Category: FEATURES

Jackyl are ending 2010 with a bang by collaborating with R&R Hall of Fame legend DMC from Run DMC by releasing the single “Just Like A Negro.”

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Wow, November is already here, but the music does not stop. My guest today is a musician and entrepreneur whose music won me over after the first listen. After hearing ABM’s single, “Don’t Hate” I knew I had to have him on. ABM knows how to make reggae music with mass appeal but he also…

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Australian rockers Juke Kartel have released the music video for “If Only,” the first single from their US debut album Levolution (iTunes).

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Willis will also release an album consisting of remixes of “Louder (Put Your Hands Up)” that will drop November 2, 2010 as a digital only release.   The album consists of remixes from the world’s top producers/DJs including: Laurent Wolf, Wawa, Mig and Rizzo, Eddie Amador, Lost Daze and many more!

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Diddy – Dirty Money have premiered their latest music video featuring Young Money rapper, Drake. Diddy gets his heart broken in the Gil Green (Akon, Flo Rida, Jay Sean) directed clip which helps tell the story behind   “Loving You No More.”  

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Minnesota-based songwriter Jeremy’s Messersmith and the very talented Eric Power have teamed up once again to bring you another fantastic video for Messersmith’s song, “A Girl, A Boy, And A Graveyard,” just in time for Halloween!

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Last week’s CMJ saw the welcome return of Atlanta’s Howlies, who release a brand new 5 song EP, ‘Stunned’, this week. The EP is now available digitally and as 10″ vinyl.

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Another weekend is here and it is Halloween on Sunday so I will try not to scare our readers too bad. Actualy my next guests will not scare you but their music will get you up out of your chair and dancing. At first when I heard that there were 7 young men in The…

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Check out the new single and accompanied video for “Caking Off”, the new viral hit and release from Jamaican bred East Coast emerging superstar Shalone.

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Portland-via-Alaska band Portugal. The Man is putting the finishing touches on their as-yet-untitled Atlantic debut album with producer John Hill (M.I.A., Santigold), scheduled for release in early 2011. The band wraps their headlining U.S. tour, presented by Aquarium Drunkard, this weekend.  

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The Fonk Record cover features a colorful illustration of Tisdale sporting an Afro and green shades. Inside the CD, Tisdale’s transformation from a jazz musician to a funk master is portrayed comic-book style. This should not be a surprise to true fans of Wayman Tisdale.

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Check out the brand new song from 13-yr old singing superstar, Jawan Harris – Another Planet Feat. Chris Brown, with the lyric video using the innovative use of lightpainting!

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I have always said of contemporary Country: “It is either too ‘boo hoo’ or too ‘yee haw.’” It seems the blue-collar ethos of the genre (Williams Sr., Nelson, Haggard) has either been lost completely or it is cooked and contrived into radio-friendly Country Pop, rife with kitschy lyrics sung by pretty men in boots and…

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With a soulful beat reminiscient of J. Dilla, this chorusless banger rides upon a catchy vintage sample that croons “Don’t give up the good life.” The Tanya Morgan emcee showcases his skillful delivery and lets his personality shine through on the whole track. Some of the lyrics come directly from the writings of the rapper’s…

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Tonight is a super day to be in Boston. I know Skope is all about music but The Celtics are back tonight against the Miami Heat at the TD Garden. I wanted to feature a Boston based artist who I have been watching for a while now. Allow me to introduce JW, the epitome of…

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Tumbledown’s first video “Arrested In El Paso Blues” from their new full length album, Empty Bottle.

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Fully engulfed in her campaign to be the next mayor of the Bay Area city of San Leandro, Sara Mestas (known to her music fans as Mo Wiley) wants to know one thing: “Where Da Money Go?”                  

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“What You Think About Us” was directed by award-winning video director Eric Welch (Randy Houser, Rodney Atkins, Heidi Newfield) and filmed in Franklin, Tenn., as well as the neighborhoods surrounding Nashville’s Belmont University and historic Music Row.

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Master keyboardist and prolific Moog synthesizer user Erik Norlander will launch his latest video “Garden of the Moon”, a visual rendition of the instrumental song from his most recent CD release The Galactic Collective on YouTube October 20th.

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I know it’s only Thursday but the good Skope mgmt decided to give Stoli a 3 day weekend, who am I to complain? As many loyal readers know, Stoli does not listen to Top 40 radio. This next band just cements my logic for having no patience for manufactured music. When I first put in…

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Pennan Brae’s video, ‘Need You Now’ was shot in the sweltering heat of Osaka this August, 2010. DIrected by Mogcat Productions, the premise is of a young man writing a love letter which he folds into a paper airplane & hurls in the air, hoping it finds his love.

