Asher Roth and the Racial Crossroads

Big Ced is More Hip-Hop than You

http://slangrap.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/big-ced-is-more-hip-hop-than-you/

Diva Speak TV Ep: 45 (season 2)

Entertainment Titan Christina Mendez Celebrates Celebrity Birthday Party In Style and Announces Team Mendez Participation in Walk Now For Autism

Flashing Lights, Cheers, and Warm Wishes from New York’s fashionable elite, industry tastemakers, celebrities, and avid supporters  filled the room as they came out to celebrate the birthday of Model / Host / Philanthropist Christina Mendez at one of New York’s hottest new venues Glass Lounge (NYC) on March 10th . All eyes where on the guest of honor as she celebrated the night away with not one but 2 of the hottest emerging DJ’s to hit the New York scene as well as announcing various surprises with family, friends, and industry colleagues throughout the night’s festivities.

“I wanted to make the official announcement of the launch of the Team Mendez Incentive, for the upcoming Walk Now for Autism event happening on June 14th, 2009 at the South Street Seaport, at my party because it seemed like a great fit. This room tonight is filled with people who know how important this cause is for me, I already received donations from guest attendees as well as from the media outlet “I Am My Hustle”, says Christina Mendez.

Verizon will match up to 5000 dollars of all donations made on my Team Mendez website: http://www.walknowforautism.org/nyc/teammendez

In addition to the announcement of the Team Mendez Incentive, guests were one of the first to see the new PZI Jeans campaign featuring Christina’s luscious curves. “PZI Jeans celebrates the curves of every female and I am so honored that this campaign was debuted at my birthday party, it’s been one of the hot topics of the night”, says Christina.

Sponsors who celebrated in Christina’s amazing event included: Glass Lounge, PZI Jeans, Walk Now for Autism, JLV Nightlife, Wine Cellar Sorbet, Pin-Up Cosmetics, Miss Jessie’s, Latina Magazine, Koch Records, MNS Media Group, Qristyl Frazier Designs and Better Body Cosmetics.

Notables in attendance celebrating Christina’s birthday included Actress Bobbi Jo Kitchen, Face of Sean John Miguel Perdomo, Boxer and The Contender 4 finalist Hino Ehikhamenor, Jena Greco of Autism Speaks, Singer Damien Richards,  Designer Qristyl Fraizer, Actor Juan Bago,  Author Catherine Schuller, Cedric “Big Ced” Thorton of The Industry Co-Sign, Latin Pop & B Music Sensations Tha Heights, Host / Actor Emmi Grullon, Nina B, Designer Gwen Beloti, Celebrity Stylist Keino Benjamin and  Keisha Spivey of Better Body Cosmetics just to name a few.

About Christina Mendez

Christina Mendez has graced the pages of Glamour, All You, Latina Magazine and Urban Latino Magazine, rocked the runway for BET’s Rip the Runway, Art of Curves, and Lane Bryant’s In-Store Fashion Show in NYC. She has also become one of the first plus-size, Hispanic Urban models to work as the featured model for Baby Phat, Apple Bottoms, Rocawear, Dereon and more. Besides appearing in various magazines and runway shows, Christina has been featured in national television segments  including The Rachel Ray Show, Fox News, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, BET News, Lifetime’s “Matched in Manhattan” with Matt Titus, New York local favorites Good Day New York , CW 11 and others.  Besides blessing the world with her grace and beauty, Christina has dedicated her time to various charities including: Autism Speaks, Hispanic Support Organizations and Women Barack! The Vote, being the only Hispanic woman in the ads, Ms. Mendez delivered the important message of voting in both English and Spanish.

For more information about Christina Mendez, please visit http://www.ChristinaMendez.com.

About Walk For Autism

Walk Now for Autism, the nation’s largest grassroots autism walk program, is Autism Speaks’ signature fundraising and awareness event, taking place in communities across the United States, as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom. Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum, this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only generates vital funds for autism research but also raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder

To see a current list of walk sites please visit: http://www.walknowforautism.org

John Brown w/ Dallas Penn and Big Ced

BRAND NUBIAN VETERAN GRAND PUBA SIGNS WITH BABYGRANDE RECORDS FOR “RETROACTIVE”

Hip-Hop legend and founding member of the seminal group Brand Nubian,
Grand Puba announces his signing with indie powerhouse Babygrande
Records for the release of his fourth solo album, “Retroactive”
on June 23, 2008.

Grand Puba has been a crucial participant in the hip-hop movement since
its early days. Originally a member of the group Masters of Ceremony, he
became the lead emcee of the New Rochelle-based Brand Nubian in 1989.
Although their upbeat music and positive lyrics tied them stro ngly to the
Native Tongues movement (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest etc.) Brand
Nubian’s politics and religion were always at the forefront of their music,
paving the way for groups like Dead Prez, RZA & GZA (of Wu-Tang), Black
Star, Brother Ali & countless others.

