Al Kapone and the U Dig Dance Academy jookers performing with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra at the Pop-Up Arts Festival at Melrose Stadium in Orange Mound, 4/29/12
Hip Hop
3rd Annual Ole Skool Majorette and Drummer Jamboree, Memphis
The Ole Skool Majorette and Drummer Jamboree was held Saturday night at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis. Unlike many of the jamborees I have been to this year, this one was more like the good jamborees I remember from my youth, with the majorettes working out to drummers’ beats instead of compact discs. The event opened with Triggaman and Bugs Can Can (AKA The Showboys) leading everyone in gangsta walking to the old-school anthem “Triggaman.” 4/21/12 #MemphisRising
Memphis Producer Lil Pat Backstage at the A3C Showcase at SXSW
Lil Pat, one of Memphis’ earliest and most successful hip-hop producers, backstage at the A3C hip-hop showcase at SXSW, March 17, 2012
Collective Status Boutique in Austin, TX
Collective Status Boutique (Taken with Instagram at Collective Status Boutique)
This new hip-hop shop kept some long hours during SXSW, staying open until 2 AM.
Kottonmouth-Dallas Hardhitters
From his beginning as one-half of the legendary Texas rap group P.K.O., Kottonmouth has been a consistent figure on the Texas rap scene. Now he returns with a new album Dallas Hardhitters, featuring appearances from Tum Tum, Lil Keke, Trae and Mr. Pookie, which will hit stores on February 21. This is not an album to be missed.
Max Minelli releases his new album “Heart of a King”
Emerging from C-Loc’s Concentration Camp, Max Minelli is a veteran of the Baton Rouge rap scene, and is consistently popular with fans in Louisiana’s capital city. With Heart of a King, Max Minelli elevates his game to a new level with 14 tracks produced by some of Louisiana’s finest producers, including Gussmakemybeats and C-Loc veteran Nathan “Happy” Perez. As always, Max Minelli gives his fans a street edge, but one with an intelligent difference, as Max is first and foremost a lyricist. Songs like “Can I Help You” and “Heart Of A King” deliver the crunkness, but there are also sunny, windows-down anthems like “City Is Mine”, and Minelli’s advice to youth to “Be Respected” is far more positive than the average street rapper making records today. Several of the songs feature Max’s new Dead Game Records labelmates, the rapper Kevin Gates and singer Malachi X. Altogether a release of consistent quality from one of Baton Rouge’s finest.
Drumma Boy’s Listening Party at R. Sole Memphis
Drumma Boy had the listening party for his new mixtape at a hip-hop clothing and shoe boutique called R. Sole in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, and that was really great because I wouldn’t have known about that shop otherwise. A lot of Memphis rap artists, producers and promoters were in the house, including DJ Bay and myself from Select-o-Hits, First Degree, G.K. and Li’l Pat.Â
2 Thick Records Orange Mound Block Party @ The Bear Cave 2011
Yesterday, DJ Zirk held his first annual 2 Thick Records Orange Mound Block Party, moved indoors to the Bear Cave on East Parkway, presumably because of the excessive heat warnings. Unlike last week’s rambunctious Orange Mound Block Party, this was a smaller and quieter event, with Memphis rap veterans like Tom Skeemask and DJ Care Bear making an appearance. Unfortunately, the air conditioning was malfunctioning, and the extremely crowded room was hotter than a sauna, but we enjoyed some great Memphis rap and R & B from newcomers and veterans alike.
Walking Home from the Orange Mound Block Party after the Fights, 2011
People walking home after the fights and shooting, Orange Mound Block Party, July 30, 2011. I will never understand why people would come to a recreational event in a mood to pick a fight with someone, or why anyone could think that it was ever justifiable to shoot a gun into a crowd of people. But the end result is that the city will prevent events like this from taking place, so all of us will be the losers because 6 or 7 people would rather fight and shoot than have a good time.Â