The 10th Anniversary of the Texas Summer Music Conference was held at Heroes Sports Bar and Grill on Upper Greenville in Dallas, July 16, 2011.
hip-hop
Morning view from my balcony, Dallas, Texas Summer Music Conference, July 16, 2011
Memphians probably first noticed Teflon Don when he composed a song for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, but he goes far deeper, as evidenced by his debut album God, The Government, The Game, an album whose title seems to reflect the three ways that inner-city residents have historically tried to make their way. Although Teflon uses a traditional Memphis style of delivery and fairly standard beats, his lyrics come from a more positive direction, trying to warn young people to take advantage of opportunities (“God, The Government, The Game”) or reminding them about the struggles that African-Americans have faced in the past (“Let’s Talk About”), a song that was written for Black History Month. While God, The Government, The Game offers little that is unexpected, it is a credible debut album from a hard-working artist that sees rap as a way to improve the city of Memphis.
The Dallas-based label Hulk Entertainment threw a private set on the Friday night before the Texas Summer Music Conference at the Hotel Zaza in Dallas, which is quite a happening place.
The Texas Summer Music Conference put me up in a suite at the Sheraton Market Center in Dallas. The view of downtown from my balcony was really cool.
Celebrating DJ Bay’s birthday at the 2 For 1 Taste Bar and Grill on Winchester in Hickory Hill, July 9, 2011
After the Cities Aviv release party, Escape Alley, Memphis, July 9, 2011
At the Cities Aviv release party, Escape Alley, Memphis, July 8, 2011
Last night at Escape Alley, Fat Sandwich Records celebrated the release of a new Cities Aviv 7-inch single called “Coastin”. Opening up for him was a really good artist named Royal-T that I hadn’t heard of before. One of the coolest things was that every paid admission entitled you to a free Cities Aviv 7-inch and a free Royal-T CD!