Public Knowledge Records Winter Ball at No. 9

Steppin out with Chill Ms Jackson
Public Knowledge Records Winter Ball at No. 9

Out hitting the indie music scene this past weekend I had the opportunity to check out some of Upstate New York's hottest  new underground artists. When most people think of Upstate New York they think of sub zero temps and blowing snow but there was a definite heat wave hitting Watertown, NY this past Friday. Grass roots label, Public Knowledge Records held down a showcase at Club No. 9 that exceeded expectations. The venue itself is a sweet surprise. The outside of the venue looks like it could be any local pub, but inside, it's allllll class, employs a bar staff that is warm and attentive and drinks that are reasonably priced. The venue's event coordinator and promoter, Cassie Booth

also happens to have a soft spot for local hip hop artists who often are not given the opportunity to perform live in the city. According to Cassie, the No. 9's owners never intended to hold live performances but allowing local hip hop an in has brought about a notable physical transformation and "defined a club that was previously lacking an identity."

This plays out well for PKR one of two Upstate New York local music movements that frequently showcases local talent at No. 9 and other area venues. The label which is headed by CEO Jonathan Huntsman, was responsible for booking the performers, putting on the sound and coordinating the lineup. The show featured several artists from the PKR roster: Max Hammer; Special; FABE; Ronin and Ill Theory (Jonathon Huntsman) as well as some staples from the Syracuse hip hop scene: BMG's; GNetics' and Roche performed along with Round Table Entertainment's CEO and producer Uneek Beats; Exotics; Chi-Tiz and Oswego's enigmatic duo Def One and MC IQ of Enajyram.


Each act brought a unique sound to the stage and PKR artists continually brought the fire with collaborations that monopolized on the diversity of styles each performer possesses. To get a taste of the PKR catalog and other local hip hop acts check out their next two events and their bandcamp page: Individual artist links can be found in the text above.

Public Knowledge at Paddock Club March 23rd

PKR HipHop Holidaze April 20th

Public Knowledge Records on Bandcamp

Fergie Kills It at the NBA All-Stars Game As in Her Career

We all have a lane and while everyone should try something new on occasion there are certain lanes one should never travel down. For example, while I love singing, the possibility that I would ever do it anywhere outside of my shower or in my car are slim to none. Last night at the NBA All-Star game, a very sultry looking Fergie went down one such lane. In fact while I was reviewing her performance and the final high note that thankfully laid the anthem to rest, my Facebook app crashed.

Fergie has always been one of my favorite pop icons. As an entertainer she's amazing, as anthem songstress material not so much. Her version is being compared to Marilyn Monroe's, "Mr. President" or someone's drunk mom trying to act sexy which brings to mind her 2016 release of the song M.I.L.F.$. While her last album release performed only moderately well this past fall, she did actually manage to crush something and that was the memories of the notoriously bad anthem attempts made by Carl Lewis and Roseanne Bar as some of the worst anthem renditions ever. In fact, in a pretty effortless manner, Fergie managed to make last night look a little like Karaoke night at the All Stars. It's pretty safe to say that Fergie might make another billboard list this year, but it may not happen unless Billboard revises their recently released list of the 10 Worst National Anthem Performances Ever. 

I have to wonder if managing one's own music career is a good move. A good manager would have possibly stopped what looked like a bad case of career suicide and while Fergie looked great doing it in ironically an almost funeral appropriate black dress, I have to regretfully remind her, not everything is for everyone, sis.

The CHILL Girl Commandments I

Some months ago I developed the original CHILL Girl Commandments. It was recently brought to my attention that only one other person has their own set of Commandments and that's God. While I'm far too humble to compare myself to the most high by whichever name you choose to call him, I guess I gotta agree with just one thing... I am pretty damn chillastic and every chillastic girl needs her own set of commandments. So while mine are pretty dope each woman must develop her own but please do use mine as somewhat of a guideline to develop and rock your own. There is no other you no matter what any fool tries to tell you. As women we are probably 95% of us highly emotional creatures unless of course you're one of the women featured in Snapped who cuts up her husband into tiny pieces and mails them one by one to his mother for Christmas without batting a lash and smearing your eyeliner. Then you're just a stone cold killer and well um more like a man. Yes that was a sexist comment, all in good fun boys. Without further ado I give you the original set of commandments in their entirety:

