeo event center (the old "level") on wednesday, december 29th starting at 6pm. (reverbnation.com/eddyek)
mellokie does her own thing with more of a rasheeda flow. her single "top notch" let's you know she doesn't mind being the center of attention. (reverbnation.com/mellokie1way)
some might remember mz unique (no relation lol) from her 106th and park appearance on freestyle friday. i must admit, she has a bigger heart than i would have thought. fame or not, it doesn't mean a thing if it ain't about that green. check her out. i'm digging her track entitled "money freestyle". (reverbnation.com/mzuniquemusic)
other artists you might check out: j-friday, j.u.n.e., yung nasti, and kool-aid.
ya'll keep at it. i'm listening.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
what up peeps! we got another hot artist for you. he goes by the name of blais and he's hitting the music scene so hard that she is bound to start hitting back with a record deal. yeah, by the end of this you won't believe that he's still unsigned. he's currently managed by j.d. wilson management as he works on his album, pressing forward on his quest to be a household name. shout out to jasmine for hooking up this connect with me and blais. somebody let me borrow $5 million...i need to sign him real quick. anyway, before i introduce this beast, lemme make sure he's ready. blais?
“i swear to God that imma fight, like a boxer here tonight i'mma spit this shit and give this shit, like Obama here tonight i'mma own this shit and throw this shit, nolan ryan in the 9th and i promise i'mma bomb it, like osama here tonight!”(blais)
whoa, whoa, whoa homie. that's enough free entertainment for now. let's chop it up real quick.
Dom: first of all, where does the name Blais come from? Blais: well my name (which is my actual last name) comes from my french background. my father was black and my mother is italian and french. in america its pronounced (blaze) and in france its pronounced (blay).
Dom: you know there's some girl out there tapping her homegirl saying "i told you he wasn't half indian!" [haha]. okay, you hail from the great state of texas where everybody strives to "do it big". who or what motivates you to do it big? Blais: i was actually born in NY, raised in VA. i came to texas four years ago where i started my solo career. i’ve been doing music since the age of 4 and of course some of the legends greats have always been an influence. although, my supporters are the ones that really motivate me the most.
Dom: i hear ya. shout out to the fans that hold us up! a lot of the biggest artists come out of texas. what makes you different? Blais: well i'm not trying to follow the "in crowd". not saying that's what texas does but i feel a lot of artists all around try to be something they are not. my music really reflects me as a person.
Dom: where do you draw your inspiration? Blais: my greatest inspiration was and still is michael jackson. besides God, i give praise and owe everything to [mj]. he sparked my love for music and entertainment. i also love artists like buddy holly, prince and john lennon. the greats.
Dom: that's a 80's baby line up [haha] them youngings have no idea! now who in the game do you admire? Blais: hmm admire? i dont think i admire anyone in this day but i do think kanye is genius along with r. kelly. oh and another up-and-coming artist who is really dope is bei maejor.
Dom: i admire keri hilson. still waiting for her to call me. i read that you write music for the r&b group "3AM". how many different projects do you have your hand in? Blais: i have quite a few that i am working on. i really love to work with singers. one project i am very proud to be working on is jordan sparks. i'm currently finishing up a song for her.
Dom: nice! that's quite an accomplishment. ya'll look out for that. i listened to your track "come". it's hot and it seems to have a prince flavor to it. how did you come up with the concept? Blais: thank you. prince was definitely a huge influence with this song. i wanted to make something for the clubs but i also wanted to bring that old feeling back. that feel good, "letting a woman know how much she is wanted without being so blunt while being blunt" music [laughs].
Dom: you know what, we oughtta make that a new genre of music. album coming soon. what can we expect? Blais: you're going to get ME...a man who cherishes his mother, loves women, and my ambition for music.
Dom: name a few collaborations you've been involved in. Blais: man! i have a real sick track called "love it/hate it" with snow tha product. i produced the track and laid down the hook, sent it to her and she blessed me with some heat. also my single "make my heart go boom" features my dude steve soulja. he sung an amazing hook and did the second verse also. working on a few others that will have to be a surprise. [winks]
Dom: oh yeah that just sets up another exclusive right here on the blog so peeps stay tune for that. what is your favorite track that you have either performed, produced, or written for either yourself or someone else and why? Blais: i would have to say my song "something2some1". i feel this is my greatest love song because i broke it down so simple but it meant so much. "i rather have you cry from the truth, then smile from lie and i don’t want to think what it could’ve been, i would love the thought that we tried..." (lyrics from "something2some1") like i said, simple but it means so much.
