Artists That May Be New To You

There seems to be tons of new music being dropped by artists we know and love, including yesterday's new music drop from Sade and Jaheim and upcoming CD releases we will soon get from the likes of Faith Evans and Mariah Carey to the newly reunited group Groove Theory.

Here at Liberated Muse, we always like to spread the word about acts that may not be as well-known as the names above, but who are bringing the fire with new music that stretches the confines of the box. Check them out! (Both reviews can be read in their original post at www.Soulbounce.com).

MEGAN LIVINGSTON



I came across the music of Labtekwon after a chance meeting on Facebook in 2008 and was totally dazzled by the lyrical prowess of this quirky Hip-Hop MC who is the epitome of originality and out-of-the-box ingenuity. His video for "Activator" was an immediate favorite but it was the video for "Tao of Slick" that I enjoyed most of all, particularly feeling the lyrics of the female vocalist on his track, New Jersey native Megan Livingston aka Hazel Black. Her vocal stylings--reminiscent of Amel Larrieux with a kiss of Sy Smith--were instantly alluring yet lulling.


So, how happy I was to be tagged in a Facebook posting by Labtekwon sharing his friend Megan's foray into the indie music scene as a solo artist. He shot and edited her first solo video in his abstract style that has become his visual trademark. The song, "The One," from her forthcoming CD Black Beckee (Ankh Ba Records) is a melodious masterpiece. Still channeling the spirit that fills Mrs. Larrieux, Megan's pretty crystal clear vocals glide over the rich jazzy music landscape composed by Thur Deephrey.

Read More HERE

NNEKA


"The daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka Egbuna was born in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria at the height of its new found wealth in the mid 70s," reads the bio on her website. But, while her biracial heritage and looks that resemble Amel Larrieux could easily cast her away as a wanna-be clone of the Groove Theory songstress, Nneka comes strong with a sound, personality and flavor all her own. If she reminds you of anyone, it is probably Floetry's Natalie Stewart once she starts breaking into rhyming like on the track "Showing Love" and her accented vocals tear into the track.

Yes, she raps. She is a musician, singer AND rhymer, and she handles all three with finesse.

Her new 12-track CD Concrete Jungle is an aural ride. With ease, she navigates the genres of Reggae, Rock, Acoustic Soul and Hip Hop. And, on this disc, Fela's Afrobeat lives. Few artists can succeed at this without sounding like a garbled mess--most have their schtick and stick to it. But,not Nneka. She doesn't have only one thing/sound that she does well. She seems to be mastering most genres pretty damn well.

Read the entire review HERE

Indie Label Snatches Up DC Grammy Nominee, Kokayi (That Rhymes. Cool)

New York City Independent hip hop label, QN5 Music, has signed Washington, DC’s Grammy-nominated emcee/singer/producer, Kokayi, to its official stable of innovative artists and producers. Pronounced “Ko-Kah-Yee” (or KOKE for short), this 202-native takes his name from the Swahili word meaning “to summon the people”.

Musically self-sufficient and versatile in ways that the QN5 roster is known for, he produces his own music, writes his own rhymes, sings from the gut and is self-taught on several instruments. A prime example of QN5’s New Hip Hop aesthetic, Kokayi joins the label as an in-house producer and artist who will release the sophomore follow-up to his independently released 2007 debut Mass Instructions.

On his own, he’s already managed to tour the world and snag the aforementioned Grammy nod for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for his collaboration with vocalist Wayna. What’s equally impressive, is his prolific output. Kokayi is keeping busy on multiple fronts with appearances on forthcoming QN5-releases as well as several side-projects already in the works – including a joint-project with producer Sharkey entitled Dastardly and a full-length project with his Afropunk band, The Caesarz.

"Honestly I pour everything out on a song. It allows me to free myself from any inhibitions,” Kokayi says of his approach to music. “If I can move people that say they don’t like hip hop, than I know my job is done.”

“I’ve always been extremely proud of the roster I’ve assembled under the QN5 banner and I’m highly selective of who we work with – but when I heard Kokayi’s Mass Instructions album, I was floored,” says QN5 label founder, Tonedeff. “This is a cat who seamlessly blends genres without so much as flinching and brings his own unique sound, slang and vibe to the table. His talent won’t allow him to play by the rules, so QN5 is definitely the perfect place for him.”

