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Erykah Badu

Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, record producer, activist and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre. She is known as the “First Lady of Neo-Soul” or the “Queen of Neo-Soul”.

Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for wearing very large and colorful headwraps. For her musical sensibilities, she has often been compared to jazz great Billie Holiday. She was a core member of the Soulquarians, and is also an actress having appeared in a number of films playing a range of supporting roles in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She also speaks at length in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and “The Black Power Mixtapes”

Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas on February 26, 1971. Her mother raised her, her brother (Jabbada), and her sister (Nayrok) alone after their father, William Wright Jr., deserted the family early in their lives. To provide for her family, the children’s grandmother often helped looking after them while Erykah’s mother, Kolleen Maria Gipson (Wright), performed as an actress in theatrical productions. Influenced by her mother, Erykah had her first taste of show business at the age of 4, singing and dancing with her mother at the Dallas Theatre Centre. Erykah Badu was the owner of Focal point in Dallas, Texas.

By the age of 14, Erykah was free-styling for a local radio station alongside such talent as Roy Hargrove. In her early youth, she decided to change the spelling of her name from Erica to Erykah, as she firmly believed her original name to be her slave name. The term ‘kah’ signifies the inner self. Badu is her favorite jazz scat sound and is also an African name for the 10th born child used for the Akan people in Ghana.

Upon graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Badu went on to study theater at the historically black college Grambling State University. Concentrating on music full-time, she left the university in 1993 before graduating and took on several minimum wage jobs to support herself. She taught drama and dance to children at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Working and touring with her cousin, Robert “Free” Bradford, she recorded a 19-song demo, Country Cousins, which attracted the attention of Kedar Massenburg, who set Badu up to record a duet with D’Angelo, “Your Precious Love,” and eventually signed her to a record deal with Universal Imperial Records.

After 10 years as a vegetarian, Badu became a vegan in 2006: “Vegan food is soul food in its truest form. Soul food means to feed the soul. And to me, your soul is your intent. If your intent is pure, you are pure.” Badu splits her time between Dallas, Texas and Fort Greene, New York.

In 1995, Badu became involved with rapper André 3000 of OutKast, with whom she had her first child, a son named Seven Sirius Benjamin, on November 18, 1997. Their relationship ended sometime in 1999. Their relationship inspired André 3000 to write the song “Ms. Jackson”.

In 2000, Badu was in a romantic relationship with fellow Soulquarian Common; their relationship ended in 2002. On July 5, 2004, Badu gave birth to a daughter, Puma Sabti Curry; Puma’s father is West Coast rapper The D.O.C., originally from Dallas. On February 1, 2009, Badu gave birth to her third child, a girl named Mars Merkaba Thedford, with her boyfriend of five years, rapper Jay Electronica.

Written by Dianne Washington

Adhama “Pretty Lyon” Cruel

Adhama “Pretty Lyon” Cruel is Brooklyn, NY native as well as overall entertainer. As a recording artist, dancer, model, and actress “Pretty Lyon” as she is known professionally has put together quite an impressive resume of work in New York City and the surrounding areas. A trained dancer and vocalist, PrettyLyon released her project, Princess Of Brooklyn Mixtape and participated in The Black Light Chronicles, which serves as a compilation album featuring established contemporaries.

Wanting nothing more than to be a model for hard work, and quality Pretty Lyon is a spokeswoman for the unity of women in Hip Hop and the entertainment industry as a whole. Living, and breathing the arts both inside and out of the booth Pretty Lyon is at home as a creator. The ever personable upstart is on the scene frequently shaking hands and creating relationships that will last, while promoting her brand. Turning her childhood passion for writing poems into full compositions of music that share her thoughts, experiences and speak for those who are voiceless in a sense. The release of her debut Good Girl Bad Habits introduced this Princess to the world and her moves henceforth have solidified the reason for her being on a lot of people’s radar. With more to come, Pretty Lyonis certainly an artist who will come to blossom in today’s entertainment business creating a catalog of great work.

