Gospel Heritage Conference Returns to Jacksonville, Fl.

Black History Month wouldn’t be the same without the efforts of Dr. Teresa Hairston and Gospel Today Magazine. For the last few years, Hairston has sponsored “The Gospel Heritage Praise and Worship Conference”, paying homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while opening doors for those who love good Gospel Music through musical performances, seminars, and ministry.

For over 20 years, Gospel Today Magazine has used it’s platform of written communication to educate it’s readers about the African American experience, while promoting some of the hottest Urban Gospel Contemporary artists and projects around. February 17^th-19^th, 2011 will mark yet another chapter in that book as Dr. Hairston prepares for another conference. “This conference is about how Gospel Music changes lives, “ states, Dr. Hairston. “As always we’re going to feature artist from around the country, highlighting music and ministry. This conference affects the lives of a lot of people, and gives us the ability to share the story of so many. We still have great moments to celebrate. We still have a lot to do”. Some of the participants for the week in question include Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Singer VaShawn Mitchell and Bishop Hezekiah Walker. On Friday look for Pastor Sheryl Brady of The Potters House, and on Saturday Pastor Donnie McClurkin will be ministering with singer Jonathan Nelson and others providing the entertainment.

“Dr. King sacrificed his life for our culture, “ continues Hairston. “My goal with this conference is to allow people to see the big picture here. How Dr. King’s approach to the issues of this country and the world impacted a lot of people. Through this conference people’s lives are changed. We the media have the power to tell these stories and it’s important that we do so. It’s always been my mission to create projects where you celebrate people and we still have many great moments to celebrate”. Also participating in the event will be the Dove Award Nominated Singer Melinda Watts, who recently recorded with J. Moss, Smokie Norful, and a host of others. “This will be my first time as part of this event”, explains Watts. “ My goal is to bring a relevant sound, communicating in a manner people can relate. This is about ministry and I see the Gospel Heritage event as an opportunity to minister to a multitude of people, therefore I’m very glad to be part of it”. Watts is set to sing before Pastor McClurkin delivers the word of God.

Dr. Hairston is also scheduled to receive a Community Service Award for 25 years of service. For more information about The Gospel Heritage Praise and Worship Conference visit www.teresahairston.com, http://mygospeltoday.com http://www.streamingfaith.com/index.php/straightalk/meet-dr.-teresa-hairston or mygospeltoday.com/heritage/

Rayford Talks Jazz/Gospel Sax With Live Inspirational Tyscot Return

After 20 years of defining the real meaning of dedication, provacating the true sanities of love and worship, while delivering music that professes the love of Jesus Christ is real, Harold Rayfords’ true mission in life is to edify those in need of divine direction through the presentation of the Word of God; verbally, literarily and musically, and that he does so eloquent with the release of his latest, “ I Am The Instrument”. It’s not every day that we see a Gospel Jazz artist releasing his 9^th project, but Rayford has something special and in celebration of that gift, he’s taking us back to Gospel classics such as the hit single by Marvin Sapp, “Never Would’ve Made It”, in his very own instrumental remake which has set Gospel and Inspirational Radio on fire. In short, this project allows Rayford to showcase his growth as a man of God, his talents and skills as a musician and truly speak on his underlined faith in himself, his craft and his future as a Gospel Jazz musician.

Formulating Jazz style tunes to incorporate into Gospel Music is nothing new for Harold Rayford. This Stellar Award Nominated saxophone player has wooed audiences in a variety of settings to help spread the love of Jesus Christ, while creating Gospel Music many followers of Jazz find exceptional. “I Am The Instrument”, introduces a new generation and audience to music from the past, telling a story with Gospel cover tunes that will make listeners take notice like never before. Thus far in Rayfords career, he’s produced 8 projects, 3 cassettes and 5 CD’s, and his talents and skills are just beginning to spark the surface. “I feel very blessed to be delivering this album, “says Rayford. “I give God all the glory. This album gave me a chance to record some different material and add some classic Gospel tunes. The majority of my audience is the mature crowd. Some like Jazz and some like a variety, so this album has all of that. I recorded “Never Would’ve Made It”, “How Great Is Our God”, and “Down Through The Years” because those are just a few of the songs that I just love and other people love them too. Maybe they haven’t heard them my way, so this gives them a change to hear familiar tunes in a different style. The mature audience can relate to these, and I’m getting all kinds of comments. So this is my ministry and I want to do this to the best of my ability and please God with the best that I have.”

Like most musicians, Rayford has a love for the greats when it comes to Jazz Music. “I grew up listening to all the greats, “as he continues. “ Like Charlie Parker, Grover Washington, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, and Thelonious Monk, those guys made real Jazz Music. I also listened to a lot of Gospel artist, including Tramaine Hawkins and Andre Crouch, who I was heavily inspired by. So throughout my career, what I’ve tried to do was bridge the two together, Jazz and Gospel, and I can’t really take credit for all of this. This is God’s doing. He’s used me from day one. As the title of the album says, I am just the instrument. This is his work; him doing through me what he wants people to hear out of my sax. My main initiative is that my music meets the standard of God”. This is Rayfords first live album recorded for Tyscot. It was recorded in Indianapolis, Indiana at The Jazz Kitchen. Other singles on the album include “With Love”, “ Dove”, and “Every Night My Father Prays”, “Hymn Medley”, “Ummm”, “ Alpha and Omega”, and “When The Music Stops”, which are definitely standout singles that will make you wish for more. This album cites Rayfords fifth recording for Tyscot Records.

