Capital Hip Hop Soul: Wes Felton

Cutting-edge and eclectic, DC-based singer Wes Felton is always bringing something new to the music game. His renowned flavor of innovation and unbridled honesty lead many music listeners to either love or hate him, but the love definitely outweighs the latter. Read more about this innovative artist in a Q & A on SoulTrain.com HERE.

Capital Hip Hop Soul: Akua Allrich

DC-based vocalist Akua Allrich fuses musical genres to create music that is not easily categorized as jazz, blues, or R&B. Quickly garnering attention on adult contemporary radio stations for her first CD A Peace of Mine (2010) and the single “Hard to Get”, Akua (pronounced Ah-kwee-ah) is moving forward with redefining what soul music is in America.

“My sound is a fusion of styles with its base in jazz, blues, soul and African rhythm,” she says. “I want my music to reflect all of my experiences as an African born in America.”

Read her full interview on SoulTrain.com HERE.

Join Us This Weekend for Music, Yard Sale Goodness & Treats! Can't Miss.

Taking Care of Our Health-Thursday, March 25 @ Busboys & Poets

This Thursday, Liberated Muse members Head-Roc, Mikuak Rai and Princess of Controversy will be the featured acts at the One Common Unity concert at Busboys & Poets at 8pm. The theme is "Taking Care of Our Health" and follows today's historic passage of Obama's Health Care Reform Act.

Come out and enjoy this concert and participate in the dialogue regarding health care in our country.

This Weekend, Lots to Do in DC

There is so much to do this weekend in the DC metro area. You can visit our site at http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to see some of the events our members have posted. Here are some of the things we are going to try and check out this weekend.



We told you about the new play Breakthrough earlier this week. Be the first to check out this new play by Liberated Muse member Princess of Controversy (PoC) at the Capital Hill Arts Workshop in Washington, DC. Issues such as racism, classism, separatism, sexism, religion & spiritual divide rear their head in this production written and produced by PoC and her art company ArtSperts. Tickets start at $12. Read here for more info.

If you listen to the Michael Baisden show, you may have heard of Dr. Baruch Ben-Yehudah. Dr. Baruch began his tenure as a featured health expert on the ABC syndicated Michael Baisden show with his "Your Body is Your Temple" which reaches 13 million plus people on a daily basis and today he remains a constant "force" on the show. A dynamic motivational speaker with a focus on health and well being, a health consultant and advisor to many people in the business industry, churches and government, author of pamphlets and books, relationship counselor, a TV and radio personality and the Health Committee Chairman of several community action organizations including the NAACP, Dr. Baruch is a self-professed master in his field.

On Saturday, Dr. Baruch will be in Capitol Heights, Maryland at the Everlasting Life restaurant and holistic store to talk about how African-Americans are fast-becoming the most unhealthy group of people because of diet choices. Visit HERE for details. Tickets $20.

(In photo: Singer Ne'a Posey portrays singer Bessie Smith at the 2009 When Harlem Came to Paris event. This year, she portrays Ma Rainey. Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman)

The When Harlem Came to Paris Saturday Brunch is this weekend, and boy, we can't wait. We raved about this event HERE and are excited about it's preface to the official When Harlem Came to Paris event which will follow. WHCTP is a whirlwind affair where you attend an evening event dressed in 20's fashions enjoying the company of some of the more notable and not so known characters of the legendary Harlem Renaissance. The event takes place at L'Alliance de Francaise which is located at Embassy Row in Washington DC and creates an experience of being among the staple artists of the Harlem Renaissance while on vacation in Paris.

Visit the website HERE for time and details.

Top 10 Liberated Muse Highlights of 2009

This year for Liberated Muse Productions was one of many highs which I would like to take the time to share today on New Year's Eve. If you participated in any of the highlights mentioned, would love to read your feedback and comments. Thanks for being part of the LiberatedMuse.com community!

