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Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Hil St. Soul: SOULidified (Shanachie, April 18, 2006)
When Hil St. Soul's Hilary Mwelwa hit Philadelphia for one of her first shows in America last year, she was met by an enthusiastic crowd shouting requests for her to sing Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me," which was featured on her first import-only album. "Well, the band didn't learn that one," replied Hilary, "But I'll sing it for you anyway." She then sang a spontaneous, note-perfect a capella version of the song, to the audience's great delight. In that single moment she won over the crowd. After all, how many singers around can sing perfectly on demand? And that's what Hil St. Soul is all about: delivering soulful, straight-from-the-heart music without gimmicks, or pointless vocal gymnastics.
"I'm a fan of good music. The kind that hits you in the heart, mind and soul!" says Hilary Mwelwa, the next British R&B phenomenon destined to win over American R&B and soul devotees. Undeniably an artist on the rise, Hil St. Soul featuring the striking Zambian born Hilary Mwelwa, is poised to join the ranks of a few truly original artists that are ushering R&B and soul into a new era. USA Today declares, "Mwelwa's vocals are always enticing" while Vibe Magazine heralds "Mwelwa's rich, velvety voice warms the inside like a spot of tea." The 20-something year-old chanteuse along with her musical partner Victor Redwood Sawyer (founder of the award-winning hip hop group Blak Twang), make up Hil St. Soul, one of the hottest groups to emerge from London's underground music scene in recent years. Hil St. Soul has toured with such individual artists as Macy Gray, Angie Stone and D'Angelo.
On SOULidified Hil St. Soul's third recording, and the follow-up to last year's acclaimed Shanachie debut Copasetik & Cool, Hilary Mwelwa emerges as one of the most gifted young R&B singer/songwriters in recent years. SOULidified serves up 14- head-nodding tracks with infectious grooves, poetic and self-empowering lyrics and Hilary Mwelwa’s soulful, sensuous and hypnotic trademark vocals. People Magazine said of Copasetik & Cool, "Mwelwa’s gospel charged vocals fire up tracks like the down-home ditty "I've Got Me," which highlights the positive attitude of the lyrics" while The Boston Globe declared, "Mwelwa has a beguiling set of pipes- a whiff of Whitney here, a scoop of Chaka there..."
Blessed with an intensely rich, soul-drenched and honey-toned alto and armed with serious lyrical and compositional sensibilities, SOULidified showcases Hilary Mwelwa’s powerful chops and soul stirring, ultra smooth gospel-laden vocals that beg to be heard. Hilary shares,"Hil St. Soul is an amalgamation of all the music that has influenced me throughout the years, from soul and R&B to hip hop, jazz, blues and gospel." Highlights on SOULidified include the steamy and sexy duo with Dwele, "Baby Come Over," the endearing and catchy "Sweet On You," the soulful and inviting "Hey Boy" and the strikingly beautiful, pensive and emotional ballad "Goodbye." Also included are such feel-good and uplifting numbers as "It's OK" and "Time 4 Love (Relax)." In a market overcrowded with vanishing one hit wonders, Hil St. Soul delivers the kind of music that promises to stand the test of time. Hilary, who enjoys cooking and interior decorating during her spare time confides, "All of the songs on my new CD are originals that I have developed over the past year that have been inspired by personal experiences. It's been a therapeutic and enjoyable process. Writing this album has allowed me the freedom to express myself and I am proud of the result."
Born in Lusaka, Zambia, Hilary Mwelwa relocated to London with her family at age five. As a child she adopted her father's love of music, as their home was immersed with the sounds of traditional Zambian music along with such American R&B/soul icons as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. As a graduate of London's Westminster University, Hilary had early ambitions to go into the science field and earned a degree in biological sciences. She shares, "While I was in school studying sciences, I started to explore my musical interests and I decided that I wanted to pursue music more seriously. I took a year off from school and during this time I recorded my first demo. I have never had formal music training but I was brought up on a diet of soul, R&B, Gospel and pop music from an early age." Luckily for us Hilary Mwelwa's path has led her to follow her heart and her music. She concludes, "I could have pursued a nice comfortable career path but music is where my heart is. I do believe that everything you do in life leads you to your ultimate destiny. My personal motto is live life to the fullest and to spend your time doing what you love. You have to enjoy each day as if it were your last."