Music is just one side of Rayford; he’s also a family man who speaks openly about being married for 25 years with two children in college in as seen in a You Tube EPK video. Like many fathers, his cares and concerns for the welfare of our youth, their futures and the Internet, shows very much who he is as a musician and family man. “I love my family and will do anything for them, “ he explains. “Music is my passion, but family comes first. I love the Internet and I can really appreciate where it’s taking us musically. It’s something different, interesting, and unique. It has changed how we do business, how we shop, how we meet people and everything. Musically speaking, it has changed how we as artists market ourselves, and there is a lot of good because we can use it to the Glory of God and reach more people than we could ever reach the old way. But when it comes to young people and how it affects them, I’m concerned. It bothers me because for those who are or are working to be musicians, it doesn’t pay for the kids to even learn to play an instrument because they can sample. So it has an adverse effect as well. The industry is in a great flux right now, and trying to find what the next big thing is is very difficult right now. Then because of the economy and all the other problems we are having, people are afraid to invest in talented musicians and projects”.

In closing Rayford offers this lasting word of inspiration for new –up and coming artists, “ it’s important to develop a broad focus of influences. Don’t just settle on one style of music. Take the time to put all the different styles of music that you have access to into what you do”. For more information on Harold Rayford visit http://www.haroldrayford.com/. Other releases from Tyscot include Detrick Haddon’s “Blessed & Cursed”, CD and DVD; and “CoCo Brother Presents: Stand 2010”. For more information visit www.tyscot.com.

NicholPlaydit Entertainment- Fayetteville, NC’s New Entertainment Vehicle

Fayetteville, NC- Hundreds of miles away from the skyscrapers of Manhattan, deep in the heart of North Carolina, two creative minds sketch out ideas for their next big star, which so happens to be the daughter of NicholPlaydit Entertainments founder Derrick Nichol. Because of shows such as “America’s Got Talent”, “America’s Top Model”, and the flagship that started it all, “ American Idol”, to find a vehicle to launch your career in acting, singing, dancing, modeling, or whatever it is you do, is not a hard thing to find anymore. But the challenge comes when you are expected to battle three thousand others for that one spot. So many factors come to mind- how am I different from the others, what can I do differently from the other acts and what is going to make me unique and different to make someone choose me for that one spot? This is where the creative and professional talents of businessmen and industry veterans Derrick Nichol and Mark Smith come into play. “We didn’t just start our business”, says Nichol. “We’ve been around for a long time, working and mastering our craft”. NicholPlaydit Entertainment is just our vehicle to let the world know we’re here, and one of the best in the business.”

Constant travel from New York to North Carolina can take a toll on you, but NicholPlaydit Entertainment’s founder Derrick Nichol sees a future of good things to come out from Fayetteville, NC. “I’m from New Jersey, but North Carolina is like home,” comments Nichol. “My daughter is in school there and I’m constantly on the road back and forth. There is a lot of good talent in Fayetteville and the South period, and we’re looking for artists to work with, people who believe in themselves and their talents. We’re looking for people who understand the phasing process of not just being an artist, but all the aspects of building and nurturing what you do. So we want to be the company that provides not only the performer, but we want to teach it all. It’s very important that any new artist we work with understand the concept of what it is to be who they are. It’s very important to us that those we work with are go-getters, people who have the eye of the tiger, and won’t allow anything to get in the way. Now days, most companies want to work with people who are after if, trying to get it without people pushing them. We are no different. We’re looking for the fighter in an artist.”

We all know the names of Gamble and Huff, Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, LA and Babyface, and as time goes, we will also become familiar with Nichol and Smith, who are to date responsible for contributions on quite a few off Broadway Productions such as “Mama I Wanna Sing”. “Yea we’ve been around for a while, doing a lot of stuff, “continues Nichol. “ Our goal is to be able to say that we created a variety of work that was R&B, Hip-Hop, Gospel, Country, Rock, Rap, Pop, Reggae, Latin, a large catalog of material that people will love to listen to for years to come. That’s what I like about Teddy Riley. Back years ago when he coined the phrase, “New Jack Swing”, that sound is still around today when you listen to music. And a lot of new artists are being influenced by his style and what he did for music. That sound will never die. That’s what we are looking to do. Fayetteville is by no means New York, but I see the amount of talent there and a lot of opportunity to do quite a few things. So we’re looking to open up the potential there and give those who are prepared an opportunity”.

Nichol has written for and traveled with a variety of artist, including R&B Artist Joe. Smith grew up around the industry, to eventually travel the world with many as a keyboard player and producer. The duo have signed a 50/50 joint venture to create music as a team. Together they will for sure be unstoppable. Show business runs in the family as Nichol’s daughter Katelyn, who resides in Fayetteville, NC., is soon to release a project as well. “For all those artists out there looking to get in the music business, “ comments Nichol in closing, “ my advice is study the business because this is a business. You can’t loose site of what you want or where you’re trying to go, and you have to prepare yourself so again learn the business. This is a process, and it takes getting to know people and people knowing who you are. But number one is you have to believe in yourself and your talents.” information on Nicholplaydit Entertainment visit http://www.myspace.com/nicholplayditentertainment

“CoCo Brother” Delivers “Stand For Jesus Rally” In Charlotte

Charlotte, NC- Radio host, community organizer, and television personality, Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey is even more determined now to make a difference than back in 1998 when he refused to take no for an answer to become a radio personality. His latest venture is “The Stand For Jesus Campaign”, where he’s traveling the country with the likes of some of the countries top Gospel/Praise Recording Artists in hopes to make a difference and bring millions who do not know Christ to pulpits, alters and revivals sites world wide. Recently, Pastor John P. Kee, Ted Winn, James Fortune, West Morgan and quite a few other artists waited patiently inside the Charlotte DTLR Clothing Store to witness to hundreds about the goodness of Christ, showing support of this event organized and created by Condrey, and hosted by his wife and partner Joanne Rosario-Condrey.