Dom: that's wussup. your youtube account features a verse you recorded on Nicki Minaj's "right thru me". how did that come about? Blais: just something for me and her supporters. i think they enjoyed that one.
Dom: i know i did. i went home quoting you. you know it's bad when the convo starts off "you keep, you keep tripping like you the victim"...but i digress [haha]. if you had a mic that spoke to the world, what would you say? in other words, what does the world need to know about Blais? Blais: i breathe music…i bleed music…
well blais, it's been a pleasure. this is the part where we tell folks to tell a friend becoz you have earned the Dom seal of approval. take a bow bruh.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
another exclusive!!! checking in with brandon "b payne" payne to get the "new new" about his adventures and learn more about his street team. let's get to it!!!
Dom: aight payne, so word is you have a few projects in the works. what's the first thing you got coming up?
BPayne: well i got my 2nd annual concert at a local orlando club named SCOOP Bar and Grill on Saturday, January 22nd.
Dom: thas wussup. how did that come about?
BPayne: well they say hard work doesn't go unnoticed. i grinded hard last november after the release of my first official mixtape "ThA.CravE" and the right ears heard it. gained some contacts with club owners, mainly my boy Mike Irene, who basically opened to doors. There was such a good turnout at the first show in January 2010 that i decided to do it again, but bigger and better.
Dom: okay okay. i guess the fans gotta see it to believe it. i'm sure #TeamPayne is all over that one right?
BPayne: haha YESSIR. "man i love my team, i would die for these niggas ahhhhhhh" [Drake voice lol). nah, but really, #TeamPayne is now my backbone.
Dom: for those who don't know, what exactly is #TeamPayne?
BPayne: alright #TeamPayne is my basically my ride or die appointed fans that have banded together to stop at nothing to ensure my success. it feels so good to know that i have impacted souls so much that they are dedicated to help the way they are. i appreciate all of them so much. the head of the team (under me) is my #2 fan Lea Thompson. the team was basically her idea and she does what she has to do to help. shoutout to the other members though. that's my dudes Derek and Melvin, and my beautiful ladies Andrea, Ingrid, Stacy, Michelle, Yavi, my sister Tonya, my United Kingdom member Leonie, and the newest recruit Atarah. I love all yall and appreciate the support so much.
Dom: gotta show love to those that show you love. it's been a minute (since october) since the mixtape dropped and we last did a spot for the blog. talk to me about the success of the last mixtape.
BPayne: Yo that shit blew the FUCK up. For most of the members of the team, #LightSwitch was the first thing they heard from me. They grew love for my music cuz my love for it was shown through that mixtape. Its still getting checked out all around. Even in the UK. Definitely a big success.
Dom: from FLA to the UK. what a difference a year makes. what's next for bpayne?
BPayne: global domination [haha] no joke though. i'm coming for everybody iPod, iTunes, ears, hearts and all. me and my team are making it to the top no matter what anybody thinks. january is our month, 2011 is our year. #TeamPayne or stay broke.
Dom: as long as you stay in touch with your favorite writer. i gotta retire one day hahaha i'm just saying.
BPayne: yo you are now encrusted with the B.Payne seal of approval. #TeamPayne fucks with you for good now bredrin.
ya'll my witnesses! i shall retire by next year. b payne the pressure is on! haha regardless, you still have a home on the blog fam!
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
this time we have a treat from the streets. the prodigy of king of kings records: ya boy money militia. we all are familiar with the phrase "from rags to riches" but, we'll see just how one man accomplished just so with hard work and determination. let's get into it. how about we let the people know what's good? you ready?
"i was lost in the streets, it didn't amount to nothing, i'm just a traveling man, running from my past troubles...if you ask me if i'm ready, i'ma tell you let's go." - ya boy money (lyrics from "i'm ready" freestyle)
in and out of juvenile detention centers. living on the streets at age fifteen. surrounded by pimps, prostitutes, and drugs. altogether, it spells the recipe of inevitable disaster; namely prison or death. money, however, weathered the storm (so to speak) and went on to become a legit entrepreneur. at 19 he opened a nightclub. later he franchised 3 t-mobile stores and ultimately became a diamond broker. through all of these business dealings, he brushed shoulders with the likes of many and his associates eventually convinced him to tell his story via song. enough from me, let's get it from money himself.
"got a couple things that i wanna let you know, if i let you in promise you won't tell a soul..." - money militia (lyrics from "u girl") i can't promise that. lol i got a lot of readers. shall we continue?