Cheers,

Moon of LiberatedMuse.com

(In Photos: The first live reading from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul, at the Potter's House in Washington DC, featuring various artists from the LiberatedMuse.com community, including Margaux Delotte-Bennett, Stone/Wright, James Terrell, Quineice Clarkson, Gary Young and Anonamas)

Highlights of 2009- LiberatedMuse.com

10. Liberated Muse Joins the World of Facebook and Twitter!

In 2009, the LiberatedMuse.com expanded its realm of communication when Liberated Muse started a fan page and profile page on Facebook and began an online Twitter feed. The world of Facebook and Twitter has enabled members to interact more readily and determine more easily the level of connection they wish to have their community. Facebook has allowed more real time updates to reach members and is a great platform for members to tag photos of themselves and add photos from Liberated Muse events from their own Facebook photo albums. The Facebook fan page has already exceeded 800 members and continues to exceed the number of active members on the LiberatedMuse.com Ning network.

9. Liberated Muse members Dee Stone and Head-Roc are nominated for Washington Area Music Association (WAMMIE) Awards

We always love to broadcast good news about our members and this news was well-deserved. We wrote about it HERE in an earlier blog.

8. Liberated Muse Continues to Be Home to Some of the DC Area's Hottest Artist All-Stars

The caliber of talented folk on LiberatedMuse.com continue to be impressive. Award-winning doll artist Sherry Burton of Sankofa Doll Artistry, the talented LOVEthepoet, songstress Teisha Marie and hip-hop dynamo Substantial are just a glimpse into how rich the flavor of the membership is on LiberatedMuse.com. Contributing to forums, interacting with each other off and online, the Liberated Muse community continues to thrive and is one of the highlights we are most grateful for this year.

7. Liberated Muse (LM) Partners with the 2009 International Soul Music Summit (ISMS)

While in 2008 Liberated Muse co-founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman was a panelist in the International Soul Music Summit in Atlanta, GA, nothing could be more pleasing than seeing a partnership form between LM and the ISMS which entailed members receiving a discount to participate in the summit and members from the network actually performing at the event. Big ups to those Liberated Muse members who performed and participated, including Chaquis Maliq, Al Chestnut, and Colie Williams. Co-founder of LM, Maceo Thomas got to see first-hand some of the members doing their thang in Atlanta, an arts mecca for performers of color.

6. Liberated Muse's 2nd Annual Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest a Summer Hit Again

Featuring phenomenal performances by numerous acts from the nation's capital and beyond, the CHHSF was a hit, despite park renovations at the festival site and a scorching heat index. The event headliners included Bomani Armah, Head-Roc & GODISHEUS, Teisha Marie, Marcell & the Truth and other faves that were captured in photos you can check out on www.CapitalHipHopSoulFest.com. The fest led to our next highlight which was...

5. Liberated Muse's Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest featured in the Press

Appearing on FOX 5 with Gwen Tolbart to promote the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest was definitely one of the livest press moments of the festival in 2009. Coverage was much appreciated this year, helping to garner the sponsorship by some of the 2009 sponsors of the fest including the US Census Bureau and State Farm Insurance. Festival director Maceo Thomas made rounds sharing the news of the fest, being featured in several print and online publications including National Geographic.com, The Afro, and Examiner.com. We can't begin to thank our media partners enough for their support, with special thanks to Capital Community News for their continued media sponsorship. Click HERE to read LM press coverage for 2009.

4. Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul Makes a 2009 Debut

Liberated Muse members new and old contributed to this book anthology which features prose, poetry, visual art and essays that interpret the concept of the soul and this thing we call freedom. The book became the featured book in the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest and sold over 100 copies in the first month and a half in print. The release of the first literary anthology produced and edited by Liberated Muse's Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman was a 2009 highlight that led to the following top three highlights...

3. A Musical Book Tour to Promote Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul

Putting a spin on the tradition book tour which features readings and author Q and A, the Liberated Muse book tour featured writers from the book and musical performances from performing artists who are members of the Liberated Muse network. The kick-off started at the Potter's House and included stops at the Artomatic and the art store ArtSpring in Silver Spring, MD. Special thanks to all those who were featured during the shows: Quineice Clarkson, Gary Young, Farah Lawal, Stone/Wright, James Terrell, Anonamas, Margaux Delotte-Bennett, Alan King, Ananda Leeke, Jade Andwele, Maureen Mulima, Ozara Ode, Colie Williams and to all of those who attended. All of our book tour shows at the Potter's House allowed us to raise money and have our next highlight...