Most certainly, America and the world seek a longing for a personality willing to go that extra mile to give back, to elevate and educate others about the goodness of Christ, not to mention willing to stand when all else fails. This title describes Cory “ CoCo Brother” Condrey to the tee. His idea was to create and deliver a free tour, allowing recognizable personalities to stand before thousands and deliver what the world needs- a sympathetic ear, without judgment, critical concerns that cast self- doubt or condescending ways. Thus the “Stand For Jesus Rally” was born, allowing thousands who normally would avoid the church at all cost, to come worship just as they are. As the visionary behind “The Stand For Jesus Campaign”, CoCo Brother has indeed addressed some of the key issues of a broken nation by inviting some of the countries top Gospel personalities such as West Morgan to share in the excitement. “CoCo Brother is a good friend of mine. We met in Atlanta some time ago, “ says Morgan. “And he’s so Kingdom minded. This show is about bringing Christ to the people. All of us artists come to bring our gifts and our talents to help him take the word of Christ to the streets, and I’m very excited about it. God follows praise; he’s drawn to worship and praise. We have to focus on who God is and we have to magnify him. God says if we will lift him up, he will draw all men unto him. He want’s us to stand. And that’s what this tour is about”.

“The Stand For Jesus Campaign” began at New Birth Ministries, the home base of Bishop Eddie Long in 2007. Since that time, the show has traveled throughout the United States, meeting, greeting and introducing people to Christ on a wide scale. “This is an Evangelistic Out Reach Ministry”, says CoCo Brother. “A lot of times people say they can’t come to the church for one reason or the other. They have their reasons and so with the Stand Tour, we are bringing the church to them. On this particular show we have everybody, Ted Winn, West Morgan, Pastor John P. Kee, my wife Joanne Rosario-Condrey and several others. Every city we have a few different artists who come share their testimonies and minister to the people. To move around the country from city to city, our goal is to win the lost at any cost. That’s where the ministry counts. And to put the fire behind those who are already saved. If you work at FedEx, McDonalds, UPS, that where the ministry is going forth at. A lot of times people think that you have to be behind a pulpit to actually minister and preach, but it’s about how you live your life. When people look at you, they want to see how you are loving and how you carry yourself, and then they may sit back and say, look, I want what you have, and that’s when you give them the opportunity to receive Christ.”

“The Stand For Jesus Rally” has toured several cities and states, and the movement is just getting bigger. Despite a recession, people from all over are traveling to witness history in the making. In the audience of some one thousand people or so, with a scorching heat index of 100 plus, some of the audience grabbed their water and drinks to witness the entire rally, while others came for a while and left at will. “This is a great day”, continues CoCo Brother. “ And we are looking for people to come to Christ. Many are saying we are in the middle of a recession, but people that God has allowed me to work with here are prospering and that is a blessing despite all the hardships and failures in society. We have great examples of people in a recession who have come out and come up. One of the great men of God that I’m thinking about is Bishop Paul S. Morton. He lost everything due to Hurricane Katrina. Then he went to Atlanta, Georgia to a Kroger Shopping Center and started small to rebuild. Again he lost everything due to the storm, his entire congregation and the church, and then the recession hit. But praise God because today, now he owns his own property, right next door to Tyler Perry Studios, has a Million dollar church facility, and his wife goes back to New Orleans regularly to rebuild the church there, and she’s also the Head Pastor there, so they didn’t loose anything. I think sometimes in life, when he have negative things that happen to us, we think we got to stop and give up. No when those things happen, that’s when god is trying to promote you. So if you can stand strong in the midst of the storm and warfare and when adversity hits, that is what’s going to take you to another level”.

But the excitement with CoCo Brother doesn’t stop there; he recently released the album- “Stand 2010” (Tyscot Records), featuring several songs from some familiar names and a few new ones. Singles on the album are from several artists who have shared the stage with him during rally dates of the “Stand -Rally For Jesus Tour”. Some of those songs include “Transformation (Inspirational Moment)”- (featuring Paula White), “Prophetic Worship (I Need You) “- (featuring Joann Rosario Condrey), “Encore [Live Version]” - (featuring Fiya/James Fortune), “The Power Of One [Acoustic Version]”, - (featuring Israel Houghton), “Let's Come Together” - (featuring Kevin Levar), “Be Not Weary” (Inspirational Moment) - (featuring Smokie Norful), “Moving Forward” - (featuring Joann Rosario Condrey/Tye Tribbett), “Break The Silence” (Inspirational Moment) - (featuring Darwin Hobbs), “Such An Awesome God” - (featuring Kevin Levar), “God Answers Prayer” (Inspirational Moment) - (featuring BeBe Winans), “My Everything” - (featuring Marshetta Parker), “Yo Se Que Estas Aqui”- (featuring Joann Rosario Condrey), “Stand And Take The City” - (featuring Euclid Gray/Tarralyn Ramsey/Canton Jones/Isaac Carree), “My Name Is Resurrection” - (featuring Euclid Gray) and “Take A Stand” (Inspirational Moment) - (featuring Darwin Hobbs), which completes a 16 track album.

