Darryl McDaniels or “DMC” as most of the world knows him, first made his start in the music business as one third of the ground breaking rap group Run-DMC and quickly became the most popular in terms of fans and influence. He has been in the public eye for the past 20 years, since forming the now legendary, defunct group, RUN-D.M.C with Joseph (Rev. Run) Simmons and the late, great Jason (Jam Master Jay) Mizell. Also one of the founding members of this multi-platinum music group, selling over 30 million singles and albums worldwide, it would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture. He helped transform Rap and Hip Hop into the most popular music in the world, while building a fan base that rivals the biggest acts in Rock ‘n’ Roll.
As the first and greatest of Hip Hop’s superstars, Run-DMC succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams – their own included – by embodying for the world endlessly creative subculture of young black New York. They were the first rappers to earn a gold album, the first to earn a platinum album, the first to go multi-platinum, the first to have their videos played on MTV, the first to appear on American Bandstand and Saturday Night Live, and the first rap band to grace the cover of Rolling Stone and Spin.
DMC has recently added another list of firsts to his life – his first book entitled “King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility and My Life with Run-DMC” (St. Martins). The book, written by DMC with Bruce Haring with the forward by rapper/actor Will Smith, offers a flavored tale of his rise within the music business while stressing the importance of respect and responsibility in today’s society. It has received rave reviews nationwide. Entertainment weekly called it “strangely compelling, bravely honest… plenty of entertaining anecdotes about life back in the day to keep you turning the pages. Like Will Smith, McDaniels is a born charmer.” Publisher’s Weekly says the book is “hard hitting yet sensitive… he (McDaniiels) argues astutely that ‘very few of the rappers will admit they’re creating a fictional character,’ and thereby create problems for themselves.”
In addition to the new book, DMC released his own musical project entitled Checks, Thugs, Rock-N-Roll.
Lopez’s musical career also began to take off, as she released her debut Latin pop album, On the 6 in June 1999. The album, fueled by the success of her hit single, “If You Had My Love,” went platinum within two weeks, making Lopez—along with Ricky Martin—one of the most influential examples of the growing Latin cultural influence in pop music.
Early in 2000, Lopez was nominated for Best Dance Performance for her second hit single “Waiting for Tonight,” but lost the award to veteran diva Cher. In the summer of 2000, she starred in the science fiction-thriller The Cell, in which she plays a child psychologist helping to track a terrifying serial killer. The same year, she starred in Enough, a portrayal of spousal abuse.
The popularity of the multi-talented Lopez reached new heights in early 2001, when her album, J. Lo debuted at No. 1 on the pop charts, while her film, the romantic comedy The Wedding Planner, shot to the top spot at the box office in its first week of release. In December 2002, she performed another one-two punch with the release of the record This Is Me … Then and a starring role in the comedy Maid in Manhattan, which was a box office hit, if not a critical one. In 2003, she co-starred with Ben Affleck in the box office bomb, Gigli. Other projects included Jersey Girl (also with Affleck) and An Unfinished Life, in which she played a single mom taken in by her father-in-law played by Robert Redford. She also starred opposite Richard Gere inShall We Dance?, a remake of the top-grossing Japanese flick.
One of only a few bands to achieve consistent commercial and critical success across three decades, U2 has charted success on its own terms on both the artistic and business sides of the music industry. From the band’s earliest days in Dublin, Ireland, to the present, U2 has broken free from the traditional limitations of what a rock band — and rock music — could and couldn’t do. By combining an original sound with honest lyrics and a challenging social message, U2 has earned the respect of their peers and critics, and an almost fanatical following of fans around the world. This is their story.
U2 formed in Dublin in the fall of 1976 after 14-year-old Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a note on the bulletin board at his high school seeking musicians for a new band. From the group of hopefuls that showed up at Mullen’s home that first day, a five-piece known originally as “Feedback” formed with Mullen (born October 31, 1961) on drums, Adam Clayton (born March 13, 1960) on bass, Paul Hewson (later nicknamed “Bono Vox” and eventually just “Bono”, born May 10, 1960) on vocals, and Dave Evans (later nicknamed “The Edge”, born August 8, 1961) on guitar. Dave’s brother, Dick, also played guitar for a while, but left Feedback very early on to join another Dublin band, the Virgin Prunes.
Feedback quickly changed their name to “The Hype,” and began rehearsing on weekends and after school as often as possible, forming genuine friendships and developing an undeniable chemistry in the process. After nearly 18 months of rehearsing, the band’s big break came at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland, in March, 1978. With CBS Records’ Jackie Hayden judging, U2 (they had just changed their name again) won the contest, earning a £500 prize and studio time to record their first demo.