2. Raising Money for Area Groups Serving Our Community

Our first book tour stop in June at the Potter's House allowed us to raise over $400 to assist students in the DC College Success Foundation's Acheivers Program. While the program assists students in paying for college tuition upon successful completion of high school requirements, the program did not assist with fees associated with room and board application fees, student activities fees, etc. The money raised helped four low-income students pay for these fees and begin school this past Fall 2009. Our show on September 11, 2009 raised funds for the arts collective The Saartjie Project and our last show on November 20, 2009 at the Potter's House raised funds for arts programming at Southeast Ministry, a nonprofit that helps adults earn their GED and fine-tune employment skills.

1. Transforming Places Into Art Spaces: Our First Art Exhibit

The Potter's House became the official brick and mortar home of Liberated Muse in 2009 when the wonderful bookstore, performance venue, restaurant, etc. became the art gallery home of our first art exhibit-- Celebration of Freedom, curated by Liberated Muse member Sharon Burton. The exhibit, inspired by the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul featured artists from the book and other artists from the Liberated Muse network, including Prudence Bonds, Stephan Cox, Keisha Cox, and other artists. Read our past blogs about this wonderful exhibit which ran from Sept. 11 to Dec. 1.

Goapele Show is a Night of Hits and Many Misses

(In photo: Songstress Goapele performs at Liv Nightclub in Washington DC where a packed house enjoyed her classics and tunes from her upcoming CD "Milk & Honey". Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman.)

The line was long. The line was wayyyy long. On Dec. 27-- a Sunday, no doubt-- at about 6pm, folks with advanced tickets to Goapele's 7pm performance stood in line at Liv Nightclub on top of Bohemian Caverns to get in early to grab seats to watch the songstress perform her classics "Butterfly Kisses" and "Closer" with new tunes from her upcoming release "Milk and Honey".

Unfortunately, in this case of waiting in line early, the early bird DID NOT get the worm.

Those of us in line early, arriving at 6:30pm or earlier for the show waited for at least 45 minutes in the bitter cold as the Liv Nightclub staff kept us outside for what they said first was "technical difficulties" then, when one of our group went to inquire 20 minutes later, we were told they were moving tables and chairs. When we saw Goapele actually leave the building at about 6:55pm and jump in a red truck, we weren't feeling too encouraged that the show was going to take place. "She's just going to get something to eat," said one of her entourage members as the door closed, but, of course, we were not thrilled to hear this. It was cold.

(In photo: Goapele's opening act, DC native VRich. Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman)

After waiting in line for a good hour or so and enduring the neighborhood line heckler who had imaginary conversations with folks in line and loudly proclaimed victory over football teams while shouting praise to his religious deity while the infamous DC rats scurried to and fro, we were let in-- we being those with tickets purchased online. Those who had endured the cold in line with us and had expected to buy tickets were told they would not be let in any earlier than 8:30pm and only if space was allowed.

(In photo: Goapele warmed her audience up with some of her favorites, including a cover of Diana Ross' "Love Hangover" Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman)

So those of us with our tickets thawing in our hands walked upstairs to find that when they said earlier that they had moved the chairs and tables, they weren't kidding. They had moved them completely out of the room. There was only standing room. (There were three couches in a roped off area). So, those of us who had waited in line for over an hour to merely get inside had to then stand for the entire show which, at this point, was going to probably extend past 11pm and not start until 8pm. When going to the bar to get warm on liquor, to make matters worse, we were dismayed to find that there were limited selections of alcohol, with some choices just absent-- including Remy and Hennessey--which continued the tone of the evening.

The room quickly filled with folks and before long, we were standing shoulder to shoulder in the small area that contained the small stage, the bar and a roped off area for VIPs who were allowed to sit on a choice of two or three couches. We weren't VIPs on this night, so we continued to stand.

The energy slowly begin to thaw and circulate some positivity when the DJ began to play some music in the interim. He was fantastic. The growing crowd grooved to old school hip-hop and some classic R & B before Goapele's opening act VRich came on stage to perform, with local superstar Alison Carney on backing vocals.

