AMANDA DIVA: Hip-Hop’s Renaissance Woman

Written by Rahiem Shabazz 

Monday, 11 February 2008

It is not often I get a call to interview someone who intrigues and provokes thought when it comes to hip-hop music. So I was elated when asked to interview the gifted rapper, anointed on-air personality and scholar Amanda Diva. Whether it’s an interview on Allhiphop.com, a commentator gig on VH1, an appearance on Def Poetry Jam or a performance on stage, Amanda Diva continuously wins the hearts and minds of the hip-hop culture.The gifted female rapper has been receiving nothing but glowing remarks from music critics. “Amanda is a fresh breeze…not only is her pen as sharp as OJ’s knife, but her storytelling game is up there with the best of them,” stated Scratch Magazine when examining the multi-talented rapper’s latest offering, “Life Experience.”

Amanda’s alluring female presence and congenial attitude makes everything she does seem effortless. But hard work and grinding are just two attributes of her success. On tour to promote the first in an EP trilogy, Amanda sat down with me to talk about hip-hop’s recession, her album and the embodiment of a Supawoman.

Briefly, describe the evolution of Amanda Diva in terms of your rap career.I grew up around my god-sister who was always a fan [of hip-hop], so that was like my first initial introduction. But I did not really become a B-Girl… Although, I think I was always a B-Girl. I just did not know until I went to SUNY-Purchase in 1999. In Orlando where I grew up, hip-hop at the time was just music and not a culture I was exposed to. When I got to SUNY-Purchase, hip-hop just spoke to me and from there it became poetry, writing and all the things that have lead me to being further emerged into the hip-hop culture.Out of all the elements of hip-hop — whether it’s hip-hop journalism, poetry, performing or just being an artist — which one do you hope to excel in more?I would have to say being an artist because I fought it for so long. I did not want that burden. When you are an artist, it’s like a beast of a burden. It’s a gift and a curse. Yeah, it’s great being on stage and having people moved by your words. But, if you are trying to be successful, the ratio is like 15%.Tell me about your planned EP trilogy? We just released ‘Life Experience,’ with the ‘Love Experience’ and ‘Live Experience’ sets to follow. This is the first of its kind.The current recession in the hip-hop economy is widespread in terms of records sales. What do you think artists can do to counteract the financially unstable market?Artists need to reassess how they make money. We have been slaves for awhile now. This is a time where we are being forced by necessity to take back ownership of our music. When there is more of a co-op between the fans and the artist, there is a stronger link there. The stronger your link is with the fans and the audience, you cannot go wrong.Is Life Experience, a peek into your life as you would like the world to see it?I think any emcee worth their salt rhymes from that point of view. This album is not generally about my life, as much as it is about how I look at things because of certain experiences. ‘Brown Girl,’ for example, is a song that will empower brown girls to like who they are. It is not necessarily me telling the story of not liking who I was. It’s from the perspective of my life experience what us brown girls go through, so I wrote it for all the brown girls coming up.Switching gears a bit, you had a show on Sirius Satellite Radio for five years called “Breakfast at Diva’s” which ended in October. What do you think was the reason for Sirius letting you go?

I think in a nutshell people are more concerned with you working for them as opposed to you working with them. I think people feel threatened if you have your own ideas. It was a territorial situation; the typical crabs in the barrel syndrome. When I left there, I was getting hits from folks missing my commentary so I began DivaSpeakTV on YouTube to get people familiar and acclimated to who I am as a person. New episodes are uploaded every Tuesday at 6:00 PM so check us out.