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Readers might know Tony Clifton, from Jim Carrey’s portrayal in Man on the Moon. Well, the crude, obnoxious, lounge singer is back from a long hiatus. The alter ego of Andy Kaufman will be touring across the United States   in support of   Comedic Relief, with his newly adopted daughter, Keely, burlesque beauties, The…

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The video inspired by 80’s pop star, Cyndi Lauper, features two nerdy teens using their computer smarts to generate the ideal woman. “Superluva” was produced by Fernando Garibay, the famed producer who has worked with Lady Gaga, U2, Britney Spears and more, and is available at iTunes today.

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R&B star El DeBarge has released his new single, “Lay With You featuring Faith Evans,” from ‘Second Chance,’ his highly anticipated first album in 16 years out November 30 on Geffen Records. This week, El DeBarge will support Mary J. Blige on three West Coast dates before wrapping up a headlining tour in Florida.

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Dancehall reggae artist “ABM” comes to us from Trinidad, in the musically renowned West Indies, and he is the latest addition to the Platinum Trini Entertainment roster. Excelling in track and field, as well as basketball and football, in his home country, he attended Grambling State University thanks to a track scholarship, and he graduated…

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Boston-based indie-pop quintet The Hush Now self-released their new EP, Shiver Me Starships, on September 28th, and now they have an additional treat to share with fans- a FREE Halloween single, in the form of “Please Mephistopheles (Leave Me Alone).” The bluesy track is catchy as all hell, and here just in time for All…

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With the release of her latest animated video “Smile Once More”, L’illon’s Warrior Angel steps into the arena of ‘African Affairs’, suggesting that intractable problems sometimes need a new approach in solving them. To the savvy music afficionado, L’illon is once again one of a kind, leaving us guessing what surprise she has in store…

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Die Antwoord is giving away a pair of one of a kind custom graffiti Beats By Dre hand drawn by Ninja and worn by Diplo in the “Evil Boy” music video. 5 lucky runner-ups will receive an autographed copy of the band’s debut full-length album, $0$, along with a Die Antwoord poster. Die Antwoord have…

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Chris’s journey of leaving his job as a lawyer on Bay Street to pursue his music is showcased in his debut video for ‘Pave The Way’ directed and produced by Mark Myers.

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Another weekend is here and I could not be happier! This next feature has been in the making for well over a year already. Rob Carlton is one of the hardest working musicians I know. If he is not playing live he is is the studio and if not there he is on the phone…

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“FOR COLORED GIRLS: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK” sees an all female line up ranging from newcomers Janelle Monàe, Estelle and Laura Izibor to Grammy Award-nominee Leona Lewis, as well as the legendary Gladys Knight.

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Fans who downloaded the Mp3 of “Jump Down” off of TravisBarker.com and shared it, received a pair of 3D glasses to view the video. If you haven’t received your glasses, you can still do so by purchasing any of the official “Jump Down” t-shirts over at Karmaloop.com.

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Stetson is bringing its Fall/Winter 2010 collection to life through an innovative partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and two of today’s most exciting musicians. This fall, Erin McCarley and the PawnShop kings will debut their renditions of music’s most iconic songs through a series of video look books featuring the new Stetson apparel and accessory…

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T.O.N.E-z, the Emmy nominated hip hop artist who has had years of underground success, is now gaining momentum in the mainstream music world. While he has already an amassed an impressive recording history with an array of musical projects, T.O.N.E-z is poised to expand his exposure and reach new audiences with the October 12 release…

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Jay-Z, arguably the world’s most popular entertainer, is appearing in a public service announcement for the nonpartisan organization HeadCount, encouraging people to vote in the midterm elections. The “Vote Again 2010” spot will air on Skope, CBS, Fuse and other major networks.

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Danko Jones has released the second music video in his nearly completed video trilogy from the album Below the Belt (Bad Taste Records/Caroline). The new highly-stylized, film-like music video noir for the track “Had Enough” stars Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid), comedian Don Jamieson (That Metal Show) and is the prequel to “Full of Regret.”

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Another week is here which means another band or musician to introduce. I had to take yesterday off in honor of Chris Columbus so I am well rested and ready for the week. I have always liked the music of Connecticut based band Superart. Then I saw Jimmy Rae review their new album ‘The Weirdbeard…

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To celebrate the release of Slayer’s The Vinyl Conflict Box Set, the band are giving you the chance to win a custom Kerry King BC Rich Beast V guitar and The Vinyl Conflict Box Set! Enter now!

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Rye Rye’s brand new video for “Sunshine” feat. M.I.A! The song is the first single off her debut album Go! Pop! Bang!, dropping February 2011 on N.E.E.T/Interscope Records. Rye Rye’s club-killing dance moves are out in broad daylight and her spitfire flow is in full effect! M.I.A sings the hook and Jess Holzworth (Beck –…

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Brooklyn’s My Other Friend is set to release their debut album Burning Bright Tonight, with wide distribution on October 25th. The album which was originally self-released digitally in late July is already starting to gain the attention of leading tastemakers such as CMJ.

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