“It definitely feels great to be able to do this project, “ continues Coco Brother, “And the album was done to support our efforts of traveling and sponsoring the rallies. “The album is the soundtrack for the tour. People like James Fortune, Israel Horton, are a big part of what this tour is about and we’re all coming together for Christ. You just don’t see that right now in this day and time. So it’s a wonderful project”. Also included are spoken inspirational moments by Smokie Norful, Pastor Paula White, BeBe Winans and Darwin Hobbs. “I love this tour because when I get to talk with Cory and Joanne, they’re doing this because they’re trying to reach the lost, people outside the church, “comments James Fortune. “ That is what gets forgotten. They (CoCo and Joanne) are going beyond the four walls of the church to get the ones who do not come or will not come to the church. So this tour is to encourage the young to take a stand, not to do what’s popular, but to do what God would have them to do. That’s what this whole tour is about, to give their problems to God and let him take control of their destiny”.

On November 13^th, 2010, all roads lead to Atlanta, Georgia to the Georgia World Congress Center for the grand finale. “The Stand For Jesus Rally” will be center stage welcoming some 100,000 plus people to a show they will never forget, with Bishop Eddie Long and Artists such as Israel Horton leading the way for a day of worship, a day of inspiration and good Gospel and Praise Music. Cory “CoCo Brother” Condrey is the host of the daily radio show, “CoCo Brother Live”, where he’s a radio personality for WPZE Praise 102.5 FM, based out of Atlanta. Radio One syndicates the show. He’s also the host of the Sunday morning show, “Lift Every Voice”, which airs on The Black Entertainment Television Network. For more information about CoCo Brother and “The Stand For Jesus Campaign” visit http://www.cocobrotherlive.com or http://www.thestandcampaign.com/

Toni Ann Semple- Success Despite No Major Deal

Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Gangster, Classical, Gospel or regardless of the style, music has it’s good and bad messages, and few musicians today make music something to be cherished and appreciated such as Toni Ann Semple. For the better part of her life, she’s been contributing in everyway possible to a career that seems to keep growing with every new note she sings and writes. Today many people continue to believe “if you are big in New York, you are big everywhere, and despite having no major record deal, Toni Ann Semple is becoming one of those “big names” in music around the world. Perhaps the secret to her success is that she’s Native American, or the mere fact that she plays several instruments, sings, writes, and then composes her very own compositions, but whatever it is, she’s bringing back the love, compassion, and anxiety of the past. Some say she’s the sound and soul of the new generation, while others are still listening, trying to complete their thoughts about her commercial success with singles such as “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It”, “ For Me”, “ Summer Breeze” and “Sit Back And Relax”. There are no solutions for total relaxation when it comes to easy listening music, but for sure the sounds of Toni Ann Semple are a great start, as she renders sounds that allow you to think calmly, while breathing patiently to feel the emotion that she feels every time she touches a microphone.

For sure today’s record industry is filled with artists’ who classify themselves as one of the best in the world because of their sound, their look, and their style, but how many of them can play any or all of the music that may accompany their records? Well Toni Ann Semple can and she does. Like many artists’, Semple had the support of her greatest fan, her mother until her death due to Breast Cancer. “My mother was the greatest, “ she says. “ She’s the reason I am where I am, and I love her dearly. When I was very young, she bought me my first guitar. Thereafter I became interested in all kinds of instruments, including the flute, the keyboards, Trumpet and other instruments. I then began teaching myself a lot of it, and writing and composing my own songs. But to be real about this, I consider myself a better singer/songwriter. I love lyrics, and being able to showcase my feelings on records. That’s what music does for me, although it doesn’t come without challenges, which is foremost remaining focused on what you are to do. Focus is something my mother instilled in me, and I’m growing and achieving success because of those early life lessons.”

Radio Stations have warmed up to the music of Toni Ann Semple and as she gains popularity, her music is becoming a sound to listen for. Currently she can be heard on mainstream and Internet radio in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. In listening to her music, you hear very innocent, clear and structural concepts, which focus on positive experiences that breathe life into modern day culture. “ I would say that because I’m Native American, I write, sing and compose music the way that I do. My mother taught me a lot about how to carry myself and how to express the positive elements of life. My song “Summer Breeze” is from 15 years ago, and mom loved that song. She always said it makes you happy. But that is just one song that have somewhat inspired me to be and do my best. I’ve written over 400 songs, and there are different songs for different people. Overall though, when it comes to my music, it’s all about being positive and honest with myself, and honest toward others. It was always my mothers wish for me to speak and accentuate my heritage as a Native American because she was very proud of where we come from. I’m very in touch and close to my family and the music allows me to show some of that. Sometimes people look at me and think that I’m African American, so I say I’m both. The greatest misconception though is that people can’t believe that I’ve done this without a record deal. All I can say is that I have a great management team. They help me make the right decisions and right moves, although I’m very critical about the content in my songs. I’m very conscious about the lyrics and the structure and foundation for my material.

In the future, Toni Ann Semple plans to release more music, tour and travel. Her advice for young people is simple, “It’s very important that parents seek out talents in their children and nurture them. I was born the baby child of 10 children and for my mother to identify something in me, and then work with me to develop it really made me blossom as a musician and a person. The schools are slowly cutting programs for kids when it comes to music and the Government is cutting a lot of things, but for parents to be instrumental and nurture their children, that’s what’s going to make the greatest impact in the lives of children now and in the future”. To read more about Toni Ann Semple, visit www.myspace.com/toniannsemple, tasemple.com or www.facebook.com/pages/Toni-Ann-Semple/

RBC Center Welcomes Mike Epps and Friends

Raleigh, NC- Comedy makes us smile, laugh and do some of the craziest things, and no one knows that better than the recent RBC Center audience who witnessed Comedian Mike Epps and friends deliver a rousing show that literally tore the rafters off the building. For sure it’s always a bad sign when your headliner is stuck in traffic 5 miles deep, and key promoters such as Adolph Shiver of LA Inc., is left waiting for tickets that seemed to never come, but to do the math, believe it or not, the audience waited an extra 30 minutes before an unknown announcer, took the liberty to start the show with yet another unknown person, an Atlanta based comedian whom I’m sure we’ll get to know better in coming years.