#Chill Girl Commandment # 10: He who invites you to Netflix n Chill and doesn't even have his own subscription to #Netflix gets NO CHILL #NetflixnChill #nochill #chillmsjackson#GetYaLifeRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #9 He who wants you to "Do it for the Vine" but can't even afford to bring a bottle of wine doesn't deserve your time! #NoChill#doitforthevine #GetYaLifeRight #chillmsjackson

#Chill Girl Commandment #8 If he can't afford to take you on a date but his #XBox and porn site subscriptions are straight consider it a sign from fate! #NoGamers #PornAddict #chillmsjackson#GetYaLifeRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #7 There's a time to let fate sort things out and then there's a time to go for that restraining order girl. #Creeper#StrangerDanger #NoChill #chillmsjackson

#Chill Girl Commandment #6 If he crosses himself and has the fear of death in his eyes every time he climbs into your whip but he STILL climbs into your whip he might be a keeper either that or he just really needs a ride. #WomenDrivers #Keeper#chillmsjackson

#Chill Girl Commandment #5 If it looks like a rat, smells like a rat, moves like a rat chances are it is a rat no matter how blue those eyes are. Depending on how far south your moral compass points he might be all right to #Chill with as long as he doesn't take your ish but he's definitely not BF material. #FCF #feloncrushfriday #NoChill#chillmsjackson #GetYaLifeRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #4 Speak softly but carry a big stick. Never lay all your cards on the table and save the big guns for when you really need them.#AWomanScorned #Chillout #chillmsjackson#GetYaMindRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #3 If he has any number of baby mamas and spends any number of nights at her/their house during the week you're not about to be in a relationship you're heading for a situationship and you should probably bail unless you're cool with being the side chic. That being said if there is no drama don't make any. If you love him you love his kids too. #BabyMamaDrama #NoChill#chillmsjackson #BradyBunch #GetYaMindRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #2 She who makes the car payment drives the car. Period. Don't be so quick to let him take the driver's seat with your life. If he doesn't respect your boundaries and your grind he doesnt respect you and you're in for a bad ride. Its nice to share if he's a keeper but if he thinks what's yours is his two weeks in he's probably a Communist and you should run regardless.#FreeRide #NoCommies #NoChill #ChillMsJackson#GetYaMindRight

#Chill Girl Commandment #1 Be ready willing and able to be a self made woman because nothing in life comes without a pricetag. If you do decide to take a partner in crime make sure you both can hold yourselves down before you even think about holding each other otherwise consider him a recreational sport. #SugarDaddy #SugarMama#SelfMade #ChillMsJackson #GetYaLifeRight

A Small Slice of American Pie: Trump Turns Election Year 2016 Into Aother 3-Ring Circus

Let's talk a little politics shall we? Pretty sure the rest of the world sits back and gets ready for a good laugh when the United States starts gearing up for a new election year and 2016 will be no exception with Trump leading the Republication Nomination Polls it's looking like once again the Republicans are going to be trying to grab the chief officer's seat with yet another candidacy built on hate and exclusion. First you had 2012 with Mitt Romney who insults one of our country's oldest allies while in their country, gets caught making disparaging remarks about the "kind of people" who will be voting for Obama and now there's Trump a man who can dress a  building in gold but can't put a decent weave on his head, I can't get behind that y'all let alone tolerate his all out annihilation on the character of Latinos it's looking like another three ring circus to me. Every clown deserves a good parody, Trump is no exception, It is my job to review and recommend videos after all so I have two that I recommend and trust me when I tell you Trump is providing unlimited parody fodder with this campaign so there are many more where they came from...

 In response to what has grown into an anti-Latino/Immigration based platform by Trump, the VL Action Network in conjunction with the comedy group Room 28 made a video called "I Won't Vote for Trump" The track features E-40 Elmo DeFalco rappin over Big Sean's IDFWU instrumentals.

 

For a Second parody check out the nightly show's Mark Yard, who shares why he thinks Trump might have the black vote all tied up... he alludes to Trump's Hip Hop Ways and claims he's like 90's Hip Hop all day long. The correlations? Trump loves gold, he rolls deep, has his own vodka and cologne, tons o baby mamas,court appearances, bankruptcies and beef...