www.shanachie.com
www.myspace.com/hilstsoul
When Hil St. Soul's Hilary Mwelwa hit Philadelphia for one of her first shows in America last year, she was met by an enthusiastic crowd shouting requests for her to sing Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me," which was featured on her first import-only album. "Well, the band didn't learn that one," replied Hilary, "But I'll sing it for you anyway." She then sang a spontaneous, note-perfect a capella version of the song, to the audience's great delight. In that single moment she won over the crowd. After all, how many singers around can sing perfectly on demand? And that's what Hil St. Soul is all about: delivering soulful, straight-from-the-heart music without gimmicks, or pointless vocal gymnastics. "I'm a fan of good music. The kind that hits you in the heart, mind and soul!" says Hilary Mwelwa, the next British R&B phenomenon destined to win over American R&B and soul devotees. Undeniably an artist on the rise, Hil St. Soul featuring the striking Zambian born Hilary Mwelwa, is poised to join the ranks of a few truly original artists that are ushering R&B and soul into a new era. USA Today declares, "Mwelwa's vocals are always enticing" while Vibe Magazine heralds "Mwelwa's rich, velvety voice warms the inside like a spot of tea." The 20-something year-old chanteuse along with her musical partner Victor Redwood Sawyer (founder of the award-winning hip hop group Blak Twang), make up Hil St. Soul, one of the hottest groups to emerge from London's underground music scene in recent years. Hil St. Soul has toured with such individual artists as Macy Gray, Angie Stone and D'Angelo.
On SOULidified Hil St. Soul's third recording, and the follow-up to last year's acclaimed Shanachie debut Copasetik & Cool, Hilary Mwelwa emerges as one of the most gifted young R&B singer/songwriters in recent years. SOULidified serves up 14- head-nodding tracks with infectious grooves, poetic and self-empowering lyrics and Hilary Mwelwa’s soulful, sensuous and hypnotic trademark vocals. People Magazine said of Copasetik & Cool, "Mwelwa’s gospel charged vocals fire up tracks like the down-home ditty "I've Got Me," which highlights the positive attitude of the lyrics" while The Boston Globe declared, "Mwelwa has a beguiling set of pipes- a whiff of Whitney here, a scoop of Chaka there..."
Blessed with an intensely rich, soul-drenched and honey-toned alto and armed with serious lyrical and compositional sensibilities, SOULidified showcases Hilary Mwelwa’s powerful chops and soul stirring, ultra smooth gospel-laden vocals that beg to be heard. Hilary shares,"Hil St. Soul is an amalgamation of all the music that has influenced me throughout the years, from soul and R&B to hip hop, jazz, blues and gospel." Highlights on SOULidified include the steamy and sexy duo with Dwele, "Baby Come Over," the endearing and catchy "Sweet On You," the soulful and inviting "Hey Boy" and the strikingly beautiful, pensive and emotional ballad "Goodbye." Also included are such feel-good and uplifting numbers as "It's OK" and "Time 4 Love (Relax)." In a market overcrowded with vanishing one hit wonders, Hil St. Soul delivers the kind of music that promises to stand the test of time. Hilary, who enjoys cooking and interior decorating during her spare time confides, "All of the songs on my new CD are originals that I have developed over the past year that have been inspired by personal experiences. It's been a therapeutic and enjoyable process. Writing this album has allowed me the freedom to express myself and I am proud of the result."
Born in Lusaka, Zambia, Hilary Mwelwa relocated to London with her family at age five. As a child she adopted her father's love of music, as their home was immersed with the sounds of traditional Zambian music along with such American R&B/soul icons as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. As a graduate of London's Westminster University, Hilary had early ambitions to go into the science field and earned a degree in biological sciences. She shares, "While I was in school studying sciences, I started to explore my musical interests and I decided that I wanted to pursue music more seriously. I took a year off from school and during this time I recorded my first demo. I have never had formal music training but I was brought up on a diet of soul, R&B, Gospel and pop music from an early age." Luckily for us Hilary Mwelwa's path has led her to follow her heart and her music. She concludes, "I could have pursued a nice comfortable career path but music is where my heart is. I do believe that everything you do in life leads you to your ultimate destiny. My personal motto is live life to the fullest and to spend your time doing what you love. You have to enjoy each day as if it were your last."
www.shanachie.com
www.myspace.com/hilstsoul
HALFTOOTH RECORDS PRESENTS: WORDSWORTH - MIRROR MUSIC: THE DELUXE EDITION
In Stores: 04/25/06
Check out the video for "Gotta Pay/Trust":http://youtube.com/watch?v=KnasoQhZQb8
“Wordsworth’s latest is so good it’s almost hard to describe…an indie hip-hop classic.”