When Natalie Stewart left Floetry you joined the lineup and went on a 20-date tour with Marsha Ambrosius. Initially, the crowd was not receptive but you won them over. Tell me about that experience and outcome.Wendy Williams talked about it for a week and the gay rumors began because of Floetry’s extremely large lesbian fan base. It was very controversial because no one knew Natalie left the group. So they would show up at shows like, ‘Where is Natalie?’ They’re looking at me and I don’t look a damn thing like Natalie. So they are looking like not only is Natalie gone, but we don’t know how this chick fits in the picture. How did that make you feel?At first I was a little bit miffed, but then I had to figure if Wendy is talking about me then that’s a good thing. I must be doing something right. The Floetry thing ended up not working out. Marsha led me to believe she wanted to do this and just decided to back out. Not giving me any word as to why. Without warning, she stops talking to me.Do you think the rumor mill got to her?I do not think there is any excuse for that type of action. We were on a bus for a month. When you are on a bus, it’s totally different from living with someone.  When you live with somebody, you get to leave. On the bus, we had 3 to 4 hours to ourselves a day. You are in the hotel, you are at sound check, then you are at the venue, then you’re back on the bus. So there was some type of camaraderie between us.You have a song called ‘Supawoman’ that speaks about the alluring presence of a strong woman. A lot of people look to you as a ‘Supawoman’ and rightfully so. What advice can you offer to those who look up to you?

There are a couple of things. I think you have to really be grounded in who you are. I think that is something a lot of people do not get a chance to figure out or get the time to do. I was lucky enough to have a really good childhood. I got a chance to figure out who Amanda is. As an adult, I’m not dealing with any demons or past shit, which keeps a lot of people from getting settled into who they are. You got to work through it and figure out who you are or else people will always be able to take you down. If you are not grounded, someone will be able to pull the carpet from out up under you. You also got to know your strength and capitalize off of it.

KOCH RECORDS AND WRECKSHOP RECORDS TO RELEASE BRAND NEW POSTHUMOUS ALBUM, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, FROM HOUSTON LEGEND BIG MOE ON MARCH 18TH, 2008

KOCH Records and Wreckshop Records announce the release of a brand new album from Houston rap legend Big Moe. The album, titled Unfinished Business, will be released on March 18^th , 2008. It is the first posthumous release of music by Big Moe and features all brand new songs.

The first single will be “Pint To the Head” feat. Lil Flip, A-3, and Click Clack.

Rapper and singer Big Moe is a legend in the Texas/Southern hip-hop scene.  As a member of the infamous collective Screwed Up Click (named after the late great DJ Screw), Moe’s southern rap twang and melodic singing rhythms have made him staple in Southern rap music.  His previous release, Purple World, scanned over 34,844 units its first week, charting at #2 on the Billboard Rap Chart and #3 on the Billboard R&B chart.  He has sold over 400,000 units to date commercially.  His tragic death last year was a major loss to the hip-hop community but his legend lives on in his first posthumous album, Unfinished Business.

Armed with all brand new unreleased tracks, and featuring Screwed Up Click members Lil’ Flip, Big Pokey, A-3, C-Note, and many others, this album is sure to be a collector’s item for hip-hop fans everywhere.

For more information, go to: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUCBIGMOE or

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/KOCHRECORDS 

The Knux- Cappuccino (New Group Signed To Interscope Records)

The Knux are a self-produced group comprised of two brothers (Krispy and Al Millio) from New Orleans. They play all their own instrumentation and fight like The Kinks. Their debut album, Remind Me In 3 Days, sounds like Outkast, Juvenile, Tha Pharcyde, and The Strokes concurrently blasting, out of a drop-top Jag on Sunset Blvd. on a Saturday night in the summer. Wrap your head around that!!???
 

“When we made the album we refused to give the album to the label one song at a time,” says Krispy, who at 25 is the elder Knux brother. “We knew that they wouldn’t get it, they’d think we were buggin’ and they’d try to make us change things.” Instead, the two, who signed to Interscope in 2006 thanks to an incredible demo and manager Paul Rosenberg (Eminem’s manager) holed up in a mini-mansion in the Hollywood Hills and quietly chefed up Remind Me In 3 Days…. “We played it for all the executives at once,” remembers Al, “And you could see in their faces they were all shocked to hear something like this from some new artists that they barely even knew were on the label.”