We argue about a lot of things, but never about music, says Julia about the relationship she has with her brother Angus. We don’t get on a lot of the time but when it comes to making music it’s always pretty simple for us.
It’s this language of music that forms the basis of Angus & Julia’s debut album A Book Like This a collection of thirteen heartfelt and organic songs that share their experiences and observations with listeners. Together, and with respective singer/songwriter talents, Angus & Julia Stone form two halves of a musical act whose words and music reveal a pure and genuine love of music, and a talent for telling beautiful and beguiling stories.
Raised in the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia, Angus & Julia’s love of music was inextricably intertwined with their experiences of growing up in their musical family. Music was an integral aspect of family life, with music as the bloodline through both their mother and father’s families. A long line of musicians made for an environment that encouraged the duo to express themselves using their voice and any of the many instruments lying around the house.
Mum listened to Janis Ian a lot, but a big part of our childhood was listening to dad’s covers band it was music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, says Julia of their early influences. It was everything from Van Morrison to The Eagles and The Beatles. We didn’t know any of those bands, we just knew the songs as dad had sung them. It was only a couple of years ago that we listened to The White Album, and thought to ourselves, oh right, these guys are a band – dad didn’t write these songs! ‘
Music continued to play a role in their lives throughout their teenage years. Living at their dad’s place and being unemployed’ish ‘ a state that saw Angus working at odd-jobs as a labourer, and Julia teaching-trumpet the two musicians treated their music as a personal discovery and outlet for their thoughts and observations. When Julia returned home after a year of travelling she encouraged Angus to play his music at some local open-mic nights, and not long after, having helped him out with some backing harmonies, she joined him on stage to play some of her own compositions. That was a mere three years ago. Eventually it worked out that we were doing a split-set, says Julia. It seemed very normal for us and there was no reason not to record together also. It was just easy. Natural, I suppose. Read more…..take40.com
Got a request?
Want a song dedicated to you?
PleaseContact Us with the song and artist you like, the name you want published and we will do our best to find it.
Nicknames are fine but nothing rude, please.
Born George Alan O’Dowd on June 14, 1961, in Eltham, London, to parents Gerry and Dinah O’Dowd. George grew up in a lively household with his four brothers and one sister. Despite being part of the large working class Irish brood, George claims he had a lonely childhood, referring to himself as the “pink sheep” of the family.
To stand out in the male-dominated household, George created his own image on which he became dependent. “It didn’t bother me to walk down the street and to be stared at. I loved it,” he later reminisced.
George didn’t exactly conform to the typical school student stereotype, either. With a leaning more toward arts rather than science and math, he found it hard to fit within traditional masculine stereotypes. With his schoolwork suffering, and an ongoing battle of wits between him and his teachers, it wasn’t long before the school gave up and expelled George over his increasingly outlandish behavior and outrageous clothes and make-up.
Suddenly George found himself out of school, and without a job. He took any work he could find that paid him enough money to live on including a job picking fruit; a stint as a milliner; and even a gig as a make-up artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he picked up some handy techniques for his own personal use.
Forming the Culture Club
By the 1980s, the New Romantic Movement had emerged in the U.K. Followers of the New Romantic period, influenced heavily by artists such as David Bowie, often dressed in grand caricatures of the 19th century English Romantic period. This included exaggerated upscale hairstyles and fashion statements. Men typically wore androgynous clothing and makeup, such as eyeliner.
The style became a calling card for George, whose flamboyance fit their beliefs perfectly. The attention the New Romantics attracted inevitably created many new headlines for the press. It wasn’t long before George was giving interviews based purely on his appearance.
Got a request?
Want a song dedicated to you?
Please Contact Us with the song and artist you like, the name you want published and we will do our best to find it.
Nicknames are fine but nothing rude, please.
One of only a few bands to achieve consistent commercial and critical success across three decades, U2 has charted success on its own terms on both the artistic and business sides of the music industry. From the band’s earliest days in Dublin, Ireland, to the present, U2 has broken free from the traditional limitations of what a rock band — and rock music — could and couldn’t do. By combining an original sound with honest lyrics and a challenging social message, U2 has earned the respect of their peers and critics, and an almost fanatical following of fans around the world. This is their story.