--Music Connection
“Oddisee may be the best producer in Hip-Hop that you probably don’t know yet…”
--AllHipHop.com
Since its initial commercial release in 2004, and following its unprecedented critical success, unsurpassable achievements on urban radio, and phenomenal reception by fans, press, DJs and taste-makers alike, Wordsworth's Mirror Music is back and better than ever! Due to popular demand, Halftooth Records is reissuing the classic debut album from Wordsworth with a fresh and exciting twist. Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition is the definitive version of the certified-classic Hip-Hop album from the Brooklyn-bred microphone fiend Wordsworth. Now packaged as a limited edition 2-disc set, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition includes the entire 20-track original Mirror Music album from Wordsworth with guest appearance from Masta Ace, Punchline, Oddisee and Kenn Starr and production by Ayatollah, Da Beatminerz, Oddisee and more, PLUS a special bonus CD entitled Oddisee Presents The Mirror Music Remixes, featuring 10 exclusive Mirror Music remixes by producer extraordinaire Oddisee.
Mirror Music demonstrated a growth in Wordsworth’s patented swagger; the wordsmith does more than just brag on the new album – he gives personal insight and spits narratives that reflect everyday life without glorifying street living. Mirror Music appeals to anyone who appreciates a true sure flow. “Nothing good to say keep silent/Cause the things that I wouldn’t want to say you keep rhyming/Keep firing, I seek like a missile heat guided/And I’m so hot I’m a be on top cause heat rises,” Wordsworth rhymes on first single “Gotta Pay,” urging MCs that “Y’all don’t need to dumb it down, y’all dudes is dumb already.”
Since producing and performing the hit track “Musik Lounge” for DJ Jazzy Jeff’s The Magnificent LP in 2002, Wordsworth's Halftooth Records label-mate, Amir “Oddisee” Mohamed has quickly become a rising star in Hip-Hop and an artist to keep your eye on as both a producer and emcee extraordinaire. Since turning his focus towards Hip-Hop in 1999, Oddisee has worked with the likes of Gary Shider of Parliament and Funkadelic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, J-Live, Wordsworth, Little Brother, Freddie Foxxx, Asheru, The UN, The Visionaries and many other respected recording artists around the world. In addition, Oddisee received a tremendous amount of attention and critical acclaim for his stand-out performances and production work on albums such as DJ Jazzy Jeff’s The Magnificent, Halftooth Records’ You Don’t Know the Half, J-Live’s The Hear After, Kev Brown’s I Do What I Do, and The Foreign Exchange’s Connected.
On Oddisee Presents The Mirror Music Remixes Oddisee recrafted certain songs with his own unique and mesmerizing style, emerging from the lab with his own distinctive version of Mirror Music with an entirely new vibe and a refreshing musical and emotional landscape far different from the original. Oddisee carefully constructed entirely new beats to enhance and complement Wordsworth's lyrics, even adding his own lyrics to certain songs, ultimately creating genuine new musical compositions. Wordsworth's unparalleled rhyming abilities and word-play matched with Oddisee's sensational production style is a triumphant combination that will be listened to and appreciated for many years to come. With a combined total of 30 tracks, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition is a truly special collection of music that is sure to please both those fans who already have the original album version and those who do not.
For more info: www.HALFTOOTH.com
In Stores: 04/25/06
Check out the video for "Gotta Pay/Trust":http://youtube.com/watch?v=KnasoQhZQb8“Wordsworth’s latest is so good it’s almost hard to describe…an indie hip-hop classic.”