(In photo: Liberated Muse member Hook of MYST studios and Liberated Muse co-founder Maceo Thomas. Photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman)

The evening did get gradually better with the line-waiting fading into distant memory as VRich entertained, showcasing exceptional piano skills and Goapele finally emerging and coming onstage, garbed in a black dress and green stillettos.

"I love your shoes," yelled a gaggle of young women on the side of the stage and Goapele smiled as she warmly greeted her fans.

Her performance began in good humor despite terrible sound which buried her soft vocals underneath the pitchy strike of each note the keyboardist hit. The keyboards were up so high that there had to be dogs down the street that could communicate with each note played. This is not a diss on the keyboardist's skills-- on the contrary. Goapele's entire band of musicians were extremely gifted with her lead guitarist and drummer insanely dope. However, the sound settings were so erratic, and you heard so little of Goapele's voice, that the musical prowess of her musicians could not disrupt the growing frustration over not being able to hear the lyrics long enough to begin singing along with them. The spontaneous screech of the feedback in the speakers that pierced the eardrums of those of us standing closer to the front did not make well the night either.

All in all, some of us left early when photographers and others began to push their bodies forward to get to the front in the crowd that now had spilled out into the hallway and was now becoming a bit claustrophobic. As we left, we couldn't help but be a little disappointed that we forgot to purchase VRich's CD on our way out-- it was on sale that evening for only $5! As we paused on the steps, considering to get the CD now or order later online, the thought of wading through the crowed room flashed in our heads and we decided that heading home at that moment was in our best interest. At last check, we had been standing for over two hours straight and never in our lives had we longed for a chair so bad.

Liberated Muse Attends 7th Anniversary of the Potter's House Sounds of Hope series

(In photo: Kristen Arant , Michael Kweku Owusu, Khadijah Ali-Coleman, & George Perry. Kristen, Kweku and George drummed during the celebration )

The Potter's House has been a valuable supporter of Liberated Muse programming this year-- from the book release celebration to hosting the first art exhibit produced by Liberated Muse productions-- Celebration of Freedom. We have raised funds for two three nonprofits-- DC College Success Foundation, The Saartjie Project & Southeast Ministry thanks to the support of the Potter's House.

To honor the wonderful space that is the Potter's House, Liberated Muse's co-founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman accepted the invitation from Sounds of Hope producer Mary Shapiro to perform and help promote the event.

(In photo: Kristen and Kweku created glorious rhythmic sounds)

The event was wonderful and a great celebration of the holiday season. Check out some of our past events Liberated Muse has produced at the Potter's House:

Congrats to Grammy Nominee Christylez & Seeking Partners for the 2010 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest

Southeast DC native Christon "Christylez" Bacon is a progressive hip-hop artist who is a modern-day Bobby McFerrin with his mission towards cultural acceptance and unification through music and multiple musical abilities ranging from rapping, singing, beat-boxing, to playing numerous instruments, including the ukelele. His recent collaboration with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer on a children's CD garnered him, Fink and Marxer a GRAMMY nomination, announced last night.

Christylez has had a phenomenal 2009, performing nationally and becoming the first hip-hop artist to be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Christylez was one of the first featured acts in the debut of the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest in Washington DC in 2008.

Christylez is already poised to launch a new project in the early months of 2010. In partnership with stage director, Patrick Crowley, Christylez will produce an interdisciplinary concert which will use drama and dance to complement Christylez' musical work. During this production, the Christylez Bacon Orchestra and all new content will also be introduced. The production will result in a concert entitled; Christylez Bacon Theatricalized that will premier at Atlas Theater’s Intersections Festival late February of 2010 and will be comprised of two shows. The production will run until early March of 2010.

Visit Chrisylez' website at www.christylez.com for more information on his work.