Yes it was reported that there was a major accident on Highway 40 enroute to the RBC Center, but from my own observation, all I saw was something like a tractor trailer truck that had the axle in one direction and the tires down a cliff in the woods back off the road in a opposite direction. For sure this was a mess for someone, but the North Carolina State Police were not laughing, as they were super busy rerouting traffic, and attempting to get the highways clear so that people could move freely, and just not a foot every 20 minutes.

Around 8:30pm, the show began, with the host making references to the accident, but quickly went to work on some lady in the front row about her shoes. His hilarious antics made all who attempted to walk close to the stage rethink their ideas because who wants to be the subject of a wild man, poking fun at the least remarkable things we wear? But, from experience, we all know people who act relentless and could care less if they are “attacked” because they cause distractions during a comedy show. Face it, people want to be in the public eye, so if they attempted to step close to the stage, the spot light was on them.

Around 8:37pm, the host brought out the first act. This gentleman was also from the ATL. He too went straight for the audience. “Ladies how many of you ever had a stalker?”, which sounded a little familiar, but a tid bit to real, as if he had experience. The audience loved him as he pranced around the stage and picked mini fights with the best of them. Some of his lines included Southern Fried Comedy comprised of Racial Slang, and meanderings that made the few Caucasians down front chuckle and cling to their neighbors. It was clear to see this comedian’s antics were straight from the hood as he went to work on the security crew. Dodging any bullets coming their way, security members began running for cover to the left of the stage. The comedian asked the light man to center the spot light directly on one gentleman, where all those around him were falling in the floor laughing. His other highlights included a hilarious talk about Eartha Kitt and Shirk Tucker, better known as Comedian Chris Tucker’s make believe brother and more. He left the stage around 8:48pm.

Unlike a lot of past comedy shows that I’ve attended, the comedians this time around did their thing and kept the show moving. There was very little lag time between to bore the audience and make people even think about asking for any money back. Ticket prices were $45.50, $55.00 and there were some who paid as high as $75.00. At the end of the show one man stated, “the show should have been longer, and covered more material”. The shows’ promoter North Eastern Entertainment Company of Connecticut, at press time did not give information about ticket sales, nor the amount of seats that were sold, but looking around, a fair estimate would have been in the neighborhood of some 10 thousand give or take a few. Open seats remained on the floor leading into the last segment of the show, but the biggest gap in seating was in the upper levels, where you saw people in bunches and then empty seats. For sure, it was clear that a majority of tickets sold came from last minute walk- ups. The demographics were clear as African Americans filled seats by the thousands, and Caucasians were few in number, but they too proved that this was their kind of show. Overall it was a very nice turn out considering the economic crisis many families find themselves in this day and time.

Around 8:55pm, the special guest, Bruce Bruce came to the stage, in all his greatness, theme music and all. For those who are not familiar with Bruce Bruce, he’s made us laugh a time or two as host of BET’s “Comic View”. He has also performed stand-up on BET's Comic View, on various shows on Comedy Central and even performed on Comedy Central Presents in 2003. Bruce appeared as a guest on Wild 'N Out on MTV. Also played an important role in promoting Def Comedy Jam, a black stand up comedy in the all stars volume 11. He also had roles in the films “XXX: State of the Union”, “The Wash”, “Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector”, “Cloud 9” and Outkast's big screen debut “Idlewild”. He was also the host of BET's "Coming to the Stage." In addition to touring nationally with his standup and appearing in films, Bruce signed on as the national spokesperson for Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits, where he is the star of their "Stand-Up for Flavor" commercials. Finally Bruce released his first book, “Baby James Brown”, from Penguin Publishing.

Bruce Bruce was very easy to see, and likewise easy to accept as his brand of humor rocked the place. Not sure what was in the mix, but he never mentioned his signature “Popeye’s Chicken” once as he kept his eyes on the prize. The comedian was dressed in a custom blue suit, sporting a classy red tie and shoes that would make a shoe salesman blush. He was spiffy clean and ready for business. No one was safe as he ragged on Grand Daddy, Momma, the kids and everyone, and the audience loved it. “ I got three kids”, he stated, and one for the life of me would not give a blood sample”. Straight out the gate, he tore into the DJ. “Man ya’ll got something different here in North Carolina that I’ve never seen”, he stated. “This is the first time that I’ve ever seen a DJ sit down and mix records. Hey man- you all right? I done seen a lot of things, but this here takes the cake”. The audience couldn’t do anything, but laugh. Then he went to work on attacking his very own “fatness”, which really woke people up. And profanity was not a sore issue, as he used it with the bleakness of it’s existence in such passages as *uck personal trainers, him wearing a muscle shirt, old people, those who stutter, such as his brother, who also snores at the same time and countless other issues that audience members just found a ball of joy.