– IMDb Mini Bio

Written by Charisse Smith

Jabbo Smith

Jabbo Smith, born as Cladys Smith (December 24, 1908 – January 16, 1991) was an American jazz musician, known for his virtuoso playing on the trumpet.

Jabbo Smith was born in Pembroke, Georgia. He was the son of a barber and a church organist. After his father died, Smith and his mother moved to Savannah when he was four. His mother found it increasingly difficult to care for him and at age six he was placed into the Jenkins Orphanage Home in Charleston, but she found employment in the Home in order to be near to him.

The Jenkins Home placed heavy emphasis on music education and it was in this setting that Smith took up trumpet and trombone at the age of eight and began touring the country with a student band at the age of ten.

Smith left The Jenkins Home at the age of 16 and headed north to make his mark on music. He kept a promise to his mother never to work for less than $100 dollars a week. Smith found employment in a number of top bands, the most important of which were Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten. This group included arranger Benny Carter on alto and Duke Ellington. Smith played on the 1927 recording of Black and Tan Fantasy. He turned down an offer to join the Ellington Orchestra that same year because of money.

Smith was stranded in Chicago in 1929 while on the road with “Keep Shufflin'” following the gangland killing of Arnold Rothstein, the financier of the show. Smith then formed his Rhythm Aces, a quintet with whom he recorded nineteen songs in 1929. These works attracted the attention of Roy Eldridge, who adopted some of Smith’s speed into his own playing. Toward the end of the 1930s, Smith gradually withdrew from serious music activity. He led a group for a while at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and gigged in a Newark club called the Alcazar.

It was there that he encouraged a 17-year-old Newark singer who sat in at the Alcazar from time to time to enter a talent show at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. She won and got her start. The Singer, The Divine One, was Sarah Vaughn.

From there Smith moved to Milwaukee where he married, did some local playing, and enjoyed the security of a steady job with a car rental agency, fading away into quiet oblivion for 20 years. Around 1960, Smith recorded two albums, and in 1979, was a guest artist in the musical One Mo’ Time.

He also made appearances at several jazz festivals, toured Europe, and performed at the West End Cafe, the Bottom Line, and the Village Vanguard, all in New York. One of his last public performances was in Berlin in 1986.

Jabbo Smith died in January of 1991 at age 82.

Written by Dianne Washington

Joseph Bologne

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 10, 1799) was a champion fencer, virtuoso violinist, and conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris. Born in Guadeloupe, he was the son of George Bologne de Saint-Georges, a wealthy planter, and Nanon, his African slave. During the French Revolution, Saint-Georges was colonel of the Légion St.-Georges, the first all-black regiment in Europe, fighting on the side of the Republic. Today the Chevalier de Saint-Georges is best remembered as the first classical composer of African ancestry.

Boulogne was born on the West Indies island of Guadeloupe, where his mother Nanon was a slave. Boulogne’s father was a Frenchman, George de Bologne Saint-Georges. He owned the plantation on which Joseph spent his early childhood. The word “Chevalier” means “Knight” in French. It was a title of nobility in the Kingdom of France. Joseph could not inherit his father’s status as a member of the nobility because his mother was an African.

Even so, he was called “Chevalier de Saint-Georges” from a young age. At age 10, Saint-Georges moved to France with his parents. There he continued his studies in classical music. He was tutored in violin by Jean-Marie Leclair, and studied composition with Francois-Joseph Gossec. Saint-Georges also spent six years at the boarding school of Texier de La Boessiere, a master of arms. Athletics and fencing brought him a reputation at an early age. He swam across the River Seine in winter with one arm tied behind his back. As an adult he signed his surname “Saint-George” and that became the normal spelling in French. Saint-George’s’ military career began in 1761 as an officer in the King’s Guard.