Just as their recording came to a standstill the Knux were met with great misfortune: Hurricane Katrina. “We never evacuated when the hurricanes hit,” says Krispy, “But for whatever reason when Katrina hit we left with our mom to go to Dallas for the weekend. When we were driving back to New Orleans on the Monday all the cars were going the other direction. The radio wasn’t working, so we had no idea about the flood ‘til someone flagged us down and told us that we weren’t gonna’ be allowed into the city.” After a week of the entire family sleeping in their car, they relocated to Houston and found an apartment. “Man, we lost everything, our whole apartment building burned to the ground, says Krispy. “So we were grateful that everyone was okay, but we weren’t happy to be in Houston.”

Fortunately things looked up for the group when their demo fell into the hands of Paul Rosenberg’s A&R man Dart Parker, who brought the group to his attention. Over the next months Rosenberg signed on as their manager. “We weren’t doing anything in Houston,” says Krispy. “Because of Katrina and how unhappy we were in that city we weren’t inspired to make anything new. So the whole thing with Paul was blessing.”

By the fall of 2006 the brothers had moved to the Hollywood Hills and begun the recording process. “Once we got out to L.A. there was just such a different vibe,” explains Al, “And we were going to all the downtown clubs with fuckin’ socialite girls and, like, the so-called hipsters, and guys like Steve Aoki. It was a totally different scene from what we were used to in New Orleans and the music we started making just reflected that.” The two wrapped the album during the summer of ’07 and hit the road hard. “We started by just inviting people over for house parties and performing the album on top of our couch,” says Al, “That’s how we knew what worked and what didn’t.” After a string of successful events at L.A. cool-guy emporiums the two got added as the opening act of Common’s Finding Forever tour.

With shows booked through the end of the year, and press clippings stacking up left and right—all without a single song available commercially—the ground swell is evident, and The Knux impact in 2008 is imminent. Act like you know. And if you forget, don’t worry, The Knux will Remind You In 3 Days… 

With that said, here is a stream of The Knux lead-single, “Cappuccino,” from their forthcoming debut Remind Me In 3 Days…

Streaming link to The Knux’s “Cappuccino”:

http://interscope.edgeboss.net/wmedia/interscope/theknux/01_cappuccino_1.wax
 

BLUE EQUITY ACQUIRES KENNETH CREAR’S MANAGEMENT GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Blue Equity, LLC announced today the acquisition of entertainment management powerhouse, Management Group International, owned by successful entrepreneur and music manager, Kenneth Crear.  Crear will continue as the President of his company to lead Blue Equity’s foray into music management.  He will also use his vast entertainment experience to develop new film and television initiatives for both his clients and that of the entire Blue Equity sports and entertainment platform.  Clients for Management Group International include hit artists Janet Jackson and Nick Carter.  Crear will move from his current offices in Hollywood, California, to Beverly Hills, California, to launch the Blue Equity entertainment office.

As a full-service management company, Blue Equity’s sports and entertainment platform offers clients a wide array of in-house capabilities to enhance their careers and drive new opportunities.  Blue Equity’s event and television production groups coupled with its diverse talent management roster uniquely positions the company as an innovative and dynamic leader in the industry able to drive unprecedented value to its clients, fans and the corporate community.   With premier event and media properties and a marquee client roster, the firm provides the ability to effectively build brands and bring together talent from all spectrums of the entertainment world.  Blue Equity’s diverse and high profile clients include all-star athletes such as Andy Roddick and Reggie Bush, A-list performers like Janet Jackson and the world’s top events such as the US Open. To further expand Blue Equity’s 360° offerings, Crear plans to bring additional television and film assets to the Blue Equity entertainment platform.  One of the many projects currently in Crear’s portfolio is a deal he has in place with Will Smith’s production agency, Overbook, for an upcoming television show titled “Uncle Rudy”. 

“I’ve been asked to join other companies but none have impressed me as much as Blue Equity,” says Crear.  “It is clear from their successful, rapid growth in less than 18 months to become a leader in the sports industry that they are committed to becoming a leader in the entertainment industry as well.  This strategic move will help my clients build their profiles and brands through a vast network of resources.”