Liberated Muse Productions Seeks Partners for 2010 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest

Are you an arts organization or business in the Washington DC metro area seeking an opportunity to be part of one of the largest events that takes place east of the river in Washington DC? If so, we would love for you to become a partner of the 2010 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. For more information, please email us CapitalHipHopSoulFest@gmail.com expressing your interest and to receive an invite to our upcoming Partners Meeting to take place in January 2010. Visit www.CapitalHipHopSoulFest.com for more information on the festival.

Capital Rhythm & Soul this Friday

We are continuing our efforts to take part in the wonderful programming that takes place in the DC metro area throughout the year as a supplement to our annual festival, the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. What better way to do that than through an intimate concert venue and in a way that benefits an area nonprofit?

This Friday, join us for Capital Rhythm & Soul at the Potter's House in Adams Morgan in DC. Featured performers include acoustic soul singer C. Love, hip-hop soul singer Anonamas, R & B diva Mahoganee and Liberated Muse's co-founder Khadijah "Moon" Ali-Coleman, accompanied by Gary Young on guitar. The fantastic Dehejia Maat will host. Check her out below.

The event is $10 and will benefit Southeast Ministry, a local nonprofit in southeast DC that helps adults earn their GED and provides programming to young people throughout the year in the literary arts.

RSVP for the event on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Thanks for attending Liberated Muse events

Thanks for coming out to our events and being part of the community. Click HERE to view photos from yesterday's artist reception opening.

(In photo: Artists featured in the Liberated Muse exhibit "Celebration of Freedom" at the Potter's House at the Meet the Artists event on Nov. 14. Above are Liberated Muse artists/members, Prudence Bonds, Sherry Burton-Ways, James Terrell, and Sharon Burton, who also curated the exhibit.)

H Street Main Street: From Vision to Reality

H Street Main Street From Vision to Reality Public History Project

H Street Northeast is one of the fastest developing commercialcorridors in the District of Columbia. An affiliate of the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation and a certified member of the NationalMain Street Program. We are built around the power of organizationsand volunteers working together.

A shopping hot spot for many of America’s working class for yearsbefore and after the 1968 riots. H Street Main Street seeks toacknowledge the legacy and heritage of a community undergoing urbanrenewal and capture the stories behind the cultural and historicalassets of the one-and-a-half mile commercial corridor, giving thestreet many of it’s unique character and traditions from the 1900’sand beyond.

Input from individuals in the communityis being sought to develop a time line and tapestry of influential people, places, businesses andevents in and around H Street Northeast. They are also in need ofvolunteers- writers, researchers, interviewers, photographers, and you!

Come out on Saturday, November 7 from 11:00 AM -12:30 PM at the MartinLuther King Jr. Library, 901 G Street NW, (Gallery Place Metro) RoomA-5 for an informational session about the project and how you can getinvolved.

For additional information about sponsorship and other details, please
contact T. Isler, Project Director at (202) 250-0466 orharvestpotluck@gmail.com.

This project is sponsored in part by H Street Main Street, the DC Humanities Council and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

Eyewurks Photography's Shan'ta Monroe is featured in Liberated Muse book and art exhibit

(in photo: "I am Art" by Shan'ta Monroe. This piece is featured in the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul)

Shanta Monroe is a photographer, painter and sculptor who likes to transform the everyday…the obvious, into images that border on the surreal. She is owner of Eyewurks Photography. Her play on rich earthy tones and composition heighten the overall mystery of her often abstract images, and give her work a unique esthetic effect and individual style.

Ms. Monroe’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries and periodicals throughout the United States. She is also a poet featured in print and online publications. Currently she freelances for several different publications and is preparing to showcase her paintings and digital photography in galleries and art shows along the east coast. She is based in Prince George’s County, MD.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit Shan'ta on http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to view more photos and read more about her by clicking HERE.

Visit her work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @
The Potter's House
1658 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC
The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network www.LiberatedMuse.com.

Sankofa Doll Artistry's Sherry Burton-Ways in Liberated Muse Art Exhibit in DC

(in photo: Sherry Burton-Ways piece "Cherished", featured in the Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House)

Sherry Burton-Ways, a Washington, DC-based art doll and mixed media artist creates straight from the soul. Ways is a self-taught emerging artist, born in the “City of Brotherly Love”, Philadelphia, PA and raised in rural upstate New York, her imagination and artwork began to evolve slowly. She began working with cloth dolls four years ago after participating in a doll making workshop with notable Washington, DC textile artist Francine Haskins.