In truth the man has more beef than Biggie, Tupac, 50 cent, Lil Kim and Remy Ma over the entirety of their careers combined. He's beefing with Senator Lindsey Graham,  Jorge Ramos, Oreo, El Chapo, Neil Young, (for as Mark states, jackin his beat no less), Rick Perry, Mac Miller & nearly every city in the United States and that's just the tip of the iceberg. In short the man is douchey. That's right I said douchey not Gucci... he is clearly the epitome of how having money does not mean having class or social intelligence. Chill Ms Jackson for President in 2020 y'all!!!

HOTT New Single: You Do Me Right PanicBoy Pee x Mr.Jones x SUTN x CoKe Da Don

My pick for the Best in Show Summer Video for Syracuse of 2015 is in! The Infinite Recordz Family dropped it's first official single, You Do Me Right earlier this month. The track is sweet, the combined talents of Panic Boy Pee, Mr. Jones, SUTN and Coke Da Don made for a nice collaboration and that video though! The Infinite family runs deep in this one with the boys and girls of Infinite out doing what they do, making the most of their summer days and nights showing you exactly what your summer should have been all about.... convertibles, the lake, the fireworks, maybe even a little love if you were lucky. The musical composition is sweet and lulls this girl into that dreamy state of "hmmmm when was the last time someone made me feel this way?" and then I'm all the hell with that Infinite Redordz is makin me feel that way right now and I can hit replay as many times as I like, the feel good doesn't have to stop. Imagine crusin on a warm summer night with a cool breeze tousling your hair, the man beside you ready to take you wherever you want to go because he truly appreciates all that you do for him and you just know he's gonna hold you down no matter what comes your way... oh yeah, that love you're feelin... it's Infinite. This song moves me... makes me want to close my eyes and just fall into the back of that convertible and trust where ever those Infinite boyz are taking me. Check it out ladies and tell me you don't feel the same...

CAREER PROFILE: Syracuse NY Emcee TALL BUCKS

With the CNY summer weather or lack there of being a bit of a disappointment as of late and the two official signs of summer's end rapidly approaching - the New York State Fair and the start of the school year in September, this CHILL blogger looks to the career announcements of Syracuse's hottest artists for some fire to light up August's waning summer nights... much loved and respected Syracuse emcee, Tall Bucks is on the radar this time. Syracuse born and bred, Bucks holds no bones when it comes to acknowledging the city that made him every time he takes to the stage or the fact that he's true Hip Hop to the core, with no desire to ride the trap or pop trend wave inundating Hip Hop these days. He stands on his merits in music and in life and provides fans a true rip right off the cuff of New York Hip Hop lyricism.



His love for his city is as genuine as his performances and can be evidenced by the care and craftsmanship that went into developing his single, Shot Clock, an homage to Syracusean originator of the NBA's Syracuse Nationals, Danny Biasone's contribution to basketball. The 24 second shot clock rule spearheaded by Biasone has been credited with revolutionizing the game of basketball, another of Buck's true loves. When college basketball season gets live in Syracuse, Bucks bleeds orange from his eyes and ears right along with the rest of his city.  

No stranger to the music game, Bucks has been at this for over a decade and like a fine wine he's only getting better with time. His progression as an artist has been due not only to his profound talent but to his work ethic as well. He's come to the realization that putting out good music isn't the only key to success and has been heavily invested in building his brand at home and abroad and is signed to the management team of Howzdat Entertainment in New York. Perhaps one of the hardest working artists in his city, the performances never end for Bucks. When he's not appearing at some of Syracuse's more well known venues such as the Westcott Theater or Funk n Waffles, he can be found performing at choice venues along the East Coast including Manhattan's historic Village Underground, NYC's Toshi's Livingroom & Penthouse and New Jersey's The Blue Room Lounge.


What greater reward and testament to hard work can there be for a rising emcee than to open for acts who have had a strong impact upon his career? Citing Hip Hop's Mobb Deep as one of his favorite groups coming up as a kid during a recent interview with Big Slim and Tee of Syracuse radio's LIVE FROM THE BOX, Bucks had the opportunity to open for Mobb Deep's Prodigy at The Blue Room last year. He has also opened for Slick Rick and Akir when they made their appearances in Syracuse and next month will see Bucks reach yet another career milestone in the performance arena when he opens for the Dipset Reunion Tour in Rochester, NY on September 5th, a move negotiated by his manager, Miss Mo, of Howzdat Entertainment.  