In his music career, the conductor of the prestigious Le Concert des Amateurs orchestra chose Saint-Georges as First Violin in 1769. Saint-Georges made his public debut as a violin soloist during the 1772-73 concert season, performing his own violin concertos. Many say that Saint-Georges demonstrated the influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He has even been called “Le Mozart Noir” or “The Black Mozart.” History shows that Mozart came to Paris in 1778 to study the ”Paris School” of composition while Saint-Georges was a member.

In 1775, Queen Marie-Antoniette appointed Saint-Georges as her music director, and King Louis XVI named him director of the Paris Opera. Saint-Georges was also the first person of African descent to join a Masonic Lodge in France. He was initiated in Paris to “Les 9 Soeurs,” a Lodge belonging to the Grand Orient of France.

As a conductor, he later traveled to Vienna and commissioned Franz Joseph Haydn to compose the Paris Symphonies, Nos. 82-87, which premiered in 1787. No. 85, called The Queen, was a favorite of Marie-Antoniette.

Saint-Georges joined the pro-Revolution National Guard in 1789. That same year the Declaration of the Rights of Man was issued by the National Assembly. On Sept. 7, 1792, a delegation of men of color asked the National Assembly to allow them to fight in defense of the Revolution and its egalitarian ideals. On the next day the Assembly, authorized the Légion des Hussards Américains [Legion of American Soldiers], which had 1,000 volunteers of color, with Saint-Georges as their colonel. One of its squadron leaders was Alexandre Dumas Davy de La Pailleterie (1762-1806). Like his colonel, he was the son of a French aristocrat and an African slave. He later had a son, Alexander Dumas, who wrote “The Three Musketeers.”

On September 25, 1793, Saint-Georges lost his command due to false charges of misusing public funds. He spent 18 months in the house of detention at Houdainville before being acquitted. After his release Saint-Georges took part in the Haitian Revolution.

Saint-Georges produced 14 violin concertos and 9 symphonies between 1773 and 1785. He wrote 2 solo violins, 2 symphonies, 3 sonatas for violin and harpsichord, and 18 string quartets divided into 3 collections of 6 quartets in each. Saint-Georges also composed several operas for the Comedie-Italienne, beginning in 1777.

Saint-Georges lived alone in a small apartment in Paris during the final two years of his life. He died of gangrene in a leg wound on June 12, 1799.

Written by Dianne Washington

My Way: The 20th Anniversary

For an album that’s so short, it’s heavy legacy is what makes it hard to forget. After his 1994 self titled debut album, Usher returns three years later with a sophomore album that’s way more mature and helped sky rocket Usher’s career to another level. On September 16th, 1997, Usher his second album “My Way.” With only three singles released, the album was a commercial success for Usher. The album starts off with a bit of a dancy but R&B joint, which also happens to be the first single off the album, “You Make Me Wanna…” The song is about a girl who says and does all the right things to him that convinces him to want to leave his girlfriend who he is in a relationship with and start something new with her instead. The music video is just as classic. Usher and the other guy dancers with the chairs and different rooms with the shiny metallic outfits and Usher being himself in front of the camera and singing. The next song “Just Like Me” is the one of the only hip hop/R&B track on the album with a guest appearance from Lil’ Kim. The next song “Nice And Slow” is the first slow song on the album and the second single released on the album. A song about slow loving with his love interest and Kimora Lee Simmons plays as the love interest in the video. She gets kidnapped and held in hostage until Usher comes swooping in and saving her. The fourth song, “Slow Jam” features Monica and I personally felt like it should’ve been a single like the other three. “Come Back” is more uptempo hip hop groove kind of song. The album title track itself “My Way” is easily one of the best songs on the album. It’s the final single from the album and the music video is easily a top 5 greatest Usher music video. The whole carnival theme, the dancing, even Tyrese guest stars in the video. The next song “I Will” is my top favorite on the album. It’s no surprise that Teddy Riley did that joint because it has the same style of vocals as the remix to Mary J. Blige’s “My Love.” So smooth but the beat has a heavy bass that thumps when it plays. The next song transitions in at the end with “Bedtime.” Another slow love song. A Babyface joint this time and finally, the album ends with “One Day You’ll Be Mine.” It’s the most slept on song on the album. Don’t hear people really bringing this song up in Usher conversations that much. All in all the album is classic from start to finish. Usher is definitely one of my favorite singers. Never a flat note or a off key moment in a Usher song. Never. Completely flawless and clear, slick, there’s a sort of a shine in Usher’s voice like a squeaky clean wood floor after waxing it. With a waxy clean wood floor, you can definitely slide and glide just like Usher does in his videos listening to him.