In the past, I’ve seen Bruce Bruce with a variety of hairstyles, but not in dreadlocks. He was not only sharp in attire, but very smooth with the dreads. During the intermission, people rushed up the stairs to take photos with him for $25.00 a pop, and the girls couldn’t get enough of the dreads. Some were admiring them, while others were a bit wild and circling to pull and rub on them. He welcomed the attention and kept the long lines moving.

One of the funniest moments of the Bruce Bruce show was watching the comedian explain his creativity of sexual positions and thereafter admiring the response from the ladies in the audience. “Yea man, you might be big”, said one lady, “but you can come on and do that with me right now”. The audience laughed until some literally rolled in the floor. Then he went further to teach the women a thing or two about pleasing their men, which he stated was geared to the young girls and the old women. As his show was coming to an end, like in all of his performances, he announced that what he does is different from other comedians. “I don’t tell jokes, I talk about real life stories. I don’t have a closing joke, so my thing is to just leave”, and around 9:23pm, he did just that.

Now it was time for the headliner, Mr. Mike Epps himself. Believe it or not, by time Epps got to the stage, there were still empty seats at 9:50pm because of the earlier accident, but as the lights went down for this ending performance, it’s was extremely hard to tell that seats were open. Epps came to the stage in his signature sport collar shirt, a silkish looking dress jacket and sneakers. Perhaps some comedians pride themselves on looking the look and applying their baller/shot-caller status to the show, but Epps is one of the original OG’s that if you met him in Wal-Mart, he would look, sound and be himself. His swagger was out the door, but his comedic attitude and wit for laughter caught you by the tail end and made you whip a tear out of both eyes. From the start, people laughed so hard, they were literally crying. Epps showed why he was the headliner and the real thing and the audience loved it. Some people laughed until they coughed, with no real signs of a cold. His opening gestures and comments included his past stints in Raleigh’s Walnut Terrace Projects, aloft the drugs, prostitutes and constituents of another nature. He also took the audience back with mentions of Day-Day, his fictional character from a few of his films, amply titled, “Next Friday” and “ Friday After Next”, where he starred opposite Rapper, Producer and Writer, Ice Cube.

If it was real to him, he cracked jokes about it, and the audience was filling it all. A few brave soldiers, male and female, including a somewhat confused Hispanic lady tried his patience more than once and he kept the jokes coming. “Hey lady, don’t you realize I’m trying to perform?”, and believe it or not she had to come again. “Why don’t you sit your fat ass down”, he said. And the audience loved it. Thereafter he broke it down and took it to something about strippers squirting goats milk on patrons and the like. Soon he went to work on Tiger Woods and White women, and that Tiger didn’t learn anything from past history, and O.J. Simpson was a dumb M*other F*cker because he went to jail for stealing some football cards. Through it all, the building was rumbling with laughter. Soon he told his story of meeting Chris Brown in the airport, where he stated ‘Chris told me he did beat Rahanna”, rolling back over to visit jokes that spoke of Keyshia Cole’s mother Frankie, who he said added her name to the long list of Tiger Woods girl friends. “ Yea I f*cked Tiger” in a rousing voice that had the audience almost jumping out their seats. But the moment that everyone loved, beyond the crazy antics, and jokes that had people on the edge of their seats, Epps showed his humanistic and manly side as he gave great conversation to Mothers Day. Keeping it real, this show was taking place on Mothers Day Eve, and he took a moment to appease the mothers in the audience.

“White mothers and their kids are different from our kids,” stated Epps. “Black kids mothers will attack you quick”, he explained in relation to differences in treatment and how they are raised. “Black mothers will have your ass penned between the couch, and we be running from them. White mothers put their children on punishment and Black Mothers put their kids in Solitary Confinement”, as he continued. But things were just getting started good. Epps took his ramped tales of despair a step further with “kids now need a ass whipping, because we got kids who are 9 year old fags, 13-year olds on medications, big girls who like to get it on and his religious anthem that rocked the audience, topics on the Academy Award Winning Film “Precious”, where every word rendered a response in laughter. He also gave the audience a taste of his big girl dance, which cited “big girls don’t care about this and….that”, where he later stated would be part of his upcoming album “F*ck Lettuce”. So who says the audience didn’t have a good time? There was not a dry eye in the building. And he delivered a “Top Flight Security Alert”, and rhetoric about a character in one of his past films, Baby D. Thereafter he broke off to a story about young girls and old players. His hilarious tale was about old men who are still dating young girls, “living on a fixed income”, He constantly laughed at his own jokes, while making faces that woke people up. Alot of the audience got a kick out of that, while others were deeply imbedded in their seats trying to compose themselves for the next segment of the show. He made several references to a “hog leg” and a “two leader”, with many people shaking their heads in amusement, as he pleaded with the audience, ‘now I know you ain’t gonna still my stuff’, to the men looking on. He even went off on the ladies as they prepared for a evening with or without their men, symbolizing the use of a vibrator operating off the batteries from Jr.’s toys, and how the “P” word had the power to change a Nigga’s mind in the spare of the moment.

But the most hilarious moment of the evening in Epps’ show was his rendition of what he called “retarded kids”. Epps did the talk and the walk, what I felt was almost a dance and then he got down to business. For sure it was wrong to laugh and perhaps wrong for Epps to deliver such a tight fisted approach to a topic that could have been close to the hearts of many of the audience, Hell had no fury as the comedian broke this down to. “ Chicken Wing could sing, rap and he was retarded”. The audience went wild with laughter. And then he had the nerve to say that he was tying to get closer to God, and the older he got, the more he wanted to find out exactly who God was. Then it was the preacher and the offering plate. “The preacher put Sis. Carter out the church because she didn’t participate in the offering, and yaw’ll know yaw”ll do the same thing. The father get up and the mother, then the kids all go right behind each other”. And then nearing the end of his show he stated, “the only thing I’m doing wrong is smoking weed and getting some play on the side”.