As a solo artist, Grand Puba has been extremely successful as well. Many
consider both his release of “Reel 2 Reel,” (’92) and “2000” (’95) to be
classics. In 1998, he reunited with Brand Nubian for “Foundation” and in
2004 for “Fire In The Hole” on Babygrande. With the forthcoming
“Retroactive” release, Grand Puba once again returns to his trademark
style–brilliant lyrics, socio-political themes and a smooth laid-back delivery.
Grand Puba’s flow is as refined as ever, his beat selection top-notch, and
the finished project promises to fill a much needed void in hip-hop, at a time
when positive, progressive and upbeat messages are sorely needed in the
world. “Grand Puba is the father to so many styles in hip-hop. Its good to
have him back–the game needs him. We have a great relationship with
Brand Nubian and we had so much success with Lord Jamar’s solo release
in 2006 that it only makes sense to keep it in the family,” says Chuck Wilson
Babygrande’s CEO.

Grand Puba
“Retroactive”
In Stores June 23rd, 2009
Babygrande Records

Young MC Classic “Stone Cold Rhymin'” Reissued w/ Bonus Tracks + Remixes

STONE COLD RHYMIN’ 2009 STYLE:

 

ON MARCH 17, 2009, DELICIOUS VINYL RELEASES

20TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE DIGITAL EDITION OF YOUNG MC‘S CLASSIC DEBUT ALBUM FEATURING “BUST A MOVE” & “PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE” PLUS RARE BONUS TRACKS AND REMIXES FROM AARON LACRATE, DIPLO AND LE TIGRE’S JD SAMSON AND JOHANNA FATEMAN

 

 

www.myspace.com/deliciousvinylrecords

http://deliciousvinyl.com/mrdelicioussez/  

 

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When it comes to playing it straight, Stone Cold Rhymin’ is almost shocking in its innocence. Thirteen songs and zero curse words, the album endures as a quality listen because of Young MC’s wit, wordplay, and dazzling elocution…not to mention the funkiness of the music. The album bridges old school sounds and what at the time passed for cutting edge production.

 

Twenty years after its original release, the “Delicious Deluxe Digital Edition” of Stone Cold Rhymin‘ comes with seven additional tracks not on the original LP. “Principal’s Office (Impact Remix)” and “I Come Off (Southern Comfort Mix”) are rare mixes from original 12-inches. “I Let Em Know (Matt Dike Remix)” is a promotional mix never before released commercially, while “Pick Up The Pace (1990)” first appeared on the soundtrack to the Steven Seagal movie “Marked For Death.” The other three bonus tracks date from 2008’s Delicious RMXXOLOGY project: Diplo‘s turbocharged versioning of “Bust A Move,” Aaron LaCrate and Debonair Samir’s massive club banger “Know How Theme” and the previously unreleased RMX of “Got More Rhymes” from MEN (the collaborative alias of Le Tigre‘s JD Samson and Johanna Fateman).

 

Produced by Michael Ross and Matt Dike, “Bust A Move” is the song that broke Young MC. It won him a coveted statuette for Best Rap Performance at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, where he beat out Delicious Vinyl label mate Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina”, a song whose lyrics Young had also largely written. (The other songs nominated for Best Rap Performance were De La Soul’s anti-anthem “Me Myself And I”, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s tepid claim “I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson”, and Public Enemy’s immortal “Fight The Power”.)  The follow-up to “Bust A Move” was “Principal’s Office”. A midtempo mixture of high school lyrical high jinks over a hurdy-gurdy sample from “Who Could Want More” by 1970s piano man Lee Michaels, “Principal’s Office”, the track is a favorite of De La Soul producer Prince Paul and Pharcyde producer J-Swift. “Principal’s Office” gave Young MC his second consecutive Top Forty hit, and helped propel sales of his debut album to double platinum.

 

Another stand-out cut, “Know How” is an early production by Dust Brothers Michael “EZ Mike” Simpson and John “King Gimzo” King. The song begins with a straightforward, even obvious stacking of samples of “Theme From Shaft” and “Apache” but at the two minute mark it explodes into a sequence of searing rock guitar licks and tasteful, precise, stereo-panned scratching by EZ Mike. With an astutely funky bass line by Kevin O’Neal of the Bus Boys, the song’s tight cuts and stacked breaks are the closest prequel to the Dust Brothers’ subsequent cosmic cut collage on Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique.

 

With contributions from Michael Ross, Matt Dike, The Dust Brothers, Flea, Quincy Jones III, Kevin O’Neal and Mario Caldato, Jr., Stone Cold Rhymin’ was a monumental achievement for modern Hip-Hop and pop music.   

 

The “Delicious Deluxe Digital Edition” of Stone Cold Rhymin’ is released March 17, 2009 on Delicious Vinyl.

 

Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin’ – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

 

1. I Come Off

2. Principal’s Office

3. Bust A Move

4. Non Stop

5. Fastest Rhyme

6. My Name Is Young

7. Know How

8. Roll With The Punches

9. I Let ‘Em Know

10. Pick Up The Pace

11. Got More Rhymes

12. Stone Cold Buggin’

13. Just Say No

Bonus tracks:

14. I Come Off (Southern Comfort Mix)

15. Principal’s Office (Impact Remix)

16. Bust A Move (Diplo RMX)

17. Know How Theme (RMX by Aaron LaCrate & Debonair Samir)

18. I Let ‘Em Know (Matt Dike Remix)

19. Pick Up The Pace 1990

20. Got More Rhymes (MEN RMX)

Talib Kweli, Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady at The Apollo (Late 2007)