Dom: first of all i wanna thank you for taking time out to answer these questions. i think we all are about to receive a life lesson in the true meaning of the word hustle. i read over your brief bio and it seems you learned early to make something from nothing. what was your motivation behind your drive if you didn't have the support of others? ybmm: i always had a belief it was easy. i didn't see others on it but i always wanted it no matter what it took. [haha] now eventually, i found out it wasn't too easy but everything i went through just moulded me, my real motivation that made me continue was to help those around me who were in worse situations.
Dom: that's what's up. there are many brothers out there that, given the same circumstances, would still be in the streets today if not dead or in jail. how did you make the transition from the streets to entrepreneurship? ybmm: i watched all my pa'tnas die or get locked up. i knew eventually things i was doing wouldn't last after being in jail 28 times. i was then treading a thin line. the wrong move would [hinder] me and i no longer wanted that life.
Dom: a lot of people, including myself, say they use life as their fuel for their craft. is the same true for you? explain. ybmm: aww yeah. my life and lives i've witnessed. everything i've lived through has been an educational lesson, which i can now give to others to use as they would like.
Dom: what made you want to become a lyricist and how long have you considered yourself as such? ybmm: i don't think i've ever had a boring moment [haha]. friends and business partners always told me if i put my life on the beat, i'd be successful. guess they were right. i recorded my first song around four years ago.
Dom: nice. now how does "ya boy money militia" compare to bernard nuar? (for example an alter ego, personality, or an expressionist for bernard nuar) ybmm: uh, i'm ME. i guess my alter ego is me going from being happy to me being mad then you'll see a switch.
Dom: i bet [haha] getting to the album "hustle and flow", from the listed tracks available, you have some hott collabos including diamond and lil keke. how did that come about? ybmm: being at the right place at right time, i guess, and them feeling what i got. also diamond and me share the same manager so it's easy to get a hold of dorrough, diamond, or the gs boyz. we fam.
Dom: that's what's up. hard question: what is your favorite track on this album? ybmm: what you wanna do.
Dom: wasn't so hard after all [haha]. how did you come up with the concept for "u girl"? ybmm: i saw this bad chick at the mall and i straight up told her what i wanted to do and she fell for it.
Dom: gotta love the ladies. and the game. any past body of works like mixtapes, albums that we should know about since 2006? ybmm: "Hustle and Flow vol.1 DJ DROP" and "Hustle and flow vol.2 Princess Kut (TX $hit)"
Dom: any shows in the near future? ybmm: dec 2nd at texas a&m. (for tickets to that show, go to http://moneymilitia.ticketleap.com/jinglejam/)
Dom: any shoutouts/message for the people reading this blog post? ybmm: Stay tuned, you 'bout to hear one the best tapes ever: 2011 DJ Cannon "Money Never Sleeps".
yessir! you heard it right here first peeps. the prince of dallas has spoken and i wish him immediate success. he has the content to be top rated in the game and the drive to have longevity. money militia, take a bow. you have earned the Dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
the moon sets and the sun rises on the band that gives you a "reason for expectation"; promize. these alternative rockers pride themselves on their dark music as their lead singer translates what they are trying to convey with their instruments. with decades of collective musical experience, promize offers a complete sound that has been shared with the world for a while; you just might not have known it. albums, rolling stone magazine, and even movie soundtracks have all had the privilege of bearing the promize name and sound. and now, it's time to give you a quick run down of this six (sometimes seven) member band:
shelby taranto: lead vocals dave manning: drums (leader) rob sweeney: keys and effects pete mcewan: bass and backing vocals jon zera: guitars kelly baraban: guitars and backing vocals rich p: special guest guitarist (touring guitarist)
collective influences: Deftones Tool Zed Zeppelin Perfect circle Filter Chris Cornell Jeff Buckley Rush Dave Matthews Soundgarden Smashing Pumpkins Stone Temple Pilots John Paul Jones Stanley Clark Geddy Lee Lee Sklar Radiohead Alice in Chains
the band's latest album features "unholy"; a sure hit and a band favorite according to shelby. furthermore, on their climb to ultimate success, the band turned down a record deal with sony! however crazy as it might seem, promize is currently in talks with a major label. that's where jon boy zera comes in as he answers questions on behalf of the band.
Dom: what hurdles have hindered you from being where you want to be already? Jon Boy: there are many hurdles any band must endure to survive on a daily basis. getting along with one another can be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. in order to survive, everyone in the band has to be able to get along and work with each other. you need to have the same goals, be on the same page and you must have mutual respect for each other. with promize we all get along very well, we have respect for one another and we’re all striving towards the same goal. it’s important to assign one band member as the leader and have trust and faith in that leader to make the right moves. when you have a band and each member wants to play boss and be in charge you’re doomed.
