The Shrine: Fela Kuti meets Notorious BIG in Detroit Performance

It was less than three years ago when heavy weight black celeb power couples Jay-Z and Beyonce and Will and Jada Smith announced their interest in funding the Broadway breakout of FELA! The production shed tons of American light on just who Fela Kuti was, how he influenced African culture and what his music represented.  

Myself, I was only re-introduced to this magnificent individual, musician and activist via a close friend who grew up with his music, just as I did with Nina Simone and the Clark Sisters. 

Every country has their icon, every country has recognized artists that guide their culture, create a combined effort via their lyrics.  In America and around the world we share people like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Beyonce while in Canada they love that Kylie chick and in South America, Shakira is surprisingly still big...nevertheless the type of stardom that these people receive isn't recognized from people from Africa...I mean, we have Akon, but there are large musical movements that go on and end without any reference via the mainstream media.  

Fela was an artist that transferred his music from generation to countryside and back.  

He commanded stadium-sized crowds and each show seemed to go on and get as wild as everyone things Woodstock was...honestly to compare Woodstock to a Fela concert is like comparing your 6-year old birthday party to the Dallas State Fair. 

A friend of mine is in the processes of bringing Fela's music to Detroit via a documentary comparing this African diaspora staple to one of hip hops greatest, Christopher "BIGGIE" Wallace.  Check out more information below the pic!

The Shrine, a multimedia and soundtrack infused event celebrating the lives of Fela Kuti and Notorious B.I.G.  Sankofa El-Afi Tapfuma, uses the lives of Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace to evoke the importance of self-dependency.

The Shrine the documentary, which is due out in the first quarter of 2012 and filmed by Gratiot Film’s Ian Harris, will take you through the lives of Kuti and Wallace, and reveal their struggle within a systematic oppressed society, and the empowerment they created for themselves to become wealthy, successful  entities in their communities.

 A celebratory event for the lives of Kuti and Wallace, will take place at the Jazz Café inside the Music Hall Center for Performing Arts on Dec. 8th 2011, with a 20 minute video presentation of excerpts from the documentary, a dance performance by Wild Spirit Dance Company, and special guest performance by Adeboye Adegbenro ,Leader of "ODU Afrobeat Orchestra" and Lead vocalist and saxophonist for “African Assembly”, who appeared regularly  with Fela and the Egypt 80 band throughout the late 80's.

The event is being hosted by Heart Healers and Shameless Plug with sounds by DJ Kofa, Nation and DJ Espy.  

Event Start Time: 8:00PM – 12:00AM

Admission: $5 and $7 w/ FELA B.I.G. Mix CD produced by DJ Kofa.

Special performances by: Wild Spirit Dance Company, and special guest performance by Adeboye Adegbenro ,Leader of "ODU Afrobeat Orchestra"

If you would like to find out more about the documentary or the event, or would like to interview Sankofa El-Afi Tapfuma, please contact Sankofa (313-685-5245).

For more information on Heart Healers and Shameless Plug Productions, visit us on Facebook                                                                                

A Detroit Showcase at SXSW!! Ohhhh, yeah!

Are you a talented singer, band or group that is looking to take your career and skill to the next level? 

BethanyEast PR & Mgmt. Consulting has the perfect opportunity for you.  We are putting together a showcase for Detroit-based artists to perform at the annual South-by-Southwest Music Conference. 

The SXSW conference brings music lovers, performers and industry execs together every year in Austin, TX to find the newest, best, most talented acts.  Last year the Michigan Showcase featured rappers and deejays and it was a HUGE SUCCESS… this show is JUST FOR singers and urban poets, and it is going to be BIG!

Participating Artists* will receive

• Prominent marketing opportunities within the marketing campaign of the SOULcase
• Track on the SOULcase Mixtape, given away free to attendees and SXSW passers-by
• Invitation to the SOULcase marketing photoshoot (FREE)
• Prominent promotion via a conference, city and national media and press campaign

Get in on this action!

This event is a first of its kind and has the main goal of shedding some much-needed light on the talent that Detroit artists possess.

Individual singers, groups and bands are welcome to take part of this lucrative opportunity, as you will be able to grow your fanbase immediately.  Thousands travel from all over the country to this conference, which features the newest trends and up-and-coming products in music, technology and media. 

Street Performers taking advantage of the crowds.

Some people perform guerrilla style, anywhere they can find a spot

Artists who wish to submit their work** for consideration can contact Chris Reed, Bethany.EastPR@LIVE.com

*There is a mandatory marketing fee of $200 per artists, band or group.  This fee can be paid in installments of 4 payments of $50.  This fee covers initial marketing, venue and equipment cost.  Artists are responsible for transportation to, lodging in Austin during the conference … discounts, and rebates may be available.

**Submissions can be in the forms of links to youtube videos, links to your SoundCloud account, links to your Facebook fanpage and should include pics of you during recent performance and a short bio.  Emphasis will be given to seasoned as well as new performers.  Facebook Fanpage likes, Twitter followers and press will be considered during the selection process.

Detroit has "One Thang" going for it ...

One of the City's most devoted sons has "One Thang" to say about the rap game ... when it comes to bringing out hot new ish, he GETS IT DONE!

D-Rick launched his newest single last night. The video, below, was shot and produced by Quenton Thomas/Throwback Media .... definitely look out for performance dates from D-Rick.

Check out his website http://d-rick.com/

D-Rick "One Thang" from throwback media on Vimeo.

Ellington on Music

"It's a record selling business."

I mean, how could I have not gotten that? It seems so simple.

Frontman, hustler, rapper, member of Detroit-based rap duo (City Council), Mayor Wills. I feel as if I'm taking HIP HOP Sales 101, taking notes.

For some reason I use to think that it was all about the music, it was about the message, the soulful journey lyrics take you...but apparently I had the game twisted. Janet said it, "Just give me a beat."

My mind wonders back to my father preached on the Devil in the beat ... sucking in the "young people". Is it wrong to say that I quickly snap back to reality ... Wills makes another point, there's nothing wrong with having a message, but its the catalog that gets you on the charts... you gotta appeal, to the market, and then to your audience. His method of rhyme isn't generic, Detroit-bred, knowledgeable, and the way he describes his music shows This is what he does.

Marketing methods for rappers hasn't changed, some people feel that all the best rappers, those with a message, aren't necessarily popular ... thlose rappers need to sit in on this conversation.
The "market" is the trend, its the mindset of the majority, its like black leggings in fashion - what everyone likes, "a good beat, catchy hook, a little comedy and bullshit"...apparently. Jeezy did it, Mike Jones, Gucci Mane, Tupac, Biggie, Diddy (especially Diddy) all captivated audiences by talking about themselves...how gangsta, how paid, how respected, how feared, how ... dumb, I mean, radical. And they've gone on to make a great fortune, with tons of screaming followers.
And Jay, Luda, Nas, Em and I wanna say Ghostface did the unthinkable...they broke out of market conforming traditions...although entertaining have begun to provide a message in their music.

Now, the question is, with all of the new fad rappers we got? what will their message be?...when will they realize that we'd rather hear "the message"?

MMMmm, marketing, music, messages and the whatnot. What are your thoughts on the future of the record-selling business?