R&B Live DC 2009 Kickoff w/ Kevin Ross

In a previous post, "Artist To Watch" post, I spoke on Kevin Ross; did call it or what, the boy is something to check for.

R&B Live DC 2009 Kickoff
New Year, New Talent, New Music

Washington, DC (Dec. 31, 2008)- R&B Live DC is ready to start the new year off with a bang. On Tuesday, January 13th R&B Live DC proudly presents Dawn Richard (of Danity Kane) at Posh Restaurant & Supper Lounge. Dawn Richard is a native of the great New Orleans, LA and spent most of her childhood developing her singing and dancing skills. Later on she auditioned for MTV's "Making the Band 3" where she was chosen to compete for Diddy's female group. Dawn ultimately made it through the season and was chosen to be a member of Danity Kane, along side 4 other females. She is now working on her solo project, while still a member of the platinum selling group.

R&B Live DC is pleased to announce that Marjorie Harris will host this month's event as the all female house band Be'La Dona will accent the venue with their sounds as DJ Huck Fin spins. The opening act will be Washington, DC's own Kevin Ross. Kevin was named Best New R&B Artist by AOL Music and is BET's 106 & Park "Wild Out Wednesday" All-Star Champion. He is working on his EP, which is due later in 2009 and is currently promoting his new single "That Girl (Winner)".

Posh Restaurant & Supper Club is located at 730 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001. The doors open at 8pm. For table reservations, please call 202.393.0975 or visit www.poshdc.com.

Shouts out to Candice Nicole PR - www.cnicoleinthecity.blogspot.com

Chopped & Screwed by The Source....

So I get an email from this guy BassMan75, I recently did an interview for him via digiwaxx for The Source. Now, I was HIGHLY aware that it was FOR The Source, so actually saying the interview is FOR The Source or The Source interviewed him, I'm okay with; its the scrolling tot he bottom and seeing "Interview by: Reenae Alexander" REALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?? My personal writing and someone else takes CREDIT for it?? REALLLYYYYY? wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!

The Source, Chopped & Screwed version w/ his music! Below is the REAL interview :/

Picture this, US Hip Hop getting married to Overseas Hip Hp and produces a son; and Bassman75 is what they call him. Born in Luanda, Angola a southern country of Africa and fluent in six, yes SIX, different languages, Bassman is the youngest son of 8 brothers and 2 sisters, raised by a Preacher.

Digiwaxx recently caught up with the ethical rapper/producer/songwriter/African gospel chorale base vocalist to become acquainted with him and his upcoming project. He is seeking to have the Nation become familiar with his style and, do we dare say swag? Yeah, he is worthy for the title of someone with Swagger, after all, we said he speaks SIX different languages. Maybe you aren’t feeling us because we haven’t told you he also raps in FOUR of the six. See! Now you’re with me!!

DigiwaxxMedia: Nice to finally catch up with you. Where do you currently reside right now? I see you’re calling from an international number.

Bassman75: Right now I am in Europe, originally from Africa but currently residing in Europe.

DWM: Oh okay, so are you ever in the States?

BM: I’m always in the States; I go back & forth a lot. I enjoy traveling and do a lot of it.

DWM: Where are you when you’re in the States?

BM: I used to live in Vegas but when I come back now I’m either in Vegas or Minneapolis. I’m in New York sometimes but my Management team is in Minneapolis so I’m out there most.

DMW: I guess that poses the next question, how did you meet your Mgt team?

BM: I put out a mixtape years ago in New York and Jesse James got his hands on it and reached out to me. He liked what he heard and we have been working together for 3 years now. We’ve been pushing realy hard overseas and it’s time to hit the States market. I just got back from a tour in Africa.

DWM: The Africa tour was an HIV/AIDS awareness tour, right?

BM: yes, we worked with organizations and groups to try and help people in Africa with AIDS/HIV and threw free concerts with the effort to help. The concerts were sponsored by Sprite, Coke and a few others; they gave money to help with the cause. I try to help out as much as possible because I am from Africa, so I feel it is my job to help out and find other people to help. Whenever I visit Africa I always bring medicine, clothes and food. It’s a sad situation and it’s real painful to see. 300 million people will die in the next 10-20 years, it’s time to help. Those in power should be doing more and be more concerned about these things; the struggle continues.

DWM: That’s deep! I understand you speak six different languages, what are they?

BM: French, Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian and Kin Kongo, my native language.

DWM: And you rap in four of the six?

BM: English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. Sometimes I will rap in Kin Kongo. I’ll say something in a different language, something small, and then rely it in English.

DWM: Are you working with any big named Artists on your album and what about producers?

BM: I haven’t really collab’d with any known artists because I want to make a name for myself first. I don’t want to win off of anyone else’s name. I’ve been working with producers in Europe and ATL. I want to be different, “Jamaican Grind” is my first single and I’m looking to make it crossover track.

DWM: Any up and coming shows?

BW: I have a States tour in March, as well as a European tour in the works. I’ll be doing shows in African around the time the album drops in February.

DWM: Okay, hit me with some closing remarks and honorable mentions.

BM: Jesse James, my Manager and One on One Distribution in Arizona. I want my fans to know I am still here and I’m working on pushing real hard. I plan to do it BIG in 2009.

DWM: That’s what’s up! It was a pleasure!

Bassman75’s debut album, “I Got Lucky” drops on February 3rd, 2009. Check him out on the web, www.bassman75.com and www.myspace.com/bassmanlucky. Actually, if you google him, you wont be disappointed!

FIVE THINGS NOT TO DO....

Since taking my lil self over to Digiwaxx I have come across things that I am gladmy Music Marketing 101 readers do not do. Just incase you ever decide to do any of the following, let me stop you now!

FIVE THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN SEEKING TO NETWORK

5) Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo, AIM & G Chat: Random Adds…
I honestly have nothing against being added on these sites and messaging programs but just adding me and never saying anything is NOT networking. Saying hello from time to time or at least letting it be known why you've added the person goes a long way. Otherwise you are just stalking….And we all know stalking isn't cool.

4) Forwarding Emails…
If you want me to review your music and you sent it from yahoo, chances are if you've sent the same email to numerous people, there is a long as blue line along the side of it. Actually, there is more than one line and that shits MAD annoying and so unprofessional. Take the time to cut & paste it so it doesn't look like a forward, yo. All of those multiple signatures aren't cool either. Get your business face on and send it right, stop being lazy. You're not going to make it trying to short cut. Oh and stop adding me to your email list w/o permission! UGH! And if you do, at least learn how to use the BC (Blind Copy for you ding bats)

3) No Greeting/Subject…
This goes along w/ #4 – sending an email with no hello or what it is you are looking for. If you are emailing me with a purpose, state so in the email, don't have me email you back and ask you how I can help you. You're seriously taking time out of my life to ask you something you could have said the first time.

2) Professional Press Kits…
I know I did a post in the past about sonicbids.com and their beautiful press kits – USE THEM! Geesh! I don't want to download your music, although I do have gmail and I'm able to hit play, it's just the principle. Using sonicbids or one of the other nifty sites, they just have you click play, not to mention it's right in the email. If you just have to fwd an MP3 over, at least have a well written bio, that includes a fact sheet and other things about you.

1) After Hours Messaging
I don't even know why I have to say this but mayne! My weekend was totally interrupted with G Chat messages from some guys manager who has been harassing me for three days straight about a write up. I'm spending time with my family & I'm getting alerts on my phone from this dude on a Saturday night! NINGA ARE YOU SERIOUS??! Do you not know business hours, son? Why am I going back and forth with you, on a weekend, about your Artist whom I don't even care for? I'm gon let Big Red explain it to you…

(GOING KANYE ON YA) THIS JUST IN!! JUST AS I AM POSTING THIS I GET A DISTURBING EMAIL FROM SOMEONE I WROTE A POST ABOUT! HE IS UNHAPPY WITH THE POST AND WANTS ME TO MAKE CHANGES THE WAY HE WANTS HE! I WAS TOLD HOW TO WRITE THE POST BY SOMEONE OVER ME, SO PLEASE DON'T COME AT ME LIKE I'VE DONE ANYTHING WRONG. JUST BE HAPPY IT'S DONE! ARTISTS NEED TO BE MORE HUMBLE, YO! SERIOUSLY!! FYI - I WILL ADMIT TO BEING WRONG TO CHANGING MY STATUS ON G CHAT CALLING HIM AND HIS ARTIST WACK, BUT I REALLY THOUGHT I BLOCKED DUDE. SOOOO, MY BAD! LMAO

Honestly, I don't think I'm cutout for this digiwaxx ish if this is how people think they can be. This ninja just hit me with some "I'm going to tell on you" ish BITCH (not calling him a bitch, just saying in general), I'm grown! Lord, take me now!!

Cadillac Records Movie - History on the Big Screen

Previously posted on Digiwaxx.com/blog by CathrynMarie..I'm posting here because of the overall message of the movie

On Monday night, Digiwaxx had the GREAT pleasure of viewing “Cadillac Records” at a screening in Houston, Texas; Solange Knowles also sat in and watched. If Beyonce hadn’t gone on Oprah and said that she was only in the end of the movie, I would have really thought that the movie was an Etta James movie that she starred in - its how the previews and such come across. Digiwaxx advice’s everyone to listen to Beyonce and not count on the media - she did a GREAT job, however.

I enjoyed “Cadillac Records” so much because of the informative history of music that I walked away with - actually learning that a Field Slave is sole person who contributed to the what music has become now, being apart of integration of man kind, was therapeutic. Of course, Chuck Berry, broke the barriers with his music but if it weren’t for Muddy Waters, ex Field Slave and first artist on Chess Records, who knows what music would be like.

Chess Records was a start up label by Leonard Chess in Chicago. First artist on the roster was the great Muddy Waters, one of the greatest bluesmen of all time, no one played the guitar better than Muddy. Muddy, along with Little Walter, Willie Dixon and Howlin Wolf took the world by storm with their sound Blues sound before Rock & Roll Legend, Chuck Berry, was signed and contributed to chart topping numbers the Record Label often laid claim to. Becoming the first female on the roster, Etta James accompanied the talent men and demanded her respect, as she to made chart topping music. It’s hard to believe that seven people are responsible for the definition of great music, not excluding The Rolling Stones (the history behind how they got started is amazing) and The Beach Boys (another jaw dropping story).

Being careful not to ruin the movie, I want to encourage everyone who has a great appreciation of music to go view this movie. If you’re one of those people who refuse to see it because “Beyonce is in it it”, she LITERALLY does not show up on the screen until an hour into the movie, with 45 mins remaining. Mos Def was amazing, pure COMEDY and talent. Beyonce’s performance is also one to be credited, she really showed emotion and became Ms. Etta James. Eamonn Walker (Kareem of OZ) as Howlin’ Wolf was so realistic and you can’t leave out Ced The Entertainer, who has a huge role in the movie. Gabrielle Union, also stars in the movie and has a nice role. Academy Award Winner, Adrien Brody and Emmy, Global Global & Tony winner, Jeffrey Wright are the true stars of this movie. I personally plan to go see it again, and I again, encourage everyone to go see it. PLEASE be sure to read the closing captions, you will be taken aback with the ending information you will read. Oh & Q Tip is in it!!

Cadillac Records is in theaters on December 5, stop by the official website for the movie http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/cadillacrecords and listen to some of the soothing tunes. The Official Soundtrack is being distrubuted through Sony Music, to be released on December 2, includes music from Beyonce Knowles, who has recorded five songs for the soundtrack, including a cover version of Etta James’ “At Last” as its lead single. Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short (Little Walter), and Eamonn Walker recorded songs for the soundtrack, and Raphael Saadiq (his new album is a MUST BUY), Solange Knowles, Mary Mary, Nas, Buddy Guy and Elvis Presley also appears on the album. The soundtrack will be released in single- and double-disc editions.