Dom: i agree. that's very important. what are your proudest accomplishments as a group? Jon Boy: standing outside of a venue waiting to go on stage we heard our song, "unholy" come on national radio. being featured in rolling stone magazine would be a close second.
Dom: very nice! you've done so much already. signing a major record deal: is that a peak, plateau, or new beginning? Jon Boy: it’s the next chapter for us and what we’ve been working all our lives for.
Dom: a new chapter indeed. you've performed quite a bit. what do you think is the craziest thing to happen during/after one of your performances (including crazy fans)? Jon Boy: where do i begin…we’ve seen fans have promize tattoos all over their body including one guy with the p, r, o, et cetera tattooed on each knuckle. we played an outdoor festival once and the stage was struck by lightning! we’ve had people streak across the stage naked, few fans fainted while signing autographs for them. one guy purposed to shelby after a show. it’s all good fun though. we love our fans.
Dom: and they love you [haha]. what advice do you have for artists that are looking to get signed? Jon Boy: getting signed is like winning the lottery. there are plenty of amazing bands out there who have worked hard for years and will always be overlooked by labels and there are others who just got lucky. with the internet being so huge these days, in order to increase your chances and exposure it’s important to promote the hell out of yourself by using the internet. we still spend 14+ hours a day, 7 days a week self promoting anywhere and everywhere we can online. you got to work hard at it and promote, promote, promote. if getting signed were easy everybody would do it.
Dom: in other words network, network and when you're done with that network some more. jon boy, thank you for taking time to answer these questions on behalf of promize! i wish you all the best on this potential new record deal! Jon Boy: thanks, dom.
shelby, dave, rob, pete, jon, kelly and rich...you have earned the Dom seal of approval! be sure to check out promize on reverbnation.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
at&t commercials started it but drake made it cool by putting it on a mixtape. i'm talking about putting three cities together like houstatlantavegas. musically it's common to hear a hip-hop and r&b artist, but a jazzacoustichiprock artist? what's up with that? we'll check in with a cat that goes by the name of singa bromfield for the answers. before we do that, let me tell you a little about him before he has the chance to say "google me".
don't let the pic fool you. he's just trying to get his hip-hop on. this soft spoken musician that hails from memphis (born in d.c.) has been on a mission to bring forth what he calls 'beautiful music'. in a video interview "how it all began....", bromfield explains how he first fell in love with the guitar.
"i started off playing violin, and...that really wasn't really [working well] for me. i was watching austin city limits and saw little dudes on stage playing guitar and i said 'that's going to be me'. so i got a kleenex box and some rubber bands and a [papertowel roll] and i just made me a guitar...and i just got serious with it for real..." - singa bromfield
outside of God, bromfield credits music as his life's motivator to keep going. and now, we are in the wake of hearing singa's first hip-hop mixtape entitled "no feelings". hmm...it's time for me to take this interview to the next level...
Dom: so, singa, first off the name. we know you're a singer. sometimes in the shower, i'm a singer. what made you choose the name singa? Singa B: well my real name is nrsimha (ner-sing-ah) and everyone calls me singa for short, so i just ran with it.
Dom: easy enough. i checked out your ning page and i listened to your covers of chris breezy and nick jonas. i was jamming with you a little bit [haha]. any reason why you chose those two artists? Singa B: it's funny because while i was attending college (art institute of nashville) people would ask me to sing a "regular" song and i only knew my originals, so i figured i'd learn a song with a cool meaning or message (who i am) and one that the ladies could vibe to (take you down).
Dom: gotta do one for the ladies. in your "how it all began..." video interview, you mentioned that music and God is the only thing that keeps you going. why is music so important to you? Singa B: music and life goes hand and hand. of course it's a stress reliever, but also it is a talent that was purposely given to me. so i feel that i have to insinuate my philosophy on life's persona to inform people to live life "jetted".
Dom: i like that. what would you say your comfortable vocal range is? Singa B: well naturally i'm a tenor/baritone, but i can comfortably slide into the alto area [haha].
Dom: i hear ya. i can hit mariah carey notes in the car when i'm by myself [haha]. a lot of crossover artist out there. vocally, who would you compare yourself with? we all do it so don't say you don't [haha]. i was usher when the "confessions" album came out. Singa B: [haha]... ummm i guess i say like a john mayer crossed with like baby face and or brian mcknight type thing.
Dom: now you were on tour this past summer. how did that turn out and whom did you tour with? Singa B: well the plan was to do a domestic tour around the states, but instead i did a few shows here then flew out to the islands and did a show with the youth choir of trelawny, jamaica. so collectively the "tour" was cancelled.