The World’s Greatest Entertainer: The Legacy of Doug E. Fresh

Doug E. Fresh is one of hip hop’s greatest entertainers to ever lived. With such an amazingly and dope ability to beatbox, he still kills at every show he attends. He definitely lives up to his name the “Human Beatbox.” I was fortunate to see him live twice. The first time was at a Krush Groove reunion show at B.B. Kings on 42nd Street back in 2012 I think it was and the second time was recently back in May during Bronx Week uptown, here in the Bronx. Of course, when Doug E. shows up, Slick Rick is not too far behind. Literally, it was the one of the greatest hip hop shows I’ve ever been too. Performing hit after hit, beatboxing non stop, straight for like 5 minutes as he keeps his energy to continue killing it on the mic, Doug E. definitely holds it down and puts on a great show. Never a dull moment. The history of Doug E. Fresh starts back in 1984 when he began as a solo artist on Enjoy Records. Shortly after that, he teamed up with two DJ’s Barry Bee and Chill Will and a newcomer MC who goes by MC Ricky D, later becoming Slick Rick, and together they are the Get Fresh Crew. A year later, “The Show” and “La Di Da Di” was released. Both joints are to be considered hip hop’s earliest classics. Later on, Slick Rick eventually left the crew to pursue a solo career with Def Jam and released “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick”, which is a top 10 hip hop album for me personally and Doug E. and the rest of the crew released two albums back to back. 1986’s “Oh, My God!” and 1988’s “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.” Both albums are written to be hip hop classics and they’re both are out of print and are rare to find nowadays. It would be great to actually find it. Not giving up hope. Another main single from Doug E. is “Keep Risin’ To The Top.” One of my all time favorites and samples from Keni Burke’s song with a similar title. Another personal favorite of mine. Doug E. then returns in 1992 after a hiatus to release “Doin’ What I Gotta Do.” It didn’t have the same success as his first two albums but it did release a single called “Bustin’ Out (On Funk).” A year later, Doug E. comes back with “I-ight (Alright)” and “Freaks” with Lil’ Vicious. In 1995, Doug E. reunites with Slick Rick for a joint album called “Play” with the single “Where’s Da Party At?”, which is also a favorite. With only a list of maybe 10 big hits since the 80’s, Doug E. Fresh still continues and manages to kill shows like he did back then. Never a dull moment at a Doug E. show, it’s impossible. I’m just glad to able to witness greatness not once, but twice and they were both moments I’ll never forget.

Reflections of Hip Hop

When Hip Hop was born I was only 6 years old living in Marlboro projects in Brooklyn New York. As I got older, I would write rhymes and perform at the skating rink. When I was feeling down I could always count on Hip Hop to lift me up. I would go to all the shows and sneak backstage to meet my favorite artists. In Brooklyn, In the 70’s we we’re listening to James Brown, MFSB, Chic, and other soulful artists before Rappers Delight hit the world by storm in 79′. After that it quickly became a “Domino effect“, everybody wanted in. The rest is history. The first Hip Hop song I fell in love with was Planet Rock, I got lost in those drums. I played it over and over and my mom use to scream at me “Iris, turn that sh** down!!!!” I remember like it was yesterday. The first years of Hip Hop were the best years of my life with park jams, skate jams and parties. Hip Hop brought everyone together and formed a bond that can never be broken. After 44 years Hip Hop is still in my blood and always will be. I can go on and on but I’ll leave it as “Long Live Hip Hop!!!!”