U2 formed in Dublin in the fall of 1976 after 14-year-old Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a note on the bulletin board at his high school seeking musicians for a new band. From the group of hopefuls that showed up at Mullen’s home that first day, a five-piece known originally as “Feedback” formed with Mullen (born October 31, 1961) on drums, Adam Clayton (born March 13, 1960) on bass, Paul Hewson (later nicknamed “Bono Vox” and eventually just “Bono”, born May 10, 1960) on vocals, and Dave Evans (later nicknamed “The Edge”, born August 8, 1961) on guitar. Dave’s brother, Dick, also played guitar for a while, but left Feedback very early on to join another Dublin band, the Virgin Prunes.
Feedback quickly changed their name to “The Hype,” and began rehearsing on weekends and after school as often as possible, forming genuine friendships and developing an undeniable chemistry in the process. After nearly 18 months of rehearsing, the band’s big break came at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland, in March, 1978. With CBS Records’ Jackie Hayden judging, U2 (they had just changed their name again) won the contest, earning a £500 prize and studio time to record their first demo.
Doyle Perez, also known as ‘D at Sea’ was recently signed by UNFD. He first gained attention in 2012 when his acoustic cover of Parkway Drives ‘Carrion’ became a viral sensation, and racked up almost 700,000 views.
Doyle has even managed to tour around Australia and sell out shows, ‘It’s awesome. It’s cool to visit a place I’ve never been to and have a couple hundred people come chill. I only have a small handful of friends, so it’s good it’s not just my friends being nice to me.’ He laughed.
Doyle first found an interest in music when he heard Blink 182 on the radio, he claims that it definitely sparked something. ‘My best friend Ed was always showing me new music. I started playing guitar at around 17.’
Doyle enjoys singing because it is a great way to express himself, it’s fun and feels good. He drew his musical inspiration from general life, family and friends. ‘I’ve been given an opportunity, I’d be crazy not to take it.’
His new single ‘December’ is up online for a free download. ‘To me, ‘December’ is an escape. I was in a dark place mentally when I wrote the song. The idea actually sparked after several anxiety attacks. I needed a meditative process to break them.’ Says Doyle.
Doyle’s debut EP ‘Unconcious’ was released worldwide on Friday 8th March. According to Doyle, his EP is pretty chill. There is a good variation of songs on there, it’s different to what people have heard from him so far.
‘More music! More tours!’ Doyle claims is the big plans for the future, so keep updated with Doyle on his facebook and website.
‘I should probably buy a guitar. Might be a good idea! I still don’t own an acoustic. I’ve been borrowing my girlfriend, Millie Tizzard’s guitar ever since I started D at Sea, haha! Thank you, Millie!’
Demetrius Savelio (born 28 June 1981), better known by his stage name Savage, is a New Zealand rapper of Samoan descent, and a former member of hip hop group the Deceptikonz. In 2009, he became the first New Zealand hip hop artist in history to have a commercial single (“Swing”) achieve platinum certification status in the United States for selling over one million copies.
The “International Breakthrough” accolade of the Pacific Music Awards was created in his honour. He is not to be confused with Savage of the underground Atlanta- and Bronx-based hip hop group Hard Knocks, which released one album in 1992.
Savage joined with friends to form a hip-hop group, the Deceptikonz, in 1997. Success was not instant, however, as the group struggled through several talent shows and small concerts. Their big break came in 1999 when they were signed to South Auckland (Papatoetoe) hip hop label Dawn Raid Entertainment.
In 2002, the Deceptikonz released Elimination; a studio album that peaked at number four on the New Zealand albums chart. In late 2003, Savage featured as a member of the Deceptikonz on the hit single Stop, Drop and Roll; a number six hit on the New Zealand singles chart.
Read more…..en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_(rapper)
Havana Brown always planned on being a singer – it’s just becoming a world-famous DJ kind of got in the way.
The Melbourne glamour has just released her sizzling debut single ‘We Run The Night’, but she first started singing at the modest age of six. Admittedly though, her ‘performances’ back then were a little different…
“I’d put together shows at family dinners and drag along my poor cousins, who didn’t know how to dance or sing. I don’t know how entertained everyone was,” Brown recalls with a laugh. “I was really into R&B, like Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation and Bobby Brown.”
After countless years of singing lessons, performing in dance troupes and cheerleading for her hometown Aussie Rules and basketball teams, Brown got serious about making her own music right after leaving high school.
She started working with Panos Liassi, a Melbourne-based London DJ/producer and one half of R&B/reggae partystarters, Supafly Inc. Such was their musical connection, she ended up following him to the UK to form a Fugees-style group called Fishbowl with two other members. They got signed to the Polydor UK label almost instantly, but sadly, in-fighting saw the act split before they even got to release a single.