Her mixed media work consists of creating meaningful images by bringing together the figurative form of One of a Kind (OOAK) mixed media dolls into a two dimensional textural form on canvas, watercolor paper or other surface as part of a collage. In her work, Ways intricately sews her mixed media art dolls using advanced techniques; others are fused collage with top-stitching, painting, beading or other embellishments. Burton-Ways uses various fabrics, particularly, batiks and African fabric, as her base medium in all her mixed media work. Adding other media such as paper, yarn, Popsicle sticks, canvas pieces, wire, pipe cleaners, photography, watercolor, acrylic paint, beads, metals, crowie shells and most recently spray paint to this base.
Burton-Ways artistic style is influenced by her personal spiritual journey, racism, the feminist movement, and urban life. African and African American folk art movements are also evident in her work.

Her work have recently been published in “Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting and Experiencing the Passion” by Debbie Behan Garrett, Doll Castle News Magazine and Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine. Recently, Burton-Ways has been asked to contribute to another book by another nationally known doll artist. Burton-Ways is a former Board member of the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, in Washington, DC; a member of the Advisory Committee of the Honfluer Gallery in Washington, DC and also serves as a Patron member of the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA).

------------------------------------------------------
Visit Sherry on http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to view more photos and read more about her by clicking HERE

Visit her work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @
The Potter's House
1658 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC
The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network www.LiberatedMuse.com. The exhibit runs from Sept. 11-Dec. 1

Keisha Carroll, Artist Extraordinaire Featured in Liberated Muse Art Exhibit @ the Potter's House

Art imitates life imitates art”.

This is the philosophy that inspires me as I conceptualize my next painting.

I am inspired by my community, my culture, and people that I admire.

While life experiences serve as inspiration, my style, technique, and skill are a result of natural talent, university-level training, and spiritual revelations.

A former professor would comment that I have the ability to capture the spirit of a posing subject. I attribute this to a willingness to go beneath the surface level to learn about my subject. Focusing on the “why” instead of the “what” is, in my opinion, the shortcut to harmony, understanding, and brotherhood. It was around middle school when I discovered a passion for creating art.

After graduating from high school, I went on to study Art Management and Art History at Howard University. My style flows from abstract, through surrealism, and into realism. I do not believe in limiting nor categorizing who I am and what I do as an artist. My influences are the variety of communities I have lived in -New York, Michigan, D.C. My work is a melting pot of Midwestern, Southern and East Coast experiences. Growing up as a daughter of a seamstress, I am often inclined to mimic the appearance of fabric in my work through patterning, folding and dimension. I also incorporate symbolism in most of my work.

I often use West African Adinkra symbols, but sometimes I will develop my own symbols.

-Keisha Carroll

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit Keisha on http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to view more photos and read more about her by clicking HERE

Visit her work in the current Liberated Muse art exhibit at the Potter's House in Washington, DC @

The Potter's House

1658 Columbia Rd NW

Washington, DC

The art exhibit is curated by Sharon Burton of Authentic Contemporary Art. The artwork is from artists from the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul and the network www.LiberatedMuse.com.

Fly Gypsy Representing DC & Beyond

Gums are a-flapping about the hot new hip-hop duo of Kowboy Kom (aka Komplex) and Alexai Tendayi. Music critics are praising the Washington DC-based duo for their ability to attract commercial appeal without compromising musical quality or message. http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ first introduced members to the hip-hop duo Fly Gypsy last year when the duo released the single "The Ruler". The eclectic video, featuring DC's Kuku was an instant fave on the network and pretty soon, Fly Gypsy eclipsed local awareness, gathering a national and beyond following.