Next up on the emcee's show card... Saturday, August 22nd Upstate Heat 2 at Funk n Waffles Downtown Syracuse, a concert series produced and hosted by Syracuse producer Shantel Reed (Uneek Beats) of RoundTable ENT and Dianna Merritt of EC Radio & Promotions. Bucks was a performer at the first Upstate Heat installment this past April. Saturday's show promises to be all that the first one was and more with some of April's artists bringing their heat back to Reed's stage along with a slew of newcomers to the series. This Chill Ms will be front and center ready to show love for the game and specifically to hear more of Buck's new material, something he's guaranteed to bring to every one of his performances.


Links to Tall Bucks' social media channels and music can be found below. His discography is available on DattPiff and a new studio album is in the works for an anticipated November 2015 release. The album, The American Lie, is a collaboration with long time co-creator and friend, Syracuse producer and fellow emcee, Timothy Rogers (TJ) of Timothy J Productions. The album claims only two features, Martino Storm and Elizabeth Canino both also of Syracuse, NY. I have had the opportunity to be present for some of the album's production and can confidently say that the duo will be delivering both social commentary and entertainment in one highly prolific and timeless package just in time to for the holidays. I am greedily rubbing my hands together in anticipation.  

Links

Instragram/buckscity315

Howzdatentertainment.com/tallbucks/
Twitter/talbucks315
Soundcloud/tallbucks315
Youtube.com/TallBucks

Interviews

LIVE FROM THE BOX Interview Part I (May 2015)
LIVE FROM THE BOX Interview Part II (May 2015)

Discography

Angels & Demons

Apollo 13 2013

Underground Hip Hop Alert: For Josh Jessmore of Enajyram the Grass Really is Greener on the Other Side

Sometimes a change in the air is just what the doc ordered. Bandmates Josh Jessmore (The Def One) & Wes Riggs (IQ) have been grinding it out here in New York State as members of Enajyram for years. The group originated in the early 2000s when the underground hip hop scene was exploding and found themselves influenced by the movements of labels such as Rhymesayers, Stones Throw and Quannum and have opened for other underground groups such as Sophistafunk, John Brown's Body, Subsoil and Badfish. After having weathered many transitions that might have brought bands of lesser mettle to a screeching halt, core members, Josh and Wes, are still standing. Even now with miles between them, approximately 1700 to be exact, the duo is continuing to collaborate and expand their fanbase.

The Def One found himself ready for greener pastures (pun intended) and decided to move operations to one of the greenest states in the West where Wake n Bake Wednesday has been given a whole new more relaxed vibe for the emcee. A beatmaker since the age of 14, Josh has transitioned himself into a proficient writer, rapper and producer. Currently he's embarked on a solo career and is working on his first solo project, The DEF-initive Mixtape Series. The first volume which was originally scheduled to drop in 2016 may be ready as soon as next month and features 9 tracks no collabs with beats from DJ Marsiv, Davobeats, and D-Stylez. A full album release is also in the works and will be announced later this year. Perhaps that fresh Colorado air and free-spirited atmosphere has done The Def One right. Not only has he been churning out new material, but he currently sits at number 2 on the Colorado Springs Reverbnation chart.

The Fool

Emcee IQ ain't too shabby his damn self with the solo career grind. He's made his first studio album, The Fool, available for free download on bandcamp and another album may be in the works. Maybe IQ will also choose to leave the more conservative Syracuse, NY area behind to immerse himself in the same artistically therapeutic indie music scene that has swallowed The Def One whole, chewed up and spit out with renewed vigor and vision. Only time will tell. One thing is for certain though, the lyrical gifts of Wes Riggs should not burn out on the brown CNY soil.

Dirty Hairy

With songs like maryjanE and their brand name alone, Enajyram obviously flies two tokes off the beaten bath and time has proven that diversity's got nothing on their franchise! In fact, like thier track One Trick Tony states, it can't touch them with a ten foot pole. Give your tastebuds a treat by following the links below to Enajyram's full discography on bandcamp and the Def One's new projects on SoundCloud. If you're feeling appreciative of thier grind and want to be the first to get the 411 on new projects and updates, give them a follow on their social media channels. While you're at it download Enajyrams last digital album Dirty Hairy. With an album cover like that you know this has to be nerdrap at its finest!

This Chill Ms is smitten and you'll find me where the very cool Enajyram wind blows. Oh and by the way happy Wake n Bake Wednesday!

enajyram

Links

Soundcloud/TheDefOne
therealenajyram.bandcamp.com
twitter.com/therealenajyram
Reverbnation.com/defone5
Facebook.com/Enajyram
Facebook.com/DefOne