Dirtball Unveils Crook County Chronicles Video Series

The Underground’s Biggest Rising Star New Album Crook County In Stores May 13th, 2008 Featuring La Coka Nostra’s CeeKay, Boondox, Kottonmouth Kings, Big B

Underground rising star The Dirtball has unveiled a new video documentary series entitled “Crook County Chronicles” online. The series showcases exclusive behind the scenes footage from Oregon based rapper’s upcoming new album and will be updated weekly leading up to the release of the album.

“The Crook County Chronicles are going to be a series of eight 2-3 minute episodes of a glimpse into my routines around the county. Both legal and not legal, the Chronicles will make you wish you were rippin’ around the desert and drinking cold beers or in the studio blazing and rapping in my booth,” says the Dirtball. “From target practice with the sidearm to chopping big ol’ rounds of wood, come along, stay tuned weekly, and catch a Crook County Buzz with me.”

Dirtball’s new album, “Crook County”, lands in stores on May 13th, 2008 through Suburban Noize Records. Powered by the machinegun attack of his motor-mouth and irresistible hooks, “Crook County” is the Dirtball’s most electrifying album to date. Spiced with Crunk-fueled southern hip-hop that could make Lil Jon drunk, rapid fire rhymes that could battle Twista and irresistible hooks that can make Tech 9ne bounce, “Crook County” is sure to kick Dirtball’s career into overdrive.

Trona - Sound System

If you are old enough to have gone to the legendary Studio 54 in New York or adventurous enough to have experienced the new Studio 54 in Las Vegas then Sound System, the latest release by Trona, will have you twirling lights for hours.

This tribute to simple sounds made complicated by collaboration is meant to be played loudly as you visualize you escape from the noise that is life. Sound System offers several mood changes, while simultaneously maintaining up tempo breaks which are synonymous to the genre. The base lines, while heavy, do become redundant as you get deeper into the album. Trona never fully deviates from that basic kick, boom, and crash that reigns through out the underlay of this album.

Simple yet surprising vocals make this effort something to remember. The stand out single “Jaded Love” features a vocal variant of the 80’s classic “Tainted Love”. The song “Don’t Remember” playfully speaks on what all of us have thought or wanted to say when some one approaches us at an event.

Trona’s Sound System is a great substitution to the background music on your new video game. He definitely has laid the ground work for a bright future in the gaming industry. Unfortunately, no one has a prediction on how game sounds translate into record sales. The big question: Have you ever brought a full album after hearing a song on your favorite video game?

By Etcetera Carter

LIVING LEGENDS - THE GATHERING OUT 4/8/08

Setting the pace for 2008, the entire Living Legends crew locked down at Encore Studio (Dr Dre’s The Chronic 2001, Eminem Marshall Mathers LP, etc.) to record The Gathering, set for nationwide release on their own Legendary Music label, Tuesday April 8th. Each song in this brand new collection features every single MC on every single track, and it is definitely the most well crafted batch since their inception.

As a collective, the prolific Legendary crew has sold well over a quarter million records between them.  The line-up includes Murs, The Grouch, Luckyiam, Eligh, Scarub, Sunspot Jonz, Aesop, Bicasso,.   Legendary Music has been owned and operated by the members themselves for nearly a decade.  Recently, the Legends brought on a full label staff of qualified industry veterans known for an expertise in grass roots marketing and label development, signed a new distribution deal with the leading independent record distributor in the US (ADA Distribution), and signed with the forefront agency in booking independent and transcendent Hip Hop, The Kork Agency. As a unit, the group is thriving more than ever and making distinct moves to further awaken an already rabid and devout fanbase.

Check out the “That Looks Good” video:

Since signing with Kork, the Legends have a headlining theater tour booked in March that is punctuated with a headlining showcase at SXSW and a featured performance on the 3rd annual Paid Dues Festival, co-founded by Legends member Murs with Hip Hop juggernaut promoters, Guerilla Union (Rock the Bells, Smokeout, etc).  Along with the Legends, the bill includes Sage Francis, Little Brother, Dilated Peoples, Jedi Mind Tricks, Hieroglyphics, Boot Camp Click, POS, and others.

The Gathering is a 7 song collection highlighted by a socially conscious anthem for peace, in which the Los Angeles via San Francisco area crew are doing their civic duty, while not forgetting to move the crowd with heavy bangers, catchy hooks and fire-spitting verses on all tracks, celebrating all of their true roots. The record was mastered by Grammy Nominated Mike Lazer (Gnarls Barkely “St. Elsewhere”) at Paramount Mastering and Recording and has a sound bigger than anything coming from the independent hip hop movement.