Over the years Epps has performed regularly at Club Charlie Goodnights in Raleigh, and a lot of the fans were there to cheer him on. In the past he’s been a staple on the Hollywood stage in such films as “Next Friday”, “Bait”, “3 Strikes”, “Dr. DoLittle 2”, “How High”, “ All About The Benjamin’s”, “ Friday After Next’, “ Malibu’s Most Wanted”, “ The Fighting Temptations”, “ Resident Evil”, “Apocalypse”, “Still Bout it”, “Guess Who”, “ The Honeymooners”, “ Roll Bounce”, “Something New” “Talk To Me”, “ The Grand”, “ Resident Evil: Extinction”, “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins”, “ Hancock”, “Open Season 2”, “ Soul Men”, “Next Day Air”, “ The Hang Over”, “Janky Promoters”, “ Lottery Ticket”, and “Liberty City The American Dream”. He’s soon to tour with Snoop Dogg for the “Imagine That Tour”.

In closing Epps thanked the audience for coming, while addressing how nice North Carolina was and stated he was very humble and appreciative for all who came to support the show. The show ended around 10:55pm. Thereafter he headed to the Adolph Shiver/LA Inc. After Party- Club Raleigh Live to meet and greet fans. Overall Epps’ idea to showcase his generosity for allowing two up and coming comics the opportunity to show the world what they could do is genius. It’s important that we have leaders and we have followers, and Mike Epps is definitely a top notch comic, business man, and leader, teaching his followers in this new world of comedy. He’s proven he has the wit, style and charisma to make a star out of the most cumbersome of talents. Mike Epps and Friends is a show -stopper headed straight for the big stage and small screens of HBO, BET and Beyond.

“NASTI MUZIK TOUR", REALITY TV AND DOUBLE SET SHOWS PROMISE FOR THUG MISSES "KHIA"

Miami Bass, Chopped and Screwed, Bounce, and Crunk Music, are just a few of the terms used to express the sentiment behind Hip-Hop sounds and lyrics that have raged wars throughout “The Dirty South” for decades now. One of the most notable battles was that of “Luke and The 2 Live Crew”, going head to head with a Florida State Court, over the groups “Nasty As You Wanna Be”, album, which set a precedent, forcing the United States Supreme Court to recognize violations of the groups 1^st Amendment Rights. Thereafter fellow Floridian artists (Trina, Trick Daddy, Jackie O. and many throughout the United States) would test the waters and give the world what we’ve come to know as Raunchy Rap with attitude. Khia is also one of those artists. She’s not afraid to get naked on the set, bust a cap in a Nigga’s ass if he treats her disrespectful or take a stand because someone called her a Bitch. She’s taken punches, and also gave a few in such very public squabbles with fellow artists Trina ,Deelishis (of Flavor of Love fame) Jackie O., and Janet Jackson. Many know her as “The Boss Lady”, “Gangstress”, and “Thug Misses”, but to be real, she’s one of brightest minds to ever represent “The Dirty South”. Yes Khia is one of the top mc’s/ballers/shot callers in the game when it comes to lyrics that hit you where it counts, make you move on the dance floor, and get your mind pumping with lust filled themes that would drive a wild animal crazy. Khia is definitely in a league all her own, as she portrays the sexy and controversial leader of self penned moniker, Thug Misses Entertainment, creating, personifying and seeking to be excellent in a male dominated industry, where many fall short on a daily basis. While many start-ups and established industry heads are evaporating in thin air, Khia remains strong, self -sufficient and on top of her game.

It seems as if it was only yesterday when “Dirty South” Rapper, Singer, Producer and Businesswoman Khia scored high on the charts with her sexually suggestive single, “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)”. The records’ success broke new ground, not only for women in Hip-Hop, but for women in general. Her sound was raw, to the point, and represented one of the hottest anthems to-date- “I can ball like a nigga do. I can smoke like a nigga do. I can grind like a nigga do. I can hustle like a nigga do. Regardless of what it is, I can do it to”, and true to the game, she has done just that, and then some. The historic significance about “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” was Khia did all the promotion, marketing and distribution herself. Her performances and videos have stimulated sex, while her record covers put the ‘p’ in power, showing the world what she was working with, all combined with raunchy lyrics that were the talk of the town. “Many people don’t know it, but I’ve recorded six albums”, says Khia. “Yea- I’ve been in the business for a while, and I’m still grinding, doing my thing. Also many people don’t know that I’m a singer. I just rapped on the “My Neck, My Back” project, but I was born and raised singing. This latest project is very special to me because I get to sing with my band. This is a double disk, project with some singing and rapping in a live show”. The album is entitled “Khia Shamone/Motor Mouf”, which showcases the artist at her best. The first single released is “Been A Bad Girl”, where Khia explains the contents. “This album is me. I’m singing the melodies and taking the entire project to a new level. This project is about growth and being in a comfortable place in my life. Because of the success of “Neck & Back”, I can now just sit back and enjoy some of what I’ve work so hard for”.