Kowboy Kom, the group’s vocalist, moved from Montego Bay, Jamaica to Brooklyn, New York with his family when he was still a child. Growing up in New York during the golden era of Hip-Hop, Kom was inspired by hip-hop artists of West Indian descent coming up in Brooklyn, such as Wyclef Jean, Busta Rhymes, and Notorious B.I.G. When he was in the seventh grade, Kom began to write poetry and rhyme. By his early twenties, Kom rose to become one of the nation’s best recognized spoken word artists and emcees, praised for his clever storytelling, signature style, and natural swagger. He has headlined numerous college tours, appeared on BET J, and opened for artists such as Jill Scott, Dwele, and Doug E. Fresh.

Kom stands apart from other emcees in his preference for performing with a live band, rather than just a DJ. A true musician, who himself plays guitar and dabbles in piano, Kom has an intimate understanding of music and infuses his flow with musicality seldom seen in modern hip-hop.

Alexei, the duo’s producer and its one-man band, grew up on stage, dancing and performing music. Born and raised in Russia during the tumultuous years of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Alexei began playing piano and dancing when he was only six. When he was eight, his parents bought the family’s first double-deck boombox and within a few weeks, Alexei was selling mixtapes in his elementary school.

In his teens, Alexei came to the United States as an exchange student and later returned to attend college. He became known in the DC area with his affiliation with folk soul singer Kuku, collaborating on Kuku's projects and performing in various venues with him, including in Kennedy Center appearances born from an initial meeting at the famous Bar Nun open mic.

Kom and Alexei first met in a freestyle cipher at Bar Nun, as well, the legendary D.C. open mic spot where Raheem DeVaughn cut his teeth. Alexei was playing guitar, and Kom stopped by and dropped some verses. The two exchanged verses and guitar riffs much to the delight of the crowd that gathered around them. They then went on to focus on their individual projects until two years later, when Alexei invited Kom to feature on a hip-hop record that Alexei was working on. Fly Gypsy was born soon after. In a few short months, Kom and Alexei created an impressive collection of music, grown its worldwide fan base and attracted significant interest from the industry. Check out their spot HERE and catch their latest interview on WHUR 96.3 HERE

Liberated Muse Brings Another Celebration of Freedom

This Friday, September 11 @ 7pm, Liberated Muse Productions brings another Celebration of Freedom to the Potter's House in Adams Morgan in Washington DC. The live music extravaganza will feature artists Colie Williams, Ozara Ode, Craig Von, Quineice Clarkson and Gary Young and spoken word artistry from Jade Andwele and Margaux Delotte-Bennett of the Saartjie Project. Andwele and Delotte-Bennett are featured writers in the book Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul, the first volume in the Liberated Muse anthology series.

This performance event is part of the book tour for Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed my Soul. Tour stops have included this past summer's Artomatic, the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest and a previous appearance at the Potter's House during the Friday Sound of Hope benefit concert series produced by Mary Shapiro in June. Proceeds from the June showcase went to students from DC's east of the river area who were beginning college this Fall as part of the DC College Success Foundation program. Proceeds helped the students pay for entrance fees, including housing deposits.

This Friday, Sept. 11, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Saartjie Project's outreach work with young people. The Saartjie Project is an artist collaborative that performs work inspired by the life of Saartjie Baartman, the woman known as the Hottentot Venus.

Submit Your Visual Art Today for the Fotoweek DC Festival: DEADLINE 9/13

Entries to the 2009 Fotoweek DC Festival are pouring in, according to Fotoweek DC's website, and with the Sunday, September 13th deadline just around the corner, it is encouraged that you submit your best work!

The annual festival, November 7th to 14th, is shaping up to be yet another amazing year with critically acclaimed international exhibitions, portfolio reviews at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, stimulating lectures by sought after photographers, and exciting events throughout the metropolitan area.

Nine good reasons why you should enter!

* Have your work displayed at FotoWeek DC Festival Nov 7-14, 2009

* $21,500 in cash awards

* Media & online exposure at fotoweekdc.org

* National Geographic Society Awards Ceremony & VIP Reception Nov 5, 2009

* Published in Limited Edition 2010 FotoWeek DC Book

* Open to all professionals, amateurs, and students around the world!!

* Entries judged in 12 separate categories (including social documentary and multimedia)* Images accepted in digital, film, cell phone, and alternatives processes

* Distinguished p judgesEnter no later than 11:59pm PST on Sunday, September 13th!