Started twelve years ago and gradually morphing into one of the most powerful management companies in the entertainment industry, Crear’s firm represents many of music’s top-selling artists. Crear’s client roster to date includes world-renowned multi-platinum winning artist Janet Jackson, male heartthrob Nick Carter, and others. In addition to his music management accomplishments, Crear has excelled in a variety of entertainment fields, including television production. Most recently, he was the executive producer for E! Entertainment’s reality show, “House of Carters”.  

“We continually look for leaders in the industry who can expand the Blue Equity platform and offer more value to our clients and partners,” says Jonathan Blue, Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity. “Given his distinguished track record in the industry, Kenneth is the perfect person to spearhead our launch into the entertainment sector.  With his full access to our resources, the sky is the limit as to what Kenneth can achieve in building our entertainment platform.” 

Blue Equity will continue to actively seek new sports opportunities while simultaneously building its entertainment division.

Honoring Our Elders: A Tribute to The Last Poets

Fathers of the Spoken Word Movement

Abiodun Oyewole, Don Babatunde Eaton, and Umar Bin Hassan (l – r: Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyewole, Don Babatunde Eaton)Sunday February 10, 2008
3:00 – 6:00 pm
FREE ADMISSIONIt is a longstanding tradition for the Black History Month Committee at Medgar Evers College to honor the elders in our community. This program is always on a Sunday and this year, The Last Poets will be honored for their unwavering commitment to the arts and community.

The program provides an opportunity for students and community members to meet and hear The Last Poets. Additional readings will be offered by award-winning performance poet MO BEASLEY, emerging spoken word artist CHRIS SLAUGHTER, and a high school student representative from the Center for Black Literature’s CUNY Arts/College Now Spoken Word-Hip Hop class.President’s Conference Center (Room B-1008)
at Medgar Evers College, The City University of New York
1650 Bedford Avenue | Brooklyn, NY 11225

For more information, call 718.270.6096
To see more events, visit www.mec.cuny.edu

Travel by Public Transportation:
Subway: #2, 3, 4, 5 to Franklin Avenue (walk to Crown Street)
Bus: B44 to Nostrand Ave. at Crown St. (walk to Bedford) or B48 to Franklin Ave. at Crown)Sponsored by The School of Community and Professional Development (SPCD), The Center for Black Literature (CBL), The Male Development Empowerment Center (MDEC), and the Black History Month Committee at Medgar Evers College/CUNY.

For more info, please visit www.mec.cuny.edu

Truth & Soul Presents El Michels Affair featuring Raekwon and Wu-Tang

4 videos feature Wu-Tang, Raekwon, & El Michels Affair peforming classics live
The Videos: Ever wonder what classic Wu-Tang tracks would sound like with a live band? Truth & Soul have just put out selected live clips of the El Michels Affair performing with both Raekwon and Wu-Tang. El Michels Affair features a full horn section, and the results are amazing. Check out “C.R.E.A.M.” with a live Rhodes electric piano playing the hook. Raekwon and El Michels Affair will be featured on the upcoming Fallin’ Off The Reel Vol. 2, which features rare soul reissues. The Background: When Soul Fire Records officially retired in 2004, Soul Fire house musicians Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman started their own label, Truth & Soul Records, which has now become a label and production house based out of Brooklyn, NY that specializes in creating deep funk and soul music. They have released a slew of 7″ and 12″ releases by bands such as El Michels Affair, Bronx River Parkway, Timothy McNealy, Quincy Bright, The Evil D’s, Lee Fields and The Expressions, The Fabulous Three, Cosmic Force, and Tyrone Ashley’s Funky Music Machine. Fallin’ Off The Reel Vol. 2 will be released on on March 4th. Truth & Soul have been consistently releasing limited edition 45 singles never exceeding 2000 copies pressed. For the first time, those who don’t have a record player or simply missed out on these singles, will finally be able to hear these musical gems that have given Truth & Soul their impeccable reputation for quality music. Streams: Wu Tang & El Michels Affair -”Bring Da Ruckus” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkLBwaCN8Y Raekwon & El Michels Affair – “Criminology” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmuJYocq7Ns Raekwon & El Michels Affair “C.R.E.A.M.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei2JbYeHl-I El Michels Affair – “Thinking Black” (Ike Turner track) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PxhEObUpPA   Other Streams: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/TruthandSoul/LoveIsALosingGame_TruthandSoulRemix.mp3 Truth & Soul MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/truthandsoulrecords Truth & Soul Official Site: http://www.truthandsoulrecords.com

Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z Heart of the City Tour

At long last, with over 70 million combined albums sold worldwide and 12 Grammy wins together, Mary J. Blige and JAY-Z announced today that they will embark on a historic 25-date North American co-headlining tour.  The “Mary J. Blige & JAY-Z:  Heart of the City” tour marks the first time in more than 15 years that an African American male/female bill of this stature have co-headlined a national concert tour.

The Live Nation and Haymon Events produced tour kicks off on March 22^nd at Miami’s American Airlines Arena and will hit major markets along the eastern seaboard as well as New Orleans, Houston, Las Vegas and Oakland.  The “Mary J. Blige and JAY-Z:  Heart of the City” tour will also make a special stop at L.A.’s Hollywood Bowl on April 16^th.  More dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets go on sale for the first shows beginning February 15^th and are available through www.livenation.com.  Citi cardmembers will also have access to purchase presale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass® Program, available to all Citi cardmembers at www.privatepass.citi.com beginning Wednesday, February 13^th at 10AM.  Confirmed dates are listed below.

The “Mary J. Blige & JAY-Z: Heart of the City” tour is the pinnacle of Mary and Jay’s long-time collaboration which began in 1996 with the classic “Can’t Knock The Hustle.”  The multi-Grammy award winning powerhouses are two of the most successful artists of our time whose influence stretch far beyond any musical borders.

This will be JAY-Z’s first arena tour since his successful JAY-Z and Friends Tour in 2004 and the first to feature material from his 2006 Kingdom Come album and 2007’s critically acclaimed American Gangster album. A multiple Grammy, American Music Award and VMA award winner, JAY-Z has continued to set the bar for all artists and entrepreneurs. Co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, he currently is the president of Rocawear, part owner of the New Jersey Nets and co-owner of the successful 40/40 chain. Most recently, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter held the title of President of Def Jam Records where he helped guide the careers of superstar artists and multiple Grammy nominees such as Rihanna, Ne-Yo, NAS, Kanye West and Young Jeezy.

Mary J. Blige is a truly iconic artist whose longevity in the music business is a rarity.  Her 8^th and current studio album, Growing Pains (released 12/18 on Matriarch/Geffen), reached platinum in three weeks and is grabbing the hearts of the critics and fans alike.   People magazine says “There are three things you can count on:  death, taxes and good Mary J. Blige albums.” 

A six-time Grammy Award winner, Mary has won more than 25 awards in all, including NAACP Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, BET Awards, MTV’s Video Music Awards, Soul Train Awards and more.  Over the span of her 15-year career, Mary has blessed us with 8 platinum and multi-platinum studio albums (she released a live album in 1998 and a greatest hits album in 2005 both to critical acclaim and incredible sales) selling more than 40 million copies worldwide. With every album she has proven that hers is a voice of healing; a voice of reckoning. 

MARY J. BLIGE & JAY-Z:  HEART OF THE CITY TOUR

DATE                CITY                                         VENUE

March 22           Miami, FL                                  American Airlines Arena

March 26           Baltimore, MD                           1st Mariner Arena

March 27           Uniondale, NY                           Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

March 28           East Rutherford, NJ                    Izod Center

March 30           Philadelphia, PA                        Wachovia Center

April 2               Toronto, ON                               Air Canada Centre

April 3               Boston, MA                               TD Banknorth Garden

