SHINE: The third edition

Three months ago, around this time, I began an open mic series affectionately titled Shine. Things weren't perfect in the first show but were improved in the second and I seek to make things even better in this edition come Wednesday. In its short existence, Shine has already featured some of the most talented upcoming artistes in Trinidad and Tobago; people like John John, Frost Blaze, Make it Hapn, Bongah Chops, Gary Acosta, St. Ans, lAdymore, yours truly Da Face and many others...and I promise you that Shine will continue to do so.

Every show, I try to feature select artistes performing a set in addition to the open mic session. In this edition we feature none other than creative/gifted/talented rapso/poet/hip hop artiste "Skeeto" as well as talented artiste and dynamic performer Nickolai who is the lead singer for the band Gyazette which rocks crowds around the country with their infectious style that combines rock with a distinctly local flavour. I assure you both of these guys know how to move a crowd so things should be swinging.





Other than that, the mic will be open as usual and there will be artistes there to entertain so yuh safe whether you desire an outlet to perform or wish to come out and take in some good vibes. I will be there as always performing songs from my mixtape "Recession Music" (download here) and my album "Hitchhiker's Guide to Uwi" (listen/buy here) with copies of the album in my bag, that I always move with, for your purchase. We have a nice night lined up and as always emcee duties will be held down by Pearl Hamilton and deejaying will be most likely done by Andre. Everything is taking place inside Equinox bar on uwi campus (close to kfc) and I thank the establishment for all the support I've received thus far (see here for more event details). See you there. Face out.

Upcoming Underground Cds To Get

So the 'summer' holidays are almost upon us and worldwide this is the time when radio stations enjoy the most listens. School children aka the people with the most time on their hands spend a lot of their time tuned in and highly-rated tunes quickly become hits as listens translate to spins in the club and hopefully bought cds.

Well the selections I have here aren't music of the typical bubblegum, summer jam variety but are sure to get your head nodding, your mind engaged and remain in your mp3 player/car deck/ cd player for weeks. I now introduce you to the upcoming underground albums/mixtapes for this year (that I know of).

Cloud 9 - The Rennovation

This one is dropping July 3rd during a cd launch. If you don't know Cloud 9 is a trini hip hop group that always provides thought-provoking music over head nodding beats (they even produce their own music).



6326 - The New Dynasty

This one will be out in 2010. They also will be performing in the Cloud 9 show so maybe they will preview some tracks.



Bongah Chops - The Realeyezation mixtape

This mixtape should already be out. It has plenty hard tracks on this one and I'm also featuring on a song called "Misleaders". I believe you can purchase this one in Highway Records.



Frost Blaze - ???

Frost has an album coming out this year but I'm not sure about the name yet. I'm also on track on this album.
UPDATE: Actually the name of the Frost Blaze album is "Live from the 868" and the group he is a part of, "Synod Entertainment", will also be dropping a mixtape titled "The Cornmill (asshole)". He has assured me that both of them will be dropping sooner than I may think.



Bonez - Why So Serious??

As far as I've heard, this one is done already. This one should be out pretty soon. You can get more info on it here.



St Ans - The HolyTrini3

I'm not sure if I spelt the mixtape name yet but Ans is doing a triple cd mixtape so that should be interesting both content and packaging wise. He's been dropping many freestyles on facebook recently so this should be out sometime soon.



So there you have it, the projects to look out for in 2010. Make sure and cop these cds and support local. To anyone I've forgotten, remind me. Till another time, Face out.

8 Hustler reasons why Trinidad is big and small

Trinidad is big because:

1) You can sell almost 300 cds in different parts and ppl still might not know who the hell you are.
2) People that you don't know are the sh*t in places you've never heard of.
3) It's hard to cover north and south Trinidad if you're selling by your lonesome.
4) Underground music, especially rap, is invisible to like 90% of the population.

Trinidad is small because:

1) Put up a song on facebook that people like and it spills over into the real world, in the strangest of places.
2) Perform in an open mic regularly for a year and it seems like everyone has seen you perform at least once.
3) Synergy TV's live studio is 'claustrophobic-ly' small and yet stars are born there...ever so often.
4) Ever so often, out of nowhere strange people will walk up to you and recognize you favourably you for your music which always feels good.

My Thoughts on Drake's "Thank Me Later"

I doh normally do this kinda thing but I actually had some opinions on Drizzy's new cd. If you don't know, this highly anticipated release which follows on the heels of his universally rated and celebrated mixtape "So Far Gone" was leaked this week and I got a chance to listen it. My general consensus on it? I like it. It took a few listens after the initial disappointment of it not being the classic that the fans would have wanted or the haters would have feared but nonetheless, overall I'm feeling it.