“Khia Shamone/Motor Mouf”, Khia’s latest project, and 4^th studio project is packed with singles that are very suggestive and controversial, but who else could pull off a set like this, but Khia. “Been A Bad Girl”, showcases a boom boom base beat that is classic South Florida. The lyrics repeat in the open and give listeners a taste of what it’s really like to be on the receiving end of Khia’s antics. “I need a bad boy, I been so damn bad- oh how it feels, when you put it in your mouth, pen me down, and lock it down,- oh no I can back it up, and it’s like night, I been a bad girl, I need a bad boy” . The instrumental is elementary, with rhymes that have their own creative flair. This record is for sure a different vibe for Khia as it places her in a more commercial area for marketing and distribution. Listeners can take away the lyrics and feel lost, and separated, but add the live show, and for sure this bad girls’ music and sound will come to life. “ Khia Shamone is my R&B side, with a neo-soul flavor, and people really love it”, continues Khia. “We’re trying to give the audience a little of everything. I can really sing and I want to show that to people. I want to be respected for my music and my talent, and for most part I haven’t been. I’ve been doing my Hip-Hop for 12 years now, and it’s time that I give me, the real me”.

Kia’s recorded works include “Thug Misses’, which was released on April 23, 2002 on Artemis Records as a re-release from the original version by Dirty Down Records. It topped the Billboard Independent Albums chart and peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The lead single "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" became a breakthrough hit, charting at #42 on the Hot 100 chart and #12 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Khia's second album, “Gangstress”, was released in July 2006 on her own independent record label, Thug Misses Entertainment (or T.M.E. Records). The album spawned two singles, "Snatch the Cat Back" and "For the Love of Money". In 2004, Khia appeared on a track with Trick Daddy and Tampa Tony called "Jump On It" from Trick's album “Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets”. Later in 2006, Khia also collaborated with Janet Jackson on her hit "So Excited". “Yea, Jermaine Jackson and I had done a project prior to this ”, says Khia. “So he hooked me up with Janet to work on her album. The project was a good experience, and a lot of fun”. In fall 2006, Khia released a mixtape, “All Hail the Queen: Hit 'Em Up Mixtape”, after the release of the album. After signing to Big Cat Records, and still with her own label Thug Misses Entertainment, Khia finished working on her third studio album, “Nasti Muzik”, released on July 22, 2008. "What They Do" was the first promotional single on the album, which featured Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane.

Khia, aka, “Ms. Neck-Back”, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Tampa, Florida, where she struggled to get her grind on, but once it happened, she had some relevant pit falls, but never looked back. She has been writing, singing and rapping R&B, Hip-Hop and Gospel all of her life. She was once a tap dancer and later a cheerleader in school. Another past time of hers was appearing in talent shows. As Khia got older, she became a bartender, which gave her access to some of the top radio DJ’s in the area. It was then that she became friends with radio personalities, which later helped her spark her go-getter spirit and create what we know today as “Khia- Thug Misses”. “I’ve always been a hard worker and about my business”, she continues. “ I grew up singing since the age of 5 years old. I will sing before I will rap. In the past when I’ve done interviews, I’ve always been portrayed for the negative and not who I really am. So to have been in the game this long and having my list of projects, it’s a blessing. I don’t have cover stories. I don’t have headlining projects, nor do I have big movie companies talking about me, but I am who I am and I do what I do, and it seems that people really like my sound and my style. I can’t go in a club and perform anywhere and not sing “Neck and Back”. It would be a riot. Believe it not, it was the biggest song of the century (during that time), and I didn’t get a cover on any magazines. Believe it or not, I’m not bitter about it, just working to create more successful music because all of that’s coming.”

Many had the opportunity to witness Khia’s appearances on the VH-1 reality series “Miss Rap Supreme”, starring as herself, participating in a competition style show for the coveted trophy, but to some dismay, she was voted off, which resulted in speculation and negative comments that continue to plague her today. “ I’m not sure what all that was about, “she says. “ They had some real haters there, there was a lot of hostility, but it gave a lot of my fans the opportunity to see me again. So I loved the experience and now I’m working on my own Reality Show. It’s called “Anger Management”, and we’re shopping it around to different shows right now”. There are two partial episodes of “Anger Management” at www.youtube.com, which showcases Khia, her band and members of her entourage traveling, performing live concert appearances, and discussing deals with fellow artists, promoters and business people, where Khia is not ashamed to show her “rough/tough” business side, mellowed in moments of her being the friend, confidant and gentle soul her fans long to see her as. “Appearing on “MS. Rap Supreme” was good because it gave me the opportunity to network and meet the producers and staff at VH-1”, she continues. “I really used it as a marketing tool to take me further. I’m working on my own show because there is a lot of stuff that was not showcased with “Miss Rap Supreme”. It didn’t show my business side- the ideas that I have to open doors for other independent artists looking to get out there. I call the show “Anger Management” because it’s important that you always know how to control yourself, and this show is my life on the road and behind the scenes, but it’s also my therapy”. “Anger Management”, is produced in conjunction with Deeply Paid Entertainment, and is being shopped with several networks including VH-1.

“It’s hard being a woman in this industry”, Khia says in closing. “ But it’s all business and I don’t feel challenged, I’ve just had to learn how it works. And to do that, I have my hands in everything. I’m doing what I love so and that is very important because it has not always been a good situation working with the different artists or business people. And I’ve been out there with the best of them. When I’m not touring, I’m more concerned about working on me. I’m not the hangout type. Some people do this to say they are friends with this one, or that one, and that kind of stuff. It’s all about business with me. So I learned early on that I had to really be a go getter and not look for others to confirm my ability to do what I know”. In the future look for Khia on her "Nasti Muzik" Tour and the release of her self help book targeted at young ladies in different aspects of their lives. It will also address pursuing careers in entertainment. For more on Khia visit www.khia-thugmisses.com.