Dom: it'll come in time. being a singer, do the ladies show you mad love, wanting you to sing them something? Singa B: [haha] well it's always good putting a smile on the ladies faces and getting the "just one more" requests. so it's cool knowing that ladies enjoy my sound.
Dom: "late night jam session" has a bounce that of "feel good" music. what that your intention? explain how you came up with that concept? Singa B: well i wrote that song in the theme of how songs would come to me and how i am and jamming out with other musicians while people just groove to my tunes. i'm not familiar to the "feel good" music reference, but it was intended to make you dance, snap, or how every you jam. so feeling good sounds like it will fit.
Dom: exactly. now the mixtape. what can we expect? Singa B: well currently i'm working on a new album entitled "on the road" which is scheduled to release in the spring of 2011. so i felt that i shouldn't limit myself from expressing my thoughts, whether it's spoken word, singing, et cetera. so using rap, singing and my guitar, i wanted to let my fans and listeners understand my stories of journeys through life.
Dom: what's next for singa bromfield and what do we need to know about you? Singa B: after the release of NO FEELINS, i'll continue to do more collaborative projects and shows throughout the country. dates of shows will be posted by new years, so hopefully people will like what i bring to the table and that will take off.
Dom: leave us with a few words for the people out there. Singa B: never doubt yourself! if you feel like you want to be someone of something that defines your spirit, expressing yourself or 'making your mark', GO FOR IT!
that's right. go for it! and i'm sure we haven't heard the last of singa so ya'll stay tuned for more from this jazzacoustichiprock artist. by the way singa, don't let nobody take my phrase. i'm the first to call you that! i'm just saying..."NO FEELINS" mixtape dropping today at 10 a.m. eastern time! cop that today in support of singa! singa bromfield, you know the drill. take a bow, you have earned the Dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
hey peeps. this segment of six degrees takes us to broken arrow where a 26-year-old rapper by the name of slim goody lets us know why we should be telling people about him. you know how i do. let's drop in on slim goody.
"got my own swagger, i will never jock, my stomach hurts, so i guess i gotta take another drop.." slim goody (an excerpt from "slimtro")
Dom: who is slim goody and what is the meaning behind your name? slim: slim goody is a inspired artist/composer (anybody with a software and keyboard call themselves producers nowadays). i'm a musician first. i got the name "slim" while in atlanta, it was a name everybody seem to call me at every job i worked. i liked it, and because i hate my government name so much, i ran with it. now no one knows my real name, they only know "slim". job supervisors, associates, managers and all. "goody" came from a artist by the name of "mike slim" from baton rouge, louisiana. we were in group called "1st born" in 2004. he always said i had "the goods". he wanted his name to be goody but thought it fit me well for some reason. every time he'd see me, which was everyday....he would shout "get 'em goody". that's where slim goody comes from. the beginning of my atlanta life also started me off with a new name.
Dom: nice. where are you from originally? slim: i was born and raised on the westside of chicago.
Dom: okay, okay. it looks like you've been doing some traveling around the u.s. and now you're in oklahoma. have you checked out any of the local talent? there are some good ones out there. if so, who would you work with? slim: yeah. my girlfriend libido ink is from oklahoma. we met at my georgia studio in riverdale back in 04. she's my only affiliation for being here. there are a lot of good talent here, i agree. (www.reverbnation.com/silentassassins918). brandon stevens (alex b) was by far one of the coldest r&b artist from oklahoma until his unfortunate murder. people like super j, j friday, stacks and paccman (two productively skilled people)...lil hennessy, yung villian and 3 minds pretty nice. tre k got it for the club dance music, but my girl "libido ink" smashing all of 'em. not just saying it because of her title, but that beyonce/gaga/rhianna swag, she handling rappers out here! i like the freestylers out here more than the artist that's "somebody". i'd like to work with "l peezy", (ill with the bars). hawaii jones, swagg 101, a young group that sound like they been around at least 5 yrs. i'll put money on those boys. and the few i named earlier just for the buzz.
Dom: you just named half of oklahoma just now [haha]. what do people need to know about slim goody? slim: slim goody is "somebody i think you should know". with my partner "libido ink", we r a walking hit-factory! songwriting/production + perfect vocals = instant placement $$$$$
Dom: i hear ya. so who in the game inspires you? slim: the people that inspire are t.i., twista, kanye west, shawnna, the Whole def jam squad, and grand hustle.
Dom: that's a good list. now, sceanario: you have just signed to a major label and it's time to piece your album together. name your top five features you have to have on your album. slim: t.i., rick ross, twista, snoop, and messy marv.