--Music Connection
“Oddisee may be the best producer in Hip-Hop that you probably don’t know yet…”
--AllHipHop.com
Since its initial commercial release in 2004, and following its unprecedented critical success, unsurpassable achievements on urban radio, and phenomenal reception by fans, press, DJs and taste-makers alike, Wordsworth's Mirror Music is back and better than ever! Due to popular demand, Halftooth Records is reissuing the classic debut album from Wordsworth with a fresh and exciting twist. Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition is the definitive version of the certified-classic Hip-Hop album from the Brooklyn-bred microphone fiend Wordsworth. Now packaged as a limited edition 2-disc set, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition includes the entire 20-track original Mirror Music album from Wordsworth with guest appearance from Masta Ace, Punchline, Oddisee and Kenn Starr and production by Ayatollah, Da Beatminerz, Oddisee and more, PLUS a special bonus CD entitled Oddisee Presents The Mirror Music Remixes, featuring 10 exclusive Mirror Music remixes by producer extraordinaire Oddisee.
Mirror Music demonstrated a growth in Wordsworth’s patented swagger; the wordsmith does more than just brag on the new album – he gives personal insight and spits narratives that reflect everyday life without glorifying street living. Mirror Music appeals to anyone who appreciates a true sure flow. “Nothing good to say keep silent/Cause the things that I wouldn’t want to say you keep rhyming/Keep firing, I seek like a missile heat guided/And I’m so hot I’m a be on top cause heat rises,” Wordsworth rhymes on first single “Gotta Pay,” urging MCs that “Y’all don’t need to dumb it down, y’all dudes is dumb already.”
Since producing and performing the hit track “Musik Lounge” for DJ Jazzy Jeff’s The Magnificent LP in 2002, Wordsworth's Halftooth Records label-mate, Amir “Oddisee” Mohamed has quickly become a rising star in Hip-Hop and an artist to keep your eye on as both a producer and emcee extraordinaire. Since turning his focus towards Hip-Hop in 1999, Oddisee has worked with the likes of Gary Shider of Parliament and Funkadelic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli, J-Live, Wordsworth, Little Brother, Freddie Foxxx, Asheru, The UN, The Visionaries and many other respected recording artists around the world. In addition, Oddisee received a tremendous amount of attention and critical acclaim for his stand-out performances and production work on albums such as DJ Jazzy Jeff’s The Magnificent, Halftooth Records’ You Don’t Know the Half, J-Live’s The Hear After, Kev Brown’s I Do What I Do, and The Foreign Exchange’s Connected.
On Oddisee Presents The Mirror Music Remixes Oddisee recrafted certain songs with his own unique and mesmerizing style, emerging from the lab with his own distinctive version of Mirror Music with an entirely new vibe and a refreshing musical and emotional landscape far different from the original. Oddisee carefully constructed entirely new beats to enhance and complement Wordsworth's lyrics, even adding his own lyrics to certain songs, ultimately creating genuine new musical compositions. Wordsworth's unparalleled rhyming abilities and word-play matched with Oddisee's sensational production style is a triumphant combination that will be listened to and appreciated for many years to come. With a combined total of 30 tracks, Mirror Music: The Deluxe Edition is a truly special collection of music that is sure to please both those fans who already have the original album version and those who do not.
For more info: www.HALFTOOTH.com
Thursday, March 16, 2006
SUBSTANCE ABUSE feat. KOOL KEITH "Night On The Town"
Taken from the forthcoming album "Overproof" (April 25th)
More info:
www.myspace.com/substanceabuse
www.weapon-shaped.com/substanceabuse
Taken from the forthcoming album "Overproof" (April 25th)
More info:
www.myspace.com/substanceabuse
www.weapon-shaped.com/substanceabuse
CODE RED "ALL ABOARD" (TOUCAN COVE/LABEL X)
Watch stars from the Lakers, 76ers & Pacers bump and drive the lane to the sounds of Code Red's "Elbow Room". Features Kobe, Devean George, Inguodala, Iverson & Granger.
Watch the Code Red EPK featuring live footage:
Watch stars from the Lakers, 76ers & Pacers bump and drive the lane to the sounds of Code Red's "Elbow Room". Features Kobe, Devean George, Inguodala, Iverson & Granger.
Watch the Code Red EPK featuring live footage:
