::ROLL TAPE:: Tightrope By Janelle Monae

This has been a wonderful birthday week but the release of this video on my birthday really made my day special!

Janelle Monae is hands down one of my favorite artists and has been for a couple of years. You wonder why...her live show and the video of "Tightrope" feat Big Boi should be explanation enough.


Janelle Monae & Gypsy


I had the pleasure of seeing her live show and working with her well put together team (**shout out to Jeff, one of only a handful of people that make me smile at the thought of them) earlier in the month when she performed to a sold out crowd at the Black Cat in DC.

Everything about Ms. Monae incites you to move, to act, to just do something and no matter who you are, how gangster your lean, how cute your walk...everyone falls under her cyber spell. If you ever have the opportunity to see her perform live DO IT, you will not be sorry!!!!!!!



Performance at the Black Cat in DC 3.15.10

This video is no different. I swear to you as I watched it I STRUGGLED to stay in my seat. My body was moving with out any direction from my brain. The beat, the dancing, just the song commands action-my little body politely obeyed.

Most enjoyable is how REBELLIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL (yeah that's a Gypsy Soul thang) she is! She has good music, great substance and guess what she has FUN (I think people/artists forget what that is). She gets our admiration and RESPECT because she's fully clothed and RAWKS it, she has an awesome voice and uses it for GOOD, and she makes being YOURSELF...COOL.

Check out the video of "Tightrope" Feat Big Boi
from the upcoming album ArchAndroid (5.18.10)

Janelle Monae - New Music - More Music Videos

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::EVENT ALERT:: METRO MUSE feat. Paula Campbell

On March 31st, Baltimore-native

Paula Campbell

will perform live at Layla Lounge for the Wednesday edition of the

Metropolitan Muse Concert Series

Hosted by Desiree Samira Entertainment, Ms. Campbell will highlight music from her latest work “DreamMaker.” Sponsors include Fusicology and DMV Unplugged.

Make sure you get to Layla Lounge as Metropolitan Muse brings another unplugged edition of the hottest acts both regionally and nationally to the DC area!

Links:
Metropolitan Muse Concert Series: http://www.metromuseonline.com
Desiree Samira Entertainment: http://www.desireesamiraent.com

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::TIX FIX:: The SOUL Symphony

Classic Soul + New Soul + An Orchestra =
The Soul Symphony!

Gypsy Soul
is giving away tix to see
The Soul Symphony
featuring
Robeta Flack, N'Dambi, Eric Roberson, Navasha and Rhonda Thomas
at Howard on April 3rd courtesy of
Harmony of Life

How do you win? Come out to
The Experience at Teavolve on April 2nd hosted by eXcape the matriX!
Yup as easy as that!

Peace, Love & SOULCIALIZE!

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::TIX FIX:: EAR CANDY with LEAH SMITH & DARIEN

Be Sweet To Your Ears!


Gypsy Soul
is giving away tix to see
Leah Smith & Darien
at Teavolve on April 20th

How do you win? Come out to

The Experience at Teavolve on
April 2nd hosted by
eXcape the matriX!

Yup as easy at that!

COME SOULCIALIZE!

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::TIX FIX:: RES!

Black Girls Rock! & so does RES

Gypsy Soul
is giving away tix to see
RES
at LIV on April 8th courtesy of those fly fellas at
SHINE ON ME

How do you win? Come out to
The Experience at Teavolve on April 2nd host by eXcape the matriX!
Yup as easy as that!

ROCK ON PEOPLE & SOULCIALIZE!

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Baltimore Loves Badu ::Listening Party::

Through the act of marketing genius, an amazing amount of guts, and the 24 hour gateway medium of the Internet, the last couple of days have been a Badu bonanza centered around her new video for "Window Seat" and the release of her album
New Amerykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh.

Yesterday Baltimore was ablaze with Badu fever at Clutch when Gypsy Soul and Unrelated Family along with DJ Bobby Rox presented The Sound Check Series, a listening party to let fans hear the new album and to deliberately exacerbate their appetite for the long awaited Return of the Ankh!

With a mixture of older hits and the anticipated new tracks DJ Bobby Rox RAWKED Clutch and the fans that came to relax, listen and win.


DJ Bobby Rox of www.rocktheflow.com


During the The Sound Check Series cds and a limited edition, framed, and autographed Erykah Badu poster was given away to lucky winners that for the love of good music came out in the rain to have a good time and support a great artists.




Framed, autographed, limited edition poster


cd winner

cd winner


Fans took pictures and took home posters to commemorate the return of something wonderful, the New Amerykah Part 2: The Return of the Ankh.

Now if only Erykah came to Baltimore in 2010 to do a live show.... :)

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::EXCLUSIVE LEAK:: DWELE...WHATS NOT TO LOVE?

Photo by Daria Johnson

Be the first to hear the brand new smash hit single

What's Not To Love

From Grammy Nominee, 2X Soultracks.com Awards Winner, and R&B Soul Music's Best Kept Secret

DWELE

This beautiful and melodic single brought to you courtesy of RT Music Group (RTMG), is from Dwele's 4th and forthcoming LP

W.W.W. (W.ANTS W.ORLD W.OMEN)

That's In Stores Everywhere, I-tunes.com, and Amazon.com

June 29th, 2010

For More info on
RT Music Group Recording Artist
DWELE
log onto:

http://www.myspace.com/dwele

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KYONTE: Whats That Sound?

Producer and songwriter Kyonté, recognized for his Grammy Nominated work with Raheem DeVaughn and Ledisi, steps from behind the writer’s table to release his debut album “831 Vol. 1: What’s That Sound” on February 23, 2010.

831 Vol 1 "What’s That Sound” depicts music diversity at its best. This album is a “must have” that reflects Kyontés songwriting ability to transcend life and love into the perfect musical melodies which speak to the soul. When you ask Kyonté the true meaning of “831 Vol. 1 What