Dom: you got cats from all over on your fav five. now what bodies of work do you have out there for people to listen to? any original (meaning non-mixtapes)? slim: i have four compilations out in atlanta that i'm the main feature on. "the takeova, dem 44 boys, da new beginning and goodfellas" all under jas44 records CEO derrick lewis. i have a mixtape and and two albums done here in oklahoma. self titled "silent assassins", interstate music whom universal wants to distribute, and solo album "mavarick" which was just looked at by warner bros today. I've produced three full albums here in oklahoma. "interstate music" (silent assassins), "maverick" (slim goody) "libido" (libido ink) and formed two groups: silent assassins and swagg 101. every album/compilation i've been featured on are produced or co-produced by myself.
Dom: that's what's up! what would be your signature track/single? slim: my signature track would be "thrown by the wind". which can found on my myspace page: www.myspace.com/slimgoody44.
Dom: what have you accomplished in your career thus far? slim: accomplishments i've achieved in the game so far is wisdom for one. knowing my place and accepting my role at the time. connections to the people that can get me where i want to be. overall understanding on how to do you but still do "them".
Dom: any near future/distant goals? slim: of course...you should aways have a goal. my one and only is to have a million dollars in a account for my daughter before she turns 10. everything and everybody else will be okay if i can get that done.
Dom: i feel you on that. what's next for slim goody? slim: i was planning on heading back to atlanta next summer, but this meeting today with warner bros might be steering me to l.a. libido's down for whatever, and moms is in san diego...so it looks like God is working it all into motion. that's all i can trust. i know my plans, but i never know his.
Dom: amen. last question. what message/shoutouts for the people reading this blog? slim: i want to shout out EVERYBODY that checked out the blog on "slim goody". i'm just as hungry as you, the difference is...i don't mind sharing, i know where to get more!
and there you have it peeps. hunger and grind. two attributes i respect in everyone. slim goody, take a bow. you have earned the Dom seal of approval. even though you have 799 shoutouts haha just kiddin.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
truth is truth. mary rose is the queen of domunique.blogspot.com netting the most views of any blog post on the site.
"you take away my breath with every word you speak...so baby, tell me what this means..." - mary rose (from her single "what this means")
Dom: how does it feel to see yourself on the top of the charts? mary: [haha] well, it does feel nice to know i'm topping the charts. i'm hoping to do that on an even larger scale someday!
Dom: i was just checking out your reverbnation page. what's new on there? mary: reverbnation! i JUST joined reverbnation, after i had a few other artists recommend it. i like that you can connect facebook and twitter to it, plus the music streams and loads very fast on there. there is a new acoustic demo up, a new video, and some instrumental tracks that are remixes of my other songs up on there right now. since i just started using reverbnation, i'm still working on putting stuff up there, so hopefully in the future it'll have more songs and videos.
Dom: well welcome to reverb! i like the studio version of "what this means". what/who is the inspiration behind the song? mary: well, "what this means" was produced and recorded with t-pain over the summer. actually, that's also posted on the reverbnation page. it was written about two years ago, about a relationship that i was in that i felt like i was responsible for ruining. as it turns out, it wasn't really anyone's fault- just wasn't meant to be. at the time, i was just trying to vent out all the emotions i was feeling and figure out what i wanted.
Dom: i hear ya. you can tell it's really heartfelt. you expressed what you were feeling really well. i see you have a couple of instrumentals on there as well. how much of that did you compose yourself? mary: the instrumentals on the page are all composed by myself. i took over ten years of piano lessons before i taught myself to play guitar, so i'm able to read and write music. i have a program that allows me to tab out and score in any music i write, and then synthesize whatever instruments i want to play the music. i've been messing around with a lot of remixes using the chords and melodies i've written for other songs, and i think they have turned out pretty sick. i like to mess around with all the different genres, so being able to compose for basically any instrument is extremely helpful.
Dom: pretty sick indeed! somebody has mad skills! now, nappy boy update: what have you done since the last interview that you can share? mary: well, i got back the song pain and i recorded (what this means) from the studio. i haven't had time to get back in the studio because of soccer season, but we ended our season yesterday so that's about to change. i actually was invited to t-pain's birthday party this year, and couldn't go because of school and soccer. that was probably the most depressing decision i've ever had to make [hahahaha]. i wanted to go SO BAD. but i've been showing pain my stuff, and [young cash] as well, and i'm looking forward to working and recording with them in the future. i'm graduating this spring, so the current plan is that then i'll get to focus completely on music.