Also on the QN5 label is hip-hop sensation Substantial, currently on a European tour. Substantial is a featured performer in the 2009 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, a Liberated Muse Production.

Calling All Artists!! The Saartjie Project Celebrates New Logo and Kicks Off Visual Showcase!

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! THE SAARTJIE PROJECT™ CELEBRATES NEW LOGO & KICKS OFF VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

The Saartjie Project™ is proud to unveil its official logo, designed by DC-based Artist and Facilitator, Helina Metaferia. The logo has been dubbed, “Bearers of Light” by Founder Jessica Solomon.

She says, “This simple yet powerful symbol represents the collective creative healing energy we bring to issues and topics that are often missing our voices.”

The Saartjie Project™ is sending a rallying cry to all artists and artistically inclined peoples! Help us celebrate the launch of our logo by participating in our Visual Arts Showcase. Recreate “Bearers of Light” using the medium of your choice.

How will you add your artistic flair? Get creative!

All entries will be apart of a community exhibit in Washington D.C. this December.

The Visual Arts Showcase is open to all ages, backgrounds and levels of ability. Submissions may include, but are not limited to: water color, photography, sketches, and digitally created art. Submissions must represent the likeness of The Saartjie Project™ logo.

Entries must be submitted to The Saartjie Project by Friday, December 5th at 5pm.

Entries can be submitted electronically at info@thesaartjieproject.org, or by mail to: Visual Arts Showcase, 3802 14th Street, NW, Suite 702, Washington, DC 20011.

Still Time to Register for the Re:Verse Literary Conference & Festival

You can still take part of this very relevant conference & festival. Liberated Muse co-founder Khadijah Ali-Coleman is one of the presenters. Kudos to author Felicia Pride and the Literary Freedom Project for hosting and creating this forum.

Visit http://reversefestival.com/08.htm
for more info.

Here are the conference workshops:

Conference Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Location: Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149th St., Bronx, NY

The Re:Verse Literary Conference revitalizes the importance of books in the lives of young people.The conference presents creative ways for keeping literature and books valuable sources of knowledge and creativity.

This series of professional-development workshops will help educators incorporate literature into existing curricula to further explore course work that focuses on cultures, history, and social studies.The mission is to bring a love of literature back into the classroom in new, unique, and exciting ways.
Regular registration: $15, October 1 through October 25All conference attendees will receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Mosaic Literary Magazine ($24 value) and lunch.http://reverse.eventbrite.com

Session I: 12:00n-1:15pm
Conscious Women Rock the Page: Using Hip Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change
Conscious Women Rock the Page to support educators who wish to use hip-hop fiction in their classrooms to explore social issues and promote activism among their students.

Instructors: Jennifer Calderon, Elisha Miranda, Sofia Quintero, and Marcella Runell Hall

Puerto Rican and Dominican Poetry in the Classroom
This workshop will explore the work of poets from the rich cultural communities Puerto Rican and Dominican and ways to use their work in the classroom.

Instructor: Rich Villar

Session II: 1:30-2:45pm
Revisiting the Role of Literature & Culture in the Classroom through Art & the Written Word
Revisiting the Role of Literature will explore the fusion of culture, literature, and visual arts in new ways; global community building through literature; and the role played by literature, art and the new media in the creation of a heritage and cultural identity

Instructors: Gabrielle David and Nikita Hunter

The Bridge is Over: Connecting Young Adults with Engaging, Age-Appropriate Literature
The Bridge is Over will provide educators and youth providers with strategies to identify and work with engaging multicultural young adult literature.

Instructor: Felicia Pride/BackList

Lunch: 2:45-3:30pm

Session III: 3:45-5:00pm
Learning About Ourselves and Each Other: How Reading Diverse Text Promotes Tolerance and Boundary-Stretching
This workshop will engage participants in discussion and activity that identifies ways to engage urban youth in literary pursuits that include reading about and discussing literary texts by authors who are culturally different or write about characters who are different culturally in any way ranging from ethnicity and religion to nationality and gender.

Instructor: Khadijah Ali-Coleman

Poems as Speech Acts and Accommodating Forms
Workshop participants will read aloud and analyze three to four contemporary poems by different poets and discuss how our attitudes, beliefs, and our understanding of diction, tone, and context influence us to arrive at the poet's intended meaning.

Instructor: Charles H. Lynch