The Gathering, a precursor to a full length coming in late ‘08, serves to warn the greater hip hop massive: Don’t forget the longtime leaders of the Wild West coast!

Upcoming tour dates:
Mar 6 2008        THE CATALYST  Santa Cruz, California  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 7 2008        THE FILLMORE  San Francisco, California  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 8 2008        THE NEW OASIS  Sparks, Nevada  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 9 2008        KILBY COURT  Salt Lake City, Utah  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 10 2008      THE OGDEN THEATRE  Denver, Colorado  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 13 2008      VOLUME  Austin, Texas  SXSW Showcase
Mar 16 2008      THE SUNSHINE THEATER  Albuquerque, New Mexico  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 17 2008      OLD BRICKHOUSE  Phoenix, Arizona  W/ LUCKYIAM
Mar 22 2008      Paid Dues @ NOS Events Center  San Bernardino, California Living Legends, Sage Francis, Little Brother, Dilated, Hiero & more
Apr 25 2008       Luckyiam  & MURS @ Coachella  Indio, California (each have solo sets)

http://www.legendarymusic.net/

THE GROUCH - SHOW YOU THE WORLD OUT 4/8/08

Good musicians express themselves through music. Great ones push themselves beyond the limits of what they have done before. And that’s exactly what the Los Angeles-based Living Legends member The Grouch has done on his stunning new record, Show You The World. The 15-track album features guest appearances from neo soul singer Raphael Saadiq, hip hop powerhouse MURS, as well as Mike Marshall (Timex Social Club), Abstract Rude, Marty James (One Block Radius) and fellow Living Legends members Bicasso and Scarub.

On his first solo record in five years, The Grouch offers his usual well thought out, yet straight forward rhymes. But his production is more varied, sophisticated and polished than ever before.

Check out the video for “Artsy” here:

“I worked on this record for almost three years,” notes The Grouch of how he’s developed as an artist. More, this record was an idea that sprang to mind after the birth of my daughter, Rio, in 2006. As soon as she arrived all I could do is think about wanting to show her everything that I love. I was quickly humbled when I realized I was learning as much from her as she was from me.”

As a founding member of the original do-it-yourself rap crew, The Living Legends, The Grouch has been at the forefront of the west coast’s independent rap movement for over a decade. The Living Legends continue to amass a devoted following of fans and have sold over 300,000 albums world-wide. As an artist outside the Legends, The Grouch has released 7 solo projects and 5 collaborative efforts including albums such as Fuck the Dumb (2000), Crusader for Justice (2003) and No More Greener Grasses (2004), and Heroes in the City of Dope (2006) with Bay Area stalwarts Zion I.

See the world through The Grouch’s eyes this spring. Show You the World drops April 8th, 2008.

http://www.legendarymusic.net/

Track Listing:
01. Microphone Intro
02. Watch Watch (featuring Mike Marshall)
03. Clones
04. Artsy
05. Favorite Folks
06. Yardwork
07. God Bless The Elephant (featuring Abstract Rude)
08. Show You The World (featuring Raphael Saadiq)
09. The Bay To LA ( Featuring MURS)
10. Mom & Pop Killer
11. Never Die
12. Shero
13. Bring It Back
14. Hot Air Balloons (featuring Bicasso and Scarub)
15. The Time (featuring Marty J)
16. Breath 

ANNA STAFFORD: Rock-Classical Hybrid On “STARING AT THE SKY”

While Earning Heavy Critical Acclaim For Her Indie Debut ‘String Music’, Stafford Has Performed With MASS Ensemble (In Hong Kong, The Bahamas and Canada), Christian Artist Michael W. Smith And With Rap Superstar Kanye West At The Grammy Awards
 
A year after releasing her critically acclaimed indie debut String Music, Anna Stafford (www.annastafford.com) is busier than ever, caught in a crazy whirlwind of traveling and rocking like no other classically trained violinist fans have ever heard before.

Facing the future head on with a sense of optimism that her fascinating hybrid rock classical vibe will continue to capture hearts and spirits everywhere, she calls her latest CD Staring At The Sky. With kinetic song titles like “On An Airplane,” “Arizona Washington” and “Oklahoma California” complementing the music’s soaring melodies and percussive grooves, Stafford was heavily inspired by all the globetrotting she did as a first-call touring musician over the past year.

