TAG: Over the past few years

Jul23

Agent of Change :: Finale (Exclusive Q&A)

Detroit has long be lauded as a breeding ground for music elite. Berry Gordy and the illustrious Motown Records, the trailblazing production of James “J Dilla” Yancey, the rabid and equally sharp-witted rhymes of Eminem; these men are but a drop in the bucket when surveying the musical legacy of the Motor City. But now in the wake of a crippled auto industry, a crumbling economy, and a failing education system the city is ripe for new unfaltering heroes. Backed by heavy bass lines, resonant horn samples, and gritty snare drums the erstwhile Derek Cooper, 28, is ready for his place in the rap pantheon. The East Side resident, who released his debut—A Pipe Dream And a Promise—earlier this year, recently spoke to URB about his troubled city rebounding, what it’s like working with Prince Whippa Whip …

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Jan21

Humanity: LA’s fieldtrip to the I.E.

This past Sunday, French DJ Toxic Avenger and a crew of Los Angeles based DJ’s, Steve Aoki, Blake Miller, Paparazzi and Less Than Zero broke out the tables and performed in the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. The crowd was crazy and security on stage was lax, during a few moments in the show the stage was packed with dancing kids having the time of their lives.

The event was called Humanity and it was thrown by B & M productions, who seem to be only giving Riverside what it desires. Over the past few years, the Riverside dance electro scene has seen visitors such as Crystal Castles, Boys Noize, Le CastleVania, Guns n Bombs, Acid Girls and more.

It seems probable that Riverside, deep within California’s Inland Empire, could become a major stop along the nations indie-electro dance …

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Sep08

Dub Leaves the Bedroom: Jah Division and Awesome Color Live in Brooklyn, NY

“It started with the name,” said Jah Division drummer Chris Millstein, from the back room at Glasslands in Brooklyn, NY, secret herbs and spices in the air. This origin might indicate a gimmick and definitely a joke suited for High Fidelity. But Jah Division, a reggae inspired pun on Joy Division, manifested into something cultish and real over the past few years, much to the band’s surprise. Particularly, it’s always new when eager audiences show up and space out.

Featuring members of prog and psych Oneida and Home amongst others, the group converts Joy Division basslines and rhythms into …

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Feb02

Remember Lamb?

After ten years together, Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes amicabaly split up Lamb in 2004, thus sounding the death throes of quality trip-hop for all future generations. Truly sad. Over the past few years, though, different members have quietly released solo projects that should whet the appetites of lunatic Lamb fans like myself. (Holla!)

Vocalist Lou Rhodes started her own label, Infinite Bloom, to release her first solo album in '06. Beloved One is full-on acoustic folk music. (Think hand drums, not 808's.) Her pipes are still incredible and she's still got that peerless range, but gone are all the electronic bells and whistles. You can hear tracks on her Myspace page here. Former Lamb guitarist Oddur Runnarson is also releasing an EP of material on her label.

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