NOTE: If you're planning to buy it and don't want any details until the disc is officially released, then proceed no further because I'm dealing this one on a track by track basis. (Deep breath) So here goes...

1) Fireworks ft Alicia Keys - This is an okay opener. I like the beat but Drake's using the same flow from countless other songs where every eight or so bars he pauses and adlibs "yeah" or "damn". Alicia's singing is okay. (6/10)

2) Karaoke - Most other blogs I've read rate this as the worst song on the album. I'm feeling it though. The harmonies on this one real rough and fits the 808 and heartbreaks type beat. (8.5/10)

3) The Resistance - Same Drake flow but the lyrics on this one hit hard - "The game needed life/ I put my heart in it, I blew myself up, I'm on some martyr sh*t/ carried the weight for my city like a cargo ship". The hook knocks too. Only nitpick is the emo-type introspection is getting a little bit old. Just a little bit. (8/10)

4) Over - My thoughts on this one haven't change since I first heard it. It features one of the best hooks in recent memory but the verses are so-so. It sounds better here though, as it ups the pace on the cd. (7.5/10)

5) Show Me A Good Time - This one is definitely a banger. Drake switches up his flow to a quicker pace on this one and Kanye West blesses him with one of the better beats on the album. Sounds like a single. (9/10)

6) Up All Night feat Nicki Minaj - Another big tune. The beat goes hard and Drake goes in. Nicki does well here too with one of the wittiest set ah lines on the entire disc: "I'm a bad bitch, I ain't never been a mixed breed/ On a diet but I'm doing donuts in the six speed". Wayyy, Nicki daz you? Plus she claims she made a million on a mixtape. Hmmm... (9/10)

7) Fancy feat Swizz Beatz and TI - I really wish I was a fly on the wall of the studio to find out how Swizz Beatz convinces rappers to put him on hooks to their songs. The beat sounds like some Just Blaze ish but Swizz spoils the song by delivering the most annoying chorus in recent memory. It's a shame though because TI kills on it. I like everything but Swizz on this and because of the chorus I routinely skip. (6/10)

8) Shut It Down feat The Dream - This song is a whopping 6:59 minutes long but unfortunately contains only 5 minutes of a good song. It's smooth as butter though and I tend to listen it for a while then skip. If you like your melodies and harmonies then you'll like this one. The producer of this one "Omen" is the same dude who produced Lil Wayne's "I'm Single" which makes sense.(7.5/10)

9) Unforgettable feat Young Jeezy - This is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Drake is on his "So Far Gone" type lyrics here equating the pursuit of success and love - "and all the girls that played me eat your mother******* heart out" while Jeezy comes with, as he puts it, (and I agree) one of his realest flows ever. The beat which samples Aaliyah goes hard too. (9/10)

10) Light Up feat JayZ - This is the first song that piqued my interest in this album. The beat real rough and Drake's chorus sounds haunting over it, almost convincing you that success can be the worst thing that can happen to you...sure. Some have said that Jayz came soft here but I don't agree. I especially like the part where he talks over the beat during the first chorus telling somebody (Guru?) to turn it up or turn it down or whatever like he used to and then goes in. Delivery wise Hov kills and it's always interesting to guess who he's sending subliminals for. So far by my count he put something for Damon Dash: "And to these niggas I'm like Windows 7, You let them tell it they swear they invented you..." and another possible jab at bloggers saying he got killed by Kanye on "Run This Town": "I don't too much blogging, I just run the town I don't do too much jogging". A little Beans jab is there too: "ah once was, cool as the funds was". Good stuff. (9/10)

11) Miss Me - This is the happiest song on the album. Drake talks about he wishes he could marry Nicki Minaj which is funny as hell to me. Glad to hear Wayne on a track too who brings his normal weird funny punchlines. (8/10)

12) Cece's Interlude - This interlude or whatever it is totally throws off the album for me. I'm not sure what he was trying to do but this just slows down and kills the mood for no good reason. (4/10)

13) Find Your Love - I liked this song when it was released as a single but it just sounds out a place here thanks to the preceding interlude. The hook still works though. (7/10).

14) Thank Me Now - This one is kinda a mixed bag. I hated it at first but now I will have to say I like it. Lyrics are typical Drake stuff but there are some nice punchlines in there. One thing's for sure, it doesn't really work as an album closer and the cd still comes to an abrupt end. (7.5/10)

So that's my opinion on it there. Let me hear yours. Face out.