SpeakYoSoul Live! Features: JASPECTS! The Polkadotted Stripe Tour!

DATE: SATURDAY 11/21/2009

TIME: 8:00 PM

LOCATION:


BOSS ULTRA LOUNGE
312 20th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Phone: (205) 326-3673

COST: 15:00

CONTACT: speakyosoulbham@gmail.com


WEBSITE:
www.myspace.com/speakyosoulbham

www.urbanham.com


SpeakYoSoul Live! features Award winning Jazz/Hip Hop/NuSoul Artists JASPECTS-The Polkadotted Stripe Tour! CNN’s Black in America featured Jaspects in 2008. They’ve got soundtrack credits on the movie Hustle & Flow and have performed for Bill Cosby!Spinning all WAX will be Atlanta’s DJ Dynamite Dave Soul-2009’s Essence Festival Coca-Cola SuperLounge DJ.

SoulfulHouse Party follows!


MERCHANDISE WILL BE ON SALE!


COMMENTS ABOUT JASPECTS:

"Jaspects, on their newest release, The Polkadotted Stripe, it is obvious that they have seen both the birth of cool as well as the future of the funk in heavy doses".

SoulBounce


"Nominated for Indie Album of the Year 2009"

SoulTracks



"This album is very original with a mixture of sounds being used from hip-hop,electronica,r&b,and soul but from jazz musicians".

Amazon Customer


"Loving how Jaspects have incorporated electronic with they're established jazz sound on The Polkadotted Stripe".


Last.Fm User


ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -
Today, Jaspects, an Atlanta-based group of young musicians who were born in the hip-hop era, fuse rap and jazz melodies to introduce younger audiences to jazz.

CNN



CREDITS:

Individually, Jaspects' works have appeared in the 2005 major motion picture "Hustle & Flow," on Chamillionaire's platinum albums "Chamillitary" and "Sound of Revenge," on Carlos Santana's "All That I Am," and with platinum recording artists David Banner, Wyclef Jean, Big Boi ("Kryptonite"), and Mary J. Blige ("Just Fine"). Collectively, Jaspects has shared bills with: Dwele, Bilal, Mike Phillips, Herbie Hancock, Eric Roberson, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, and rap phoneme Drake. Jaspects has also collaborated with Grammy-nominated artists Janelle Monae, PJ Morton and Anthony David, in addition to Kedar Entertainment act Algebra, and Good Music's Fonzworth Bentley.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts featured Jaspects in January 2009 as a headliner for the Millennium Stage Series.



DIRECTIONS: If traveling towards Downtown Bham, take 20th Street. BOSS is just a few blocks from UAB and ONA’s Music Room on your LEFT. (RIGHT) if traveling to the Southside from downtown.

Female Beatmakers

I've had the pleasure of finally interviewing someone who I think is an amazing artist(musician and graphic designer). Ry Nea Sol! (aka MsBeatJunkie), she's a female producer/beatmaker from Birmingham, Al:

Aquarius Rising: So, when did you start making beats?

MsBeatJunkie: In 2000, while I was in college at Jacksonville State University.

Aquarius Rising: You majored in Psychology with a minor in Communications. Did you participate in any extracurricular activities that involved music?

MsBeatJunkie: Yes, I was a member of the Jacksonville State University Mass Choir and also the Campus Ministry worship leader.

Aquarius Rising: Wow, so what was your motivation to start producing your own music?

MsBeatJunkie: I didn't hear any music that sounded like what I felt, what I heard in my thoughts on the radio and i hadn't heard of any female producers out there.

Aquarius Rising: What devices did you start out with to create the beats you wanted to hear?

MsBeatJunkie: (She smiles) Fruity Loops aka (FL Studio) and a keyboard.

Aquarius Rising: What did your first beats sound like?

MsBeatJunkie: They were actually dirty south hip hop beats because that's what I heard around me at the time. The word spread that I was producing. I started to get calls and requests to make beats for national and local christian hip hop recording artists.

Aquarius Rising: Do you still make dirty south beats?

MsBeatJunkie: My music changed when I
started listening more closely to what was inside of me. I am far from the commercial tones of crunk and snap. To me, my music is "organic soul, futuristic boom bap" (laughing). I am influenced by many genres. I also implement the art of sampling like many producers, but did not always sample.

Aquarius Rising: Which artists influence your creativity?

MsBeatJunkie: Pete Rock,Madlib,Jdilla,Tonex,Sun Ra...

Aquarius Rising: Sun Ra was a very eccentric musician. Why Sun Ra?

MsBeatJunkie: Sun Ra made music based on what he felt whether you liked it or not. J.Dilla was the same way; both were led by the music.