As a key ensemble member of the global multi-media music performance phenomenon MASS, she performed in Hong Kong for nearly three weeks; a party in The Bahamas for basketball legend Michael Jordan; and a show in Calgary. Her current itinerary is even more jam-packed, starting in Texas in March with MASS; the group is performing shows at the University of Texas in Tyler, Texas (March 4) and numerous indoor and outdoor shows for the opening of the Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin from March 6-9. In May, she’s playing 18 shows in Japan as part of a Los Angeles based contemporary tribute orchestra that performs the music of the legendary Percy Faith.

Stafford’s schedule back home in L.A. has been equally full. Last year, just as String Music was being released, she performed at Staples Center with the multiple award winning Dixie Chicks at the Grammy Awards; this year, she was up on the Grammy stage again, playing behind Kanye West’s memorable, multi-faceted presentation that included famed house music duo Daft Punk. At Christmastime, she played next door at the Nokia Theatre in an orchestra for Christian artist Michael W. Smith’s holiday concert. Earlier in 2007, she headlined with her own music at the Los Angeles Art Show and did several local club gigs, including one at Molly Malone’s.

Stafford’s quartet also did a show for Ferrari in Pebble Beach, and she’s working with instrument manufacturer Yamaha—one of her endorsers, along with Pirastro and Schertler–on a series of concerts for educators featuring String Music and the latest Yamaha four and five string models.

Stafford’s been the go-to girl for everyone in need of an extra cool kick to their pop and classical music from the moment she moved to L.A. after receiving her Master’s in composition from Arizona State in 2002. As a solo act or working with the string quartet she launched soon after she got to town, she’s enjoyed a variety of multi-genre gigs: performing at the 2007 Emmy Awards Party, the Governor’s Ball after The Oscars, the JC Penney Jam and the Grammy Awards; playing on TV behind pop superstars LeAnn Rimes, Andrea Bocelli, 3 Doors Down, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson (“The Tonight Show,” “The Early Show,” “Good Morning America”); performing in Europe and the Middle East—including a recent tour of churches in Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest; and playing onstage with Thrice, 30 Seconds To Mars, Jack’s Mannequinn and the legendary Steve & Eydie. She’s also done arrangements for the documentary “Alexander The Great” and the short film “Well Sooted.”

Both live and on String Music, Stafford performs on a 2006 David T. VanZandt violin (whose style is based on the legendary work of the Italian Guarneri family in the 17th and 18th centuries), an 1813 Wilkenson and Perry Irish Fiddle. For rock gigs, she performs on Ned Steinberger electric violins and will soon be using a 5-string NS model.

“There’s always a risk involved when you try to forge a new path and invent something of your own style,” she says. “But from the time I took my first violin lesson at age nine, I was trying to integrate my love for rock into the classical. I know that classical crossover was a big thing in rock music years ago, so it’s not like it’s a completely new concept, but in a way it’s still experimental. I feel it’s always worth taking the chance because it’s the only way I have to truly define myself. It’s really exciting hearing the way it’s turned out and getting such positive responses.”

While working on Staring At The Sky with her cellist husband John Krovoza at their Stringvision Studios in Pasadena, Stafford got a kick out of the incredibly diverse press reviews she was getting for String Music. Everyone loved the CD, but some critics didn’t know just how to peg it—was it classical? Rock? Rock classical? All of the above?

“I actually enjoy the conversation my music sparks as listeners debate over what it is,” she says. “Everyone wants to go the simple route of categorizing music in specific genres, and I love creating a sound that breaks the mold and makes people ask, what is this? Some love it immediately, others get it eventually after asking, just what do you call it? My goal in writing and producing the music on Staring At The Sky was to keep this mixed vibe going but contrasting the more uptempo songs with gentler, more contemplative pieces like ‘Arizona Washington’ and ‘In The Back Of My Head.’

“The other difference was the spirit of improvisation,” Stafford adds, “which may actually add a touch of jazz to the mix! On String Music, everything was written out very specifically before I recorded it but this time I allowed myself some freedom by improvising some lines over the basic chords and melodies. I feel like all of my work with other artists is like training for me to write and perform my own music. I love taking all of the ideas and skills I’ve developed playing with these performers and putting them down creatively in my own context, with my own feelings and ideas. I like to develop my own style with each album and in turn share that with the artists I work with.” 

www.myspace.com/annastafford or www.annastafford.com