Jadakiss takes over the Bronx

“SummerStage”? Well, over 7,000 park goers and residents from the Bronx can. Sunday, August 6th, 2017 in Tremont park in the Bronx, the weather was mellow, the people was eager. Originally, the concert was suppose to take place in Crotona park at the Amphitheatre in the Bronx, but was moved to a bigger stage a few blocks down the street. Signs were posted “Jadakiss concert moved to Tremont west Crotona park.” People scurried and packed up their chairs and ran over to the other side of the park.

It was old timers day and everybody was there – old, young, family and friends. This was the day every year when people got together from different states or different boroughs. They came from everywhere just to see one another. Crotona park was packed. At 4pm, park goers got the word that the Jadakiss concert was being moved to the Tremont. Why? The Amphitheatre that was going to hold the concert wasn’t big enough to handle the massive crowd. It was already 4pm on the west side of Tremont of Crotona park – a packed crowd of about 5,000 was already there. Jadakiss was not even on stage so it made sense that they moved the concert to the other side of the park especially with all the cookouts and parties that was happening on the other side of Crotona Park. The crowd was still gathering, the DJ spun music for the crowd to dance and cheer to the music. The concert started a little after 6pm. A 14 year old rapper from the Bronx took the stage and turned the crowd on. He was the opening act. Now, the crowd needed some exercise – a local workout group call Bartendaz came on stage to explain how important physical fitness was.

Jadakiss got on stage and the crowd went wild. The rapper brung out his special guest to perform BlackJunior M.A.F.I.A performed some of his greatest hits. The mini concert was like being at Madison Square Garden. Jadakiss began performing his top hits. The crowd rapped along with him. This was a great day for the Bronx Thanks to SummerStage.

SUMMERSTAGE 2017: Jadakiss

Summerstage had yet another incredible and dope show. Jadakiss with guests Lil’ Cease, Black Thought and Tek from Smif-N-Wessun. A scattered crowd that quickly turned into a frenzy with hip hop and hardcore Jadakiss fans bum rush to the front with excitement and their phones in their hands as Jadakiss approaches the stage and his raspy voice is clear and loud on the mic. DJ Technician on the 1’s and 2’s, gives us a medley of old school hip hop classics back to back as he spins, reminisces on the glory days of hip hop. Lots of energy and excitement, everyone has their phones out, going live for Facebook, recording for the Gram and getting as many pics as possible. Jada gives us a lineup of his hits including “Why” and “We Gon’ Make It.” Lil’ Cease then comes out and does his version of “Crush On You”, Black Rob comes out and does his classic “Whoa!” and Tek comes out to do gives us a classic or two as well. Can’t forget about the over excitement after the show of the people hopping over fences and banging on the car windows as the legends make their exit. Another incredible and exciting show for the people. The Bronx always knows how to represent. After all, Jada did say that The Bronx and Yonkers are cousins, well Yesterday let us know that Jada is definitely that cool cousin who when he comes to town, it’s a frenzy.

SUMMERSTAGE 2017: Kid Capri Block Party

Today in Crotona Park, Summerstage returns with another incredible event. The one and only Kid Capri does his thing as he spins and keeps the crowd rocking and gives us a brief history of his past where the idea of “Block Parties” come from and how it all started. Classic hip hop and R&B joints and dope joints only from both the old school and a little bit of what’s current. Can’t forget to mention how beautiful and dope his daughter Vina Love is too. She had a summer hit back a year or two ago when she redid Jay-Z and Mya’s remix of “Best of Me.” She gave the crowd an incredible medley of her music with a line of backup dancers behind her as she struts across the stage singing and pointing, connecting with the audience with such grace. After the event, I was glad to finally meet the man himself. Another dope memory for the books.