covering music and culture in the harrisburg area
R&B singer Alonda Rich. Photo by Michelle G.
So Provocative
Mantra Records
On November 28, 2008, Alonda Rich gave an impressive performance at Hollywood Casino in Grantville. The bashful singer, who moved from Williamsport to Harrisburg, was one of the opening acts for the Denm Inc.-promoted Jaguar Wright concert. During Rich’s performance, she sang her song “ So Amazing” and SWV’s “Weak.” Continue reading ‘CD review’
Emerald Serum by stainlessinsaness
Stainless Steele, a talented rhyme spitter/producer, represents the Lancaster area. Peep his instrumental mix CD titled Emerald Serum—Steele has always been on some surreal ish. Click here to download the CD. We’ll post more info on Steele in the near future.
Much Ado About Nothing: The Nothing will perform at Gettysburg’s Ragged Edge Coffee House at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28. Photo by Leon Laing.
Digital Villains
On 2008’s Closer, The Nothing crafted an eclectic album. The production ranges from jazzy horn loops to soulful grooves, which includes the somber instrumental from James Brown’s classic “King Heroin.” Influenced by the Soulquarians, such as Common, J Dilla, Mos Def and De La Soul, the group delivered witty, lighthearted lyrics and skits on Closer.
One year later, the Gettysburg-based collective returns with Digital Villains. On the previous album, the group preached on songs, such as “Invest.” The group continues to kick the truth to the young urban youth on Digital Villains. “Use your degree, go ahead, get a real profession,” Wally suggests on “Kick It.” Continue reading ‘CD review’
Undaunted by his recent split with Warner Bros. Records, Wiz Khalifa will drop his album Deal or No Deal on Nov. 24. Three days later, he’ll rock the house in Harrisburg, which is next door his hometown of Pittsburgh. Held by local promoters Big Shotz Entertainment, the concert takes place at the Gemini Entertainment Center on Cameron St. College junior William Steele and college senior Chima Soribe formed Big Shotz in summer 2009. Doors for the concert open at 7 p.m. Call Steele at 717.623.0956 or Soribe at 610.931.5665 for more info. Continue reading ‘Upcoming events’
Phene in a b-boy stance at the York-based High Off Life concert. Photo from Phene’s archives.
Rapper Phene relocated to the ATL, but he still reps for York, which is his hometown. Peep this video of Phene in the lab. He drops his next project called God On A Greyhound in the first quarter of 2010.
J. Bair at the local hip-hop awards last year. Photo by Leon Laing.
J. Bair and I go way back. In fact, he remembers when I was a teen, and I used to wallpaper my bedroom with photos from hip-hop mags. Bair’s mission to recall hip-hop’s past is what keeps him relevant. “I’m a fan first,” the local rapper says about his position in hip-hop. As Bair preps to drop his new album in January 2010, he explains his feelings about opening up for the legendary Rakim on Nov. 14 in Harrisburg. Continue reading ‘Local CD releases’
Jay-Z wearing “all black everything” at PSU. Photo by Andy Colwell.
Talking blues
Jay-Z says he bleeds blue on “Empire State of Mind,” referring to his penchant for the New York Yankees and NYC. On Oct. 9, Hova’s fans bled blue for another team: the Nittany Lions. Hip-hop icon Jay-Z kicked off his Blueprint 3 tour in front of a sold-out crowd in State College. Lil Wayne’s tour, another major concert of 2009, also began in Pennsylvania. Continue reading ‘Takeover’
Roberson reaches for a fan’s video camera and films himself performing.
On Feb. 27, 2005, vigoronline.com covered neo-soul singer/songwriter Eric Roberson in concert in Philadelphia. Harrisburg resident Erica Pickney told us that she also saw Roberson during a Philly concert. However, on Sept. 12, local neo-soul fans witnessed the singer without having to hop on I-76. Roberson’s concert was part of Dauphin County’s 3rd Annual Jazz Festival at Harrisburg’s Fort Hunter Park. Dauphin County also brought neo-soul duet Kindred to Harrisburg on Aug. 7. Continue reading ‘Dauphin County’s got soul’
Yes—tickets are still on sale for the Jay-Z concert. The sale began at noon on Sept. 11. Jigga will perform songs from the Blueprint 3 album, as well as his other gems, at Penn State University on Oct. 9. The hip-hop icon moved up the release date from Sept. 11 to Sept. 8 for Blueprint 3. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. Click here for tickets.
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