“When I look back, it was a pretty dark time,” says Brown. “Getting signed is a big deal for a new artist. You think, woah, this is it! But it wasn’t…”
Like anyone suffering a break up, Brown threw herself into the party scene and one night, she had a dancefloor epiphany of her own: the DJ had the best job in the room and she wanted in.
After learning the basics from Panos, she scraped together enough money from her four-quid-an-hour job to buy her first pair of decks and started hitting up bars with her demo.
Her persistence finally paid off when she scored her first residency at London’s exclusive Kabaret nightclub. “I told the promoters I’d play my first gig for free and they could throw me off after the first song. I don’t think they even thought I’d turn up the next night. When I did, they were like ‘oh, you were serious?’ I ended up playing for an hour and they loved it.”
Arriving back in Australia at the end of 2006, Brown – in her own words – “worked her little tush off” to keep her DJ dream alive. After working the club circuit, she became the first female DJ in Australia to sign a major label record deal with Universal Music in 2008, released her first mix CD, Crave, and topped the year off opening for the Pussycat Dolls on their promo tour.
The Dolls’ management were so impressed with her DJ-with-dancers show, they asked her back for their full tour in 2009. And as word spread, Brown found herself supporting the cream of the pop crop, including Rihanna, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, with the latter inviting her on her European tour a year later.
Since then, Brown’s star has only gotten brighter. These days, she boasts weekly radio mixup shows in Australia and abroad (on the popular Radio FG France dance network), has sold over 150,000 copies of her Crave series (now up to Volume 5) and played events as dazzling and diverse as the official Grammy’s After Party and the Singapore F1 Grand Prix alongside Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas. Along the way, she’s also clocked up more than 100,000 loyal Facebook fans.
Now, twenty years since that first giddy singing lesson, she’s ready to retake the mic and launch that long-overdue singing career. And she’s not afraid to say she’s a little bit nervous…
“It’s exciting, nerve-wracking and intimidating all at the same time,” she says. “I’ve been working on this for a while and I didn’t want to release anything until I was completely satisfied with it. I can’t wait for people to hear this song.”
Written and produced by dance duo More Mega, first single ‘We Run The Night’ is the perfect introduction to the talents and tastes of Havana Brown. A certified dancefloor detonator, the song’s as epic as it is euphoric with an insanely infectious breakdown that’s guaranteed to throw the crowd into overdrive.
“It’s created for both the clubs and the radio,” she reveals. “That was really important for me and it was very difficult to pull off. As for the track, it’s about how music makes me feel.”
Brown says her vast experience as a DJ playing other people’s tunes has also had a huge impact on how she approaches her own.
“In the past, I wasn’t quite sure what type of artist I want to be. But now, after DJing and Fishbowl falling apart, which has been a blessing in disguise, now I’m very confident about what I want.”
At the same time, she realises that some people can be just as dismissive of female pop singers as they are of female DJs. But that, she says, only motivates her more.
“It actually drives me more when people say bad things,” she confesses. “It doesn’t make me angry, it’s more ‘I’m just going to annoy you even more by going out there even harder.’”
“I know I’m putting myself out there in a different way,” she adds. “Originally I was behind the console playing other people’s music but now I’m up front performing my own. I’m revealing myself – it’s like being naked.”
So far, Havana’s career as a jet-setting DJ has been nothing short of dazzling, but now she’s ready to shine in a whole new light. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Havana Brown the artist.
Got a request?
Want a song dedicated to you?
PleaseContact Us with the song and artist you like, the name you want published and we will do our best to find it.
Nicknames are fine but nothing rude, please.
1 cup plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup traditional rolled oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
600ml buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
60g butter, melted, cooled
Extra melted butter, for cooking
Plain Greek-style yoghurt, to serve
Caramelised apple
50g butter
4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into thick wedges
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans
Method
Step 1. Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in oats and sugar. Make a well in centre. Whisk milk, egg and vanilla together in a jug. Add to well. Stir until just combined. Stand for 30 minutes. Drizzle with melted butter. Stir to combine.
Step 2. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Brush pan with extra melted butter. Spoon 1/4 cup mixture into pan, spreading with back of spoon to form a 12cm round pancake. Repeat to make another pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbles appear on surface. Turn and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining mixture, brushing pan with butter between batches.
Step 3. Make Caramelised apple: Melt butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add apple. Cook, turning, for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden. Add sugar and 2 tablespoons cold water. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add pecans. Stir to combine.
Step 4. Divide pancakes between plates. Top with yoghurt and apple mixture.