Dom: that's what's up! so still unsigned? any talks in the works? mary: still unsigned! i'm pretty content with where i am right now- i want to get my degree before i sign with anyone. but i'm confident that come spring '11 things will be different, and hopefully we will see signing in the near future.
Dom: good deal. i noticed your tweet about soccer. how did it end? mary: ohhhhh, soccer. [Haha] let's just say it was a much less than desirable end to a VERY long and involved season. we lost in the semifinals for the d-1 ASUN conference. but as always, the bad comes with good: no more soccer means more time for music! so it wasn't too horrible, i suppose. i'm moving on to bigger and better things.
my, my mary rose. after this one you're gonna have a lot of guys singing 'mary, mary, mary...holla at a g' to the tune of young cash's "baby baby baby"! (the world is mine mixtape) haha...by the way, shout out to young cash as he endures this tough sitcho he's facing. keep your head up bruh!
mary rose, you know what it is. you still got the Dom seal of approval! peeps you need to tell a friend now! right now. and show mary some love on here and on her reverb.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
"timing has never been so perfect...like this before..." - ifella, ifalla (from the single "anything but")
i agree! it's time now to meet the new acoustic sensation that is ifella, ifalla. the duo hails from tulsa, oklahoma with josh douglas playing the guitar and kelly gateley as the lead vocalist. the band's fresh sound helps renew your love for music as it was when it had meaning. you can hear the innocence in 20-year-old gateley's voice. let's get to know them...
Dom: tell me a little about your group. when did you become a group? ifella: well, we've only been together as a group for about four months.
Dom: how did you two meet? ifella: we met on myspace, actually. we've been dating for about a year and a half now.
Dom: how did you come up with the name and what does it mean? ifella: the name iFella, iFalla came from kelly stuttering. [haha] she was trying to tell a story about her falling and couldn't get the word "fell" out. so our name doesn't actually have a hidden meaning or anything.
Dom: clever, creative and funny! so in four months, what has been your biggest accomplishments thus far? ifella: well, we haven't really accomplished much in that time. we are proud of the slight fanbase we have established on myspace and facebook though.
Dom: what is the first original song you two recorded? ifella: the first song we recorded was "A City Named Tragedy" back when we were a three-piece. but as a two-piece, the first song we recorded was "Wide Eyes".
Dom: list the immediate and future goals of the group. ifella: our main goal as a band is to share our love of music with the world, but our short-term goal would be to establish a local following.
Dom: any gigs coming up? ifella: nope. no gigs anytime soon. we are waiting to further improve our sound and build a stronger setlist before we attempt to play for a crowd. hopefully in the near future we will have some locals shows though.
Dom: who influences you musically? ifella: some of our musical influences are: He Is We, Bon Iver, The Scene Aesthetic, Mayday Parade, Kings of Convenience, Bright Eyes, City and Colour, and many many many more.
Dom: let's get to know you two a little bit. who is most likely to goof up on stage? ifella: [hahaha] we are both prone to mess up when playing for people. and when one of us goofs, it makes the other goof as well.
Dom: karoke time. what would you sing and why? ifella: just the two of us. only because it is bound to get some laughs.
Dom: bonnie and clyde. sonny and cher. big daddy and hit girl. what duo best describes you two and why? ifella: wow. we never really thought about that. that's a tough one. the duo that best describes us would have to be paulie bleeker and juno macGuff.
Dom: life is a movie. what's the title of yours? ifella: indie-pendence day. [haha]
Dom: good cop bad cop: who is the bad cop? ifella: kelly is way too nice to be the bad cop. and i would have a blast yelling at a criminal.
Dom: who has the last word? ifella: kelly definitely has the last word. its a woman's world. [haha]
check out ifella, ifalla here well this time i'll have the last word! haha take a bow ifella, ifalla. you have earned the Dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
"...damn, i got a mean flow now keep your eye on me like a peephole..." - shadoe valentine (fallin sky - mad world mixtape)
mmm hmm. is that so? well now that i see ya, it's time to dig beneath the surface of this 20 year old wonder by the name of shadoe valentine:
dom: who is shadoe valentine? in other words, what is the history behind the name?
shadoe: Shadoe Valentine is a complex mind, relaying his thoughts over tracks. I just want to get people to think. I feel many people don't actually listen to lyrics as much as they use to. Ironically, the name is self is not suppose to be thought provoking, it's just a name i came up with that sounded good.
dom: okay now Red Velvet. diggin the album. for anybody who hasn't heard it, give us a little history behind it.