Aquarius Rising: Technology has become so advanced now. Are you still using just the software and a keyboard?

MsBeatJunkie: (laughing)Yes, but I have other toys too. I love software though, and mixing it with various hardware allows me to be even more creative.

Aquarius Rising: Are there any female producers that you admire?

MsBeatJunkie: The Angel, she is a female producer that you dont hear alot about. I discovered her years ago while watching this movie called "Boiler Room". I was intriqued because the beats in every scene were so tight and organic; so hip hop that I had to find out who produced them and when I found out the producer was a "girl" I really got on it because I dreamed of producing movies for film and tv as well. She's really talented.

Muhsinah (mu-seen-nah), Georgia Ann Muldrow, and Angie Stone are other female producers that I like as well.

Aqaurius Rising: Have you worked with any Birmingham artists?

MsBeatJunkie: I've produced some tracks for spoken word artist Shaun Judah and have had studio sessions with Byron The Aquarius; both are very talented artists. I am currently working with other artists in the city and outside of the city.

Aquarius Rising: Have you faced any challenges as a female beatmaker?

MsBeatJunkie: Of course! Being dismissed in some way or another because of my gender.

Aquarius Rising: So, where can we find evidence of your skills?

MsBeatJunkie: http://www.myspace.com/offbeatmusiq

B'ham's Hip Hop Scene and Me

As much as I appreciate other music genres, I am still a fan of hip hop, particularly conscious hip hop. Few in Birmingham know that I was a percussionist in my high school band (Color Guard and Drum Major also). So naturally I'm into music that I can dance to, groove to or be moved by the messages of its lyrics.

Fortunately, I re-united with Patrick Johnson a.k.a S. Fly of Red Light District over a year and half ago. We were once employed by the same company. S. Fly is the first Birmingham hip hop artist that I was introduced to. Red Light District is an unforgettable group in my mind. I’ll always remember my favorite lines in one of their songs: “ I know a place where we can go, there’s nothin’ but love around, nothin’ but love around”. The track’s beat, the bass is so deep and melodic. It’s one of those songs that you just ride out to when you need to clear your head.

Since then, I’ve also met other Birmingham artists such as: Thed Weller, Byron the Aquarius, I.M.A.E, Poet John Paul, Shaheed, Supreme and Poet Shaun Judah. They performed at one of Birmingham’s most energizing and uplifting spoken word/live music events, The Latte Lounge: SpeakYoSoul Live! at Java and Jams coffee house . I saw Green Seed shut it down at the Bottletree a few years ago. I’m now a fan and really encourage each of these artists to continue to deliver the goods with sick beats and passionate messages about love, struggle, triumph, politics, friendships, foes and “things that make you go mmmhhh”.

Lastly, I think that Birmingham is filled with incredible talent. We can't forget about the ladies. The artists I’ve mentioned have all impressed me. Just as impressive is the female producer/singer/graphic artist Ms.BeatJunkie. She’s remixed tracks for artists abroad and here in the city. Her influences are cats like J.Dilla Flying Lotus, Pharcyde, Digable Planets and Sun Ra. You must experience her for yourself. She even freestyles and has a soulful, jazzy, “can sing just about anything” voice. She has her very own unique swag! You can listen to some of her beats at www.myspace.com/offbeatmusiq.

While you’re cruisin’ the web for hip hop, stop by djlovedeluxe.podomatic.com. This is my site. Yes, I’m making a really concerted effort to hone my dj skills. Stay tuned for the 69 Boyz/Flo Rida mashup. Not very conscious I know, but we all have our weaknesses! The SoulHeat mix on the site showcases some of my favorite conscious hip hop tracks and a remix by Birmingham's MsBeatJunkie. You know, it’s really cool to know personally some of the great hip hop artists and musicians in our city.

Thanks Bettina for the opportunity to share my thoughts on the Birmingham Hip Hop scene. I wish each of the artists mentioned much success in life and their careers.

Poetry and Music Festival at Malcolm's Meeting Room

Are you living under a rock and unaware of Birmingham's diverse culture? If I were still teaching African American Studies, this would be a required event. Birmingham's Civil Rights District is ALIVE!

Per a Facebook invitation from Sharrif Simmons: Enjoy a mix of music and poetry July 10 -12 at Malcolm's Reading Room featuring Def Jam Poet/Apollo Winner/Author Jessica Care Moore, The Sharrif Simmons Experiment, The Common Ground Collective, Sparlha Swa, S.Fly of Red Light District...Weekend/Daily Passes available at malcolmsreadingroom.com, Malcolm's Reading Room, Charlemagne Records, Greencup Books, Dreams Salon, and Matthew's Bar & Grill