Visit http://www.fotoweekdc.org/ for a complete listing of award categories, eligibility, rules, judges and information on FotoWeek DC 2009.

The Celebration of Freedom Continues

This is one of the upcoming stops on the book tour for Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul. Hope you can make it out!

New Photos From OFFICIAL CHHSF Photographer & Fun Coverage From the Event

So, the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is now history, taking place on Saturday, July 25 in Marvin Gaye Park in Washington DC...can we say SUCCESS!? The second annual event boasted high attendance, two stages, freebies and vendors galore on one of the hottest days of the summer despite construction debris and untidy renovation taking place in the park.

Here are what some folks are saying in the press*...

"There was a fair amount going on here – good rotation of musicians on the main stage, vendors hawking their wares, a fashion show, indoor performance space, delicious crabcakes, sunshine, cool breezes, and at one point, people randomly walking around and giving out Blue Bunny frozen yogurt bars (side note: try this stuff, particularly white chocolate raspberry). Pretty fantastic. Tough to beat free fro-yo, greasy carnival food, and live hiphop on a warm July afternoon." -Chris Svetlik, BrightYoungThings.com

"...a great festival last Saturday called Capitol Hip Hop Soul Festival at Marvin Gaye park in Northeast and had a blast, lots of local hip hop and soul artists who really poured their hearts out with their music.” -photographer Néstor Sánchez Cordero, quoted on blog Prince of Petworth

"Many view this festival as a testament to dedication in establishing a strong hip-hop scene."- Ra-Jah Kelly, The Washington Informer

We would like publicly thank the following members of Liberated Muse.com who had a role in the success of the event:

Turtel Onli, GeminiVisions, Sankofa Doll Artistry, Shan'ta Monroe, Choke, Vernessa Blackwell, Mary Gaskins, MYST Studios, all of the performing artists featured, Kevin Sabio, Mary-Frances of Capital Community News, Ron Johnson, and anyone else we may not have mentioned who spread the word, attended, vended, sent well-wishes or referred someone our way who was able to help out. The Liberated Muse network has demonstrated its community and committment to promoting the arts and we are so happy to be in community with you!

Visit our site www.LiberatedMuse.com or our Facebook fan page at http://www.new.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/pages/Liberated-Muse/21953095543 to view new photos from the event. There are over 500 photos from this great day!!!! If you are on Facebook, make sure you tag yourself in the photos of yourself you see!


*we didn't post the link to the Washington Informer because there was inaccurate information regarding the number of folks who attended and an incomplete listing of who performed and other inaccuracies."


All photos above by Shan'ta Monroe of Eyewurks

The Liberated Muse Weekend Was a Hit!

This past weekend on June 19 and June 20, members of the Liberated Muse community joined forces to kick-off the celebration of the new book "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul".

On Fri, June 19, actress Farah Lawal and poets Maureen Mulima & Margaux Delotte-Bennett shared readings from the book while musical guests James Terrell, Dee Stone, Gary Young, Quiniece Clarkson and Anonamas entertained the crowd with their musical prowess. The event was also a benefit show raising money for four students who are scholarship recipients from the DC College Success Foundation. Although, they are set to receive an Achievers Scholarship, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, these students are not helped with the up front costs such as housing deposits and enrollment fees necessary to even begin school and utilize the scholarship. Almost $400 was raised to on June 19 to assist with these costs.

(In photo: Dee Stone @ the Artomatic)

On Sat, June 20, Liberated Muse took the show to the Artomatic in DC. Performer Teisha Marie joined Farah Lawal, Gary Young and Quineice Clarkson for this hour-long show as the crowd learned about the new book and the upcoming Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest.

(In photo: Farah Lawal @ the Artomatic)

If you missed it, don't worry. You can catch us on Fri, July 3 @ the Artomatic as we kick off the 4th of July weekend!

(In photo: Quineice Clarkson and Gary Young @ the Artomatic)

Visit the network at http://www.liberatedmuse.com/ to view more photos from both shows at the Potter's House and the Artomatic.

Make sure you buy the book "Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul" by clicking HERE

TODAY!!!!!