April 5               Greensboro, NC             Greensboro Coliseum

April 6               Washington, DC                        Verizon Center

April 16             Los Angeles, CA                        Hollywood Bowl

*** MORE CITIES/DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

FOUR TIME GRAMMY WINNING JAZZ DIVA, DIANNE REEVES, RELEASES STUNNING SET OF “NEW” STANDARDS APRIL 15 WITH WHEN YOU KNOW

Dianne Reeves, the preeminent jazz vocalist the New York Times described as, “The only jazz singer with a voice big enough to rival Sarah Vaughan’s,” is about to release a gorgeous album of songs celebrating the different stages of love in a woman’s life. When You Know, coming out on Blue Note Records April 15, showcases Reeves’ alternately honey velvet and soaring voice in her own interpretation of “new” standards from The Temptations to Minnie Ripperton to Shawn Colvin. The four-time Grammy winner, and the only singer to win the vocal category for three consecutive recordings in any singing category, won a whole new legion of fans in recent years with her prominent onscreen role in the film “Good Night, And Good Luck.” Her last Grammy was for this soundtrack.

Reeves inspiration for When You Know came from an unexpected place. “There is a Gustav Klimt painting I had seen at the Belvedere in Vienna of a young woman moving through life. I remember loving the various depictions of the phases of her life from innocence to increasing maturity. In a similar way, this album progresses through songs which celebrate different phases of love, in much the same way our notions of love change as we move through time.” The songs ultimately chose themselves, she said, ranging from her youthful and dreamy interpretation of the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” to the seasoned perspective of the Cy Coleman/Peggy Lee classic “I’m In Love Again.”

“Dreamy is right,” emphasized Reeves. “It’s that time in high school when you’re looking at that cute guy on the other side of the classroom, lost in the daydreams of a life together.” She adds, “As you grow older, you begin to question what love really is and your perspective takes in the nuances of a more mature love.” The track, “Over The Weekend,” first sung by Mabel Mercer and then Nancy Wilson – the latter encouraged Dianne to record it – reflects the loneliness Reeves has, herself, experienced in a life on the road, while the groove infused “Midnight Sun” taps into the magic of love, Dianne’s voice reminiscent of the best of Ella.

The album concludes with Reeves’ sole original offering, honoring where love for her begins – her 83-year old mother, Vada. “Today Will Be a Good Day,” is a rollicking blues track, delivered with a heap of bounce and boogie. Despite her battle with breast cancer and emphysema, Vada is a sparkplug of life and, says Reeves, “My biggest inspiration. If you don’t call her by 8:30 a.m., you’re not going to catch her. She’s so independent yet so giving–a wonderful example of living in grace.” The philosophy of life that has carried Vada through her health challenges with her zest for living intact is best summed up in her own words: ‘I don’t entertain illness, depression or boredom. I may feel them sometimes, but I don’t entertain them!” The lyrics to “Today Will Be A Good Day” are her mother’s words of wisdom and how she lives her life.

When You Know emerged following a period of intense touring for Reeves. Creatively revitalized during a break at home in Denver, she suddenly announced a desire to get into the studio right away, teaming once again with producer George Duke (Natalie Cole, Anita Baker), Reeves’ cousin and producer of two of her Grammy-winning albums: 2001’s In the Moment and 2002’s The Calling.

The vocal textures and colors Reeves’ employs on this album can be attributed to having performed in an unusual musical context over the past year: two guitars and voice, a setting which enabled her to discover new ways for her voice to both soar and seduce. Guitar masters Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo joined Reeves for the tour and the result was magical. The 25-date European “Strings Attached” tour is still being talked about. In addition to Lubambo and Malone, joining Reeves on When You Know are a cast of familiar faces from past albums, including pianist Billy Childs and saxophonist Steve Wilson as well as new collaborators pianist Geoffrey Keezer and drummer Antonio Sanchez. Veterans of Reeves’ bands who appear include bassists Reuben Rogers and Reginald Veal and drummer Greg Hutchinson.

Vanity Fair has said Dianne Reeves demonstrates, “…terrific jazz stylings” and USA Today called her “The celebrated jazz diva…” but perhaps Essence said it best, when it described, “”Dianne Reeves proves she’s still a premier mistress of jazz…” When You Know, you know.

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