Entertaining A Worthy Cause
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DMV performing artists are frequently called on to make appearances at worthy charity functions. No matter what causes
they’ve already supported we strongly recommend they consider coming together to lend a hand to the Coach Nick Lynch Foundation. In this town, nothing else they do would be more meaningful.
Suitland High School head football coach Nick Lynch died in a tragic automobile accident on December 31, 2008. At that moment a highly regarded mentor and surrogate father to a great many young men, and women, was lost. His impact on the lives of his team participants and students extended throughout the area. Nick Lynch was more than a coach. He was an example of how a man should live his life; contribute to his society, and work to make a positive impression on youth.
So “We Recommend” the Coach Nick Lynch Foundation to every artist, promoter, and venue owner in the DMV. And we’d like to suggest a number of ways you can help the organization accomplish its mission of promoting life-changing opportunities for students and ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed. Make a donation, or mention the foundation on Twitter or your Facebook page. Host a benefit, or make an announcement at your next event. Your influence matters. It can really help a worthy cause to realize its goals. Contact the Coach Nick Lynch Foundation for additional information.
VIDEO BRIEFS
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“Cool” - Laelo Hood, featuring Lyriciss and Pro’Verb
We like the narrative backdrop for this video with Laelo Hood assuming the character of a Boss and spitting over Shaft themed beats. His flow is precise, evocative, and sets up the follow on features by Pro-Verb and Lyriciss. Of course folks who’ve heard them would expect nothing less than excellent delivery from each and they don’t disappoint. It’s a good video, reminiscent of the early days of Hip Hop videos when the narrative was on equal par with the music. Produced by Raw Footage with the wardrobe provided by Rock It Again, this is a fun video and definitely ready for Da Stage.
The good folks at Red Eye Films sent us this video and it took us less than a minute to know we wanted to feature it. DC Don Juan was number 9 on WKYS’s list of the hottest 2010 DMV rappers and there are plenty of his videos to choose from. But this one shows him up close and personal in what he calls his JuanMix of Weezy’s original. It’s raw emotion set against a backdrop framing him seated in a chair in a room, alone and in touch with his feelings. It works well because it conveys a moment in time every guy, or woman, can connect to. The video footage strengthens as it goes along with a nice close. Good work from DC Don Juan and from Red Eye.
“SwagBeat” - $urreal, featuring Reaction Band
They’ve got Howard U roots but $urreal has a rapidly expanding fan base. They can handle the microphones as you can see from this video produced by Corbin Howard. The hookup with the great Reaction Band is a real plus for viewers who get to hear a Cranked Up beat behind the deft lyrics from this crew. This is just confirmation of our long held theory that every DMV rapper should have an affiliation with a GoGo band. It’s a winning formula. Nice scenes in this video from the club where it was filmed. Looking for real big things from $urreal.
“Wassup” – Triology III featuring Lando and Nu Era
Either they’re channeling Bone Thugs and Harmony or they’re the closet thing we’re ever going to see to a reincarnation, but with this video Trilogy III almost makes a better case for BTH’s legacy than BTH did on their last album. The video scenes are good, not exceptional, but good, but the beats and lyrics bang. We caught this group performing at the H Street Festival and immediately asked about links to their work. Don’t know what kind of footprint they have in the DMV but trust, they’ve got mad potential.
Okay, the video is not even a real video but Sir Daj is a personal favorite at OnStage. In fact, we’re willing to stake our reputation on our belief that this rapper has immense potential and a huge upside. Homie can rap, period, and we pity the A&R rep that hears his work and doesn’t sign him. He’s committed to the game as evidenced by the fact that he caught our attention with a CD his crew was passing out outside the 9:30 Club a few weeks ago. There’s nothing to see in the video but listen to the lyrics and the delivery and we think you’ll be as convinced as we are. This is the kind of talent we showcase at OnStage.
Your Music
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Music is such a personal preference. Even with a particular genre what makes one person smile may tickle another to death. So OnStage is dedicated to providing a broad array of music videos for our viewers. Sure you see a lot of Hip Hop, but you also see R&B and jazz and rock and pop. And you see local artists, some of them in the early stages of their careers, others more established. Same thing with our other videos. Bottom line is we want you to find something you like every time you visit OnStage. Obviously, we’d love it if you would share a link with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. It’s our brand, but it’s your music. Let us know what you want to see and we’ll do our best to make it happen. Get our updates on Twitter @onstagejc
Kanye's Fashion Statements
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Mr. West is notorious for his outspoken personality and even bolder fashion choices. Now, it looks like the rapper will be embracing his role as a fashion icon and will debut his collection during New York’s Fashion Weekin September.
Even better, Kanye has been working with some of the best designers in the fashion world to make sure his womenswear pieces are top-of-the-line. Maybe he will get some advice from his pal Marc Jacobs or the creative director of Givenchy, who designed his last album cover.
Check out some of Kanye’s fashion statements:
More Links We Recommend
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Here’s another list of websites music lovers may want to bookmark and visit frequently. 
They validate the theory that the marketplace of ideas is vibrant and in full swing in the DMV area.
When we first came across DMV JAMS we could see right away its creators were on to something. It’s a platform for introducing new artists and their music that’s narrowed down to a specific geographic area. Very cool, because there’s so much noise on the Internet that tons of great music is missed by an audience that would love to hear it if it were more readily available. That’s the premise, but there’s lots of other offerings on the site including their own channel.
The mission of DMV Unplugged is to increase the familiarity and knowledge of local musicians, models, athletes and fashion designers among local residents and to showcase the DMV lifestyle to a national audience. They’ve got a full team, writing about music, fashion, sports, and politics. One great feature on their homepage is a listing of the top 10 DMV songs. If you’re making music, or just love music, check them frequently for the latest updates.
The Urban Feed is sleek and stylish, beautifully designed and does an excellent job of doing exactly what it promises – feeding viewers the latest in music, fashion, and entertainment. It’s the creation of Kiki Ayers who is the CEO and is responsible for content and business aspects.
If Marcus J. Moore is the preeminent music critic in the DMV then DMV Spectrum (he’s the Founder and CEO) automatically has to be regarded as a serious destination for area music lovers. It’s got videos, links to blogs, reviews and news. Seriously cool is the beat maker on the home page. Obviously, the writing is impeccable.
From DC To BC is the website of the folks responsible for coordinating last Friday’s “Don’t Wuwwy” show at the 9:30 Club so you know they’re doing good things. Very laid back and full of info about music, events, other blogs, you name it. But focus on the events. Too many times we learn about something we missed because we didn’t know it was coming up. If you want to know in advance, this is the site.