shadoe: Red Velvet was a concept i came up with a couple years ago with my producer Nick Leon. The name is a metaphor for blood (no relation to the gang lol). It just symbolizes the nature of the album which is dark and violent, but the actual sound of of the album is smooth (like velvet) and laid back.
dom: what would you say is the best track on the whole album and why?
shadoe: There isn't necessarily a "best" track i think every piece of work i do is my best, but my favorite would have to be between "Top Down" and "God MC". I like "Top Down" just because of the over all feel of the track, the lyrics are on point the flow is smooth and the beat is incredible. "God MC" is just me showcasing my lyrical ability. I feel the execution was flawless, and the beat was just epic.
dom: how many other projects do you have out? list them
shadoe: aww man, ummm I have "Red Velvet", I'm on "Heart of The City" which is a mixtape from an artist named Jay Burna, I'm on "Water Break" which is a mixtape from a miami artist named Mikey, I'm on "Tha Binge" and "Light Switch" which are two mixtapes from B.Payne Tha Rapper, DJ Scoopz "Flawda Street Bangaz Vol.2", and i also have a new mixtape coming out Oct 31st called "MAD WORLD"
dom: most artists are listed by genre. what would yours be?
shadoe: I would be listed under MUSIC, i don't want to be casted into any specific genre. I just make music and that's all i want to do. If anyone feels that i belong in a certain genre than that's where i'll be in their mind. As long as they're listening that's all that matters.
dom: fair enough. hot people in the game right now. past/present, who would you "compare" to?
shadoe: with all honestly i couldn't tell you. I know who i want to be compared to though. When it's all said and done, I would like to be compared to Rakim, Eminem, Tupac, Big L, Big Pun, MF Doom, Royce da 5'9. I just wanna be up there with some of the greatest lyricist. I strive to be great and that's what i will be.
dom: that's a good list. last question, give me a line you spit that describes the story of your life.
shadoe: "Some people had good ideas, but couldn't execute it and truly the people around were too abusive it makes you want to be reclusive if you aint chasing what you see in your sleep, you dreams are useless"
this is a line off of a song i have on MAD WORLD called "Thinking". It relates to me because there are many people i see who give up their dreams because there are people constantly telling them its unrealistic. If everyone thought like these people who are shutting down the dreams of others, we wouldn't have any innovators, leaders, or entertainers. I choose to follow my dream, and i think everyone should too, otherwise you might be miserable for the rest of your life because you are too busy wondering what could have been if you just pursued your dream.
check out shadoe valentine vids below:
well done shadoe. you have earned the dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
"go dj! thas my dj!" is what wayne say, but when down in florida that's what brandon "b payne" say...(damn i'm a poet lol). just who is this producer behind the hardest working man in the game by way of florida? nick "noexit" leone, that's who. and i got the 4-1-1:
dom: ok ok ok...b.payne doing his thing down in FL, why does he keep coming to you to produce his mixtapes? (explain what makes you different from other producers)
nick: well i think its because he knows i understand what production really is a lot more than most people who claim to be producers out there cuz i spend a lot of time tweaking sounds and mixes, and i can't lie i've heard im pretty talented ...with the beats.
dom: how long have you known b.payne?
nick: we met when i was a sophmore which was in 08
dom: hard question time: which mixtape (that ...you've worked on) is your favorite and why?
nick: i'd have to say red velvet because its the first real CD i did where it was almost all of my production and was all recorded in my studio which was in my brothers room at the time, plus me and shadoe had been in a group previously and where trying to break off and do our own thing which resulted into that album.
dom: what do people need to know about you?
nick: where to find the music so they can listen to it, b.payne's good at getting the word out.
dom: explain your style and where you draw inspiration?
nick: my style is everything because i listen to everything i make different beats for different people i don't mess with too many artists so i can mold styles around people to fit what i think they want.
dom: what would you consider to be your signature beat?
nick: I don't think i have a signature beat my style is constantly changing.
dom: a lot of great producers out there in the game. past or present, who is the greatest producer to ever bless the game in your eyes?
nick: quincy jones hands down, not to be corny but 1, he made thriller and 2, he has been around since the 40s
dom: which producer do you best identify with?
nick: Right now i'd have to say either Kanye West or RZA but that's just because of the project im working on
dom: anything lined up for the future?
nick: Im producing Zee's next CD, Shadoe's new mixtape called MAD WORLD is gonna drop very soon and possibly an EP from B.Payne.
well there you have it. he's young and motivated, coming for kanye (respect) and nothing short of greatness. take a bow young man...you have earned the dom seal of approval.
Dom if nobody feels you, i feels you, feel me? be easy coz life is hard...
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