Drita D’Avanzo Performed With Her Rap Idol Lil’ Kim, May 18

The Mob Wives season two reunion aired May 20th, but Drita D’Avanzo wasn’t waiting by the TV waiting for it to come on. Drita posted this vid' via Twitter after attending Lil’ Kim‘s show in the Bronx, and it proves that dreams do come true. “Wanna see the most amazing moment?” she tweeted. “My Rap IDOL @LilKim watch THIS.” Missy Elliott, another of favorites was in the building too. Drita also hung out with fellow VH1-ers, Love And Hip Hop stars Somaya Reece and (very pregnant) Yandy Smith at the show, some photos of them with Lil’ Kim are afterwards backstage.

[story via: vhttp://blog.vh1.com/2012-05-19/watch-drita-davanzo-performs-with-her-rap-idol-lil-kim/#more-207194]

SNEAK PEEK AT Evelyn Lozada‘s Maxim photo spread (To look at the entire gallery, gotta pick up the next copy of Maxim.)

Prior to T.I. And Tiny: The Family Hustle, T.I. had never opened up his home or family life to the public. “I just think it was time for people to see who I was as a man,” he tells The Breakfast Club, when they asked him why he chose to open himself up to the cameras. He didn’t want to be defined by “small moments” in his life (we assume he means the illegal small moments), which he calls “isolated incidents,” which is why he and wife Tiny chose to show off their family and their parenting skills. T.I. also talked about how he wants out of the music industry eventually, saying “Where the game is going to, and what it has evolved into from a personality standpoint, it goes against what I represent. What I embody, this game contradicts that.” Putting it more simply, Charlamagne says “T.I. is real, and the game is fake.” That doesn’t mean he’s planning to withdraw from public life since he has his TV show, an acting career, and clothing line, but “me as an artist, I make attempts to evolve.” And it sounds like he’s evolving away from music. Watch the clip above for more.

[STORY VIA http://blog.vh1.com/2012-05-21/t-i-talks-about-the-family-hustle-and-retirement-from-music/#more-207225 ]

When the funk music known as "go-go" comes up in casual conversation — and that's not nearly often enough — it's inevitably accompanied by the mention of one man's name: Chuck Brown. The Washington, D.C. funk band leader and composer, whose biggest hit was the 1978 song "Bustin' Loose," died Wednesday at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore at age 75. He was the king of an East Coast subgenre that rose alongside New York funk and hip-hop in the 1970s and '80s. Featuring remarkable Afro-Cuban polyrhythms via pounding congas and rototoms, punctuated bursts of brass and Brown shouting out call-and-response phrases alongside grooves that extended many songs to over eight minutes long — and, more importantly, almost two or three times that in a live setting — Brown's music was for partying. Though it flirted with mainstream success in the '80s, the music has remained a regional phenomenon, a uniquely American strain of dance music. But that doesn't mean its influence hasn't spread. The rhythms he built were some of the earliest tracks sampled by electronic dance music producers, especially when rave culture was being born in England. Coldcut's influential 1987 jam "Say Kids What Time Is It?" is built on the back of a Chuck Brown rhythm from "Bustin' Loose" — as is the Farm's breakout rave-pop anthem "All Together Now" from 1990. In hip-hop, Eric B. & Rakim's classic "Paid in Full" album adapted two Brown songs, and most prominently, Virginia producers the Neptunes used Brown's "We Need Some Money" on Nelly's smash "Hot in Herre." Fans of Brown spoke volumes about his work in the live setting; I never saw him, so I feel at a great disadvantage when addressing his version of go-go music, because as dance music, it was built to be experienced live, to move a crowd. In her wonderful essay over at the Root, writer Natalie Hopkinson suggests that this allegiance to the live experience is what separated it from the music of hip-hop — and perhaps what doomed it in the pop marketplace. "It stayed true to time-honored cultural scripts such as live call-and-response, live instrumentation, as well as its locally rooted fashions, slang, dance, distribution and economic systems," she writes. "Simply put: Go-go never sold out. There is a grit and texture to the music — sometimes derided as 'pots and pans' — that gives voice to the communities where it was created and from which profits are taken." If you've never heard Brown's music, a story relayed in Jeff Chang's history of hip-hop, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," captures the essence of Brown's go-go sounds. He quotes Brown producer Reo Edwards, describing the message of the music: "I was talking to a go-go songwriter one time," Edwards told Chang. "I said, 'Man, you need a verse here.' The guy said, 'The rototom's talking! Hear the rototom?' Swear to God, he said the rototom was telling the story. 'Can't put no verse there, the rototom telling the story.'"

HBK Skip will be on " Tastemaker Tuesday" with DJ Glam, Tuesday May 22, 2012.

ABOUT HBK Skip: Fairly new artist, HBK Skip a.k.a Skipper, a 23 year old from Richmond,Ca has caused quite a stir in the music scene. Being a Member of HBK gang (heart break kids) and in association with the bay area urban lifestyle brand "$hmoplife", it's hard not to receive attention. First introduced on IamSu's mixtape "3,2,1" in 2009, Skip got a feel for the studio and gained numerous features. Two in particular in 2011 that shot up the charts, loverance-"UP" along with IamSu!, Kool John, and LoveRance again for "Swaggin 2011". Working hard, Skip established four songs (that he was featured) all played in rotation simultaneously on local radio station 106 KMEL. Positioning himself in the center of the bay area's music world. Inspired by artists such as Andre 3000, Black thought, Drake, Jay-Z, The Roots and Kanye West you can expect great things. Given the opportunity to work with the likes of well known artists Jay Ant, LoveRance, Erk tha Jerk, Bailey, Iamsu, Kool John, Clyde Carson and Mike Dash-e just to name a few. His name is becoming more recognized day by day. Just getting started with the hip-hop game you can depend on HBK Skip to deliver what you've been waiting for. He dropped his highly anticipated debut mixtape "W.E.T" in April 2012. Follow on twitter for most current info and music @HBKSkipper

BOYS II MEN ARE BACK!!!!

Motownphilly is most definitely back again. Yesterday afternoon, EntertainmentWeekly.com premiered the first taste from Philly R&B trailblazers Boyz II Men's new release, Twenty. Bolstered by production and guest vocals from Gap Band legend Charlie Wilson, the vintage soul of "More Than You'll Ever Know" is a confident standout on the new release. Earlier this morning the single debuted on iTunes. Sample it at the link below.
Listen To Boyz II Men's "More Than You'll Ever Know (Feat. Charlie Wilson)" From Twenty:
http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/08/29/boyz-ii-men-more-than-youll-ever-know-charlie-wilson/
Buy "More Than You'll Ever Know (Feat. Charlie Wilson)":
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-than-youll-ever-know/id459683832
Of course, a digital single isn't all fans can snag at iTunes. Late last month, The Boyz launched their own Mobile App for iPhone and Android devices. The app creates a network for the group's over 60 million fans to be the first to hear about new music, videos and concerts. Features include live broadcasts from Boyz II Men, music videos, social media feeds, giveaways and much more. The Boyz II Men App also provides a medium for their fans all over the world --whom they've affectionately dubbed (S.O.L.) "Soldierz of Love" -- to connect with each other, discuss music and plan trips to concerts through the Boyz II Men user profile.
Get The Boyz II Men App:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/boyz-ii-men-app/id449949392?mt=8
The fittingly-titled Twenty is a celebration of a band reclaiming its stride exactly two decades into one of the most fruitful careers in R&B history, which has led to their upcoming installation of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The double album, due October 25th, features eight new songs and twelve updated versions of Boyz II Men classics. Following on the heels of their successful covers releases A Journey Through Hitsville USA and Love, Twenty will mark the release of the group's first new material in over 10 years. To celebrate their return, the trio of Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris called on a veritable who's who of R&B production -- Babyface, Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin, and more. The result won't be available in full until October 25th, but for the time being the Charlie Wilson-assisted "More Than You'll Ever Know" will surely whet appetites.

For More Information:
http://www.boyziimen.com
http://www.facebook.com/boyziimen
http://www.twitter.com/boyziimen
http://www.itunes.com/boyziimen

UNSTOPPABLE DEATH MACHINES ANNOUNCE WEST COAST TOUR

UNSTOPPABLE DEATH MACHINES ANNOUNCE WEST COAST TOUR

POST FREE LISTEN TO 'SLUMLORD' EP

Brooklyn brothers Mike and Billy, better known as Unstoppable Death Machines, are kicking off the new year with the promise to jar venues on west coast starting with LA shows this week before heading up the coast and back to NY. The bass and drums duo also made their new 'Slumlord' EP available for free listen online. Unstoppable Death Machines were recently featured in the Village Voice who hailed the 'Slumlord' EP “a rousing success--four blown-out, bass-chuggin' F-it-alls in seven damaging minutes” and The Deli spotlighted UDM in their "Noisy New York Bands On The Rise"feature drawing comparisons to Jesus Lizard and Lightning Bolt. The EP was recorded live to tape by Billy and Mike, with no overdubs, on 2-inch tape in a single caffeine and THC fueled night at a warehouse studio along the East River in Brooklyn. UDM's entire 'Slumlord' EP is available for streaming at http://theunstoppabledeathmachines.net/

The end of 2010 found Unstoppable Death Machines blowing up venues in the midwest alongside tourmates/fellow NY noisemakers Japanther and the duo also released theirScott Cramer directed 'Slumlord" video to rave reviews.
See it HERE And be sure to catch the mayhem on the west coast and in Brooklyn!

1/7 - Los Angeles, CA @ Uncle Studios (6028 Kester Ave)
1/8 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Waiting Room, 9pm all ages (503 W Pico)
1/9 - Oakland, CA @ Copland (San Pablo & Grand)
1/10 - Santa Rosa, CA @ Arlene Francis Theater (99 Sixth St)
1/12 - Oakland, CA @ 677 Sycamore St.
1/20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio w/Weird Wives (members of Surfer Blood)
1/29 - Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn (Hancock & Wyckoff) w/Filthy Savage


“one of New York City's best noise punk bands” - MODERNMYSTERYBLOG

“brothers Billy & Mike's deliciously deleterious form of thrash-sludge” - IMPOSE

“like an Unsane record filtered through 10 years of post-Brooklyn Technicolor fun" -VILLAGE VOICE

More videos and news: http://theunstoppabledeathmachines.net/

Bio & hi res photos: http://rightonpr.com/artist_udm.php