Looking for New Hip Hop?:)

This Labor Day week(end) has been the jam so far. Thanks to those of you that shared it with me.

I jumped at the chance to interview new talent DJ K-Salaam at B.B. Kings this passed Sat for The Liberator Magazine. Why? His first and second c.d.s are named " The World is Ours" and " Whose World is This" respectively. Weird huh? Plus they feat some of my favorite artists, Mos def, Buju Banton, Sizzla,... So The Liberator sends me in to The Black August Benefit featuring: EPMD, Bilal, Joel Ortiz, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch and many more

I'm all excited I'm press y'all, I'm thinking we're going to be back stage sipping passion fruit mojito's with Q-Tip. Not exactly. Me, my +1 and some guy from MTV were standing outside forever. I had to take off my heels, I was waiting so long. It's cool. Aside from the initial confusion the show was exciting.

The Black August Benefit Concert is put together to support political prisoners. If revolution is your thing, so is this following list of underground hip-hop artists:

1) Rebel Diaz- (The DR (?)) Overall this group of 3 is okay but I really like the girl she steals the show in spanish and English

2)Immortal Technique-(Peru). VERY angry. I like that a lot. He's got a big voice for such a little guy

3)Homeboy Sandman (around the corner)-if you've ever ridden the 'F' train you've seen his stupid flyers...he's actually pretty dope. He's got a 90s feel to him, like The Farside, but on speed & better lyrics

4)Blitz the Ambassador-(Ghana) I liked that he rapped with a live band. Hes a little too much like Black Thought of the Roots, and he knows it. But he's still a hot performance.

5) Joell Ortiz-(Puerto Rico) Any minute now he's going to blow up

6) of course DJ K-Salaam:( Iran ) check him out esp. if you're a reggae fan. I don't know how he did it but he made Sizzla and Young Buck sound good....together.

-never thought i would see EPMD live, thnks The Liberator!-

Anywhere Louie Vega is ( and Other Great Places to go Dancing)

Yesterday was Ladies Nite for me and my friends. Monday evenings after work are good to go to Giant Step parties @ the Hudson Hotel. I dragged my friends there to see Louie Vega of Masters at Work I had work to do but If I could dance for 3 hours and still manage get my project done it was worth it! It was free (meaning packed), only 3 of a group of 7 made it inside. Vega is a talent that I got sprung on when I saw him live at London's Jazz Cafe years and years ago. Louie was dj ing not performing this time, but it was still a good jam with a REAL cool crowd. With this crowd you can step on someone's toes and by the time you finish apologizing you have a new dance partner.

This post is to share with you my favorite NY dance spots and hopefully you guys can post or email good places to me too-I love to dance! I'd love to hear about your favorite place to get down even if you don't live in NY.

I've only been in New York a little more than 2 years but so far my favorites are:

Giant Step!: the only drawback is that the drink prices are insane $19 for a glass of wine. I still owe Tish back for a $9 heineken. A guy gave me a drink and my 2 friends and I shared it like communion ( hey, its a recession. lol!)

KeiStar Parties: Stevie Wonder or Prince vs. Michael Jackson). If you can catch one GO. The second to last Stevie party, Stevie Wonder himself showed up. India Arie was grooving at the last one I went to.

Bembe: Hot Brazilian, Afro House music-I've only been once but I LOVE this place!

APT: I went once with my girls on a Sat. I think. We sweat like crazy it was so fun! Only drawback is the downstairs dance area was small... and the d.j. was a lil iffy. the crowd was cool tho

{LION! nothing tops the Jazz Cafe show, Boy! When are you coming over??!}

I'm so sorry about my pics guys, I had a gang including one Vega posed for, but most are way too blurry. I really don't think i should be allowed to blog if i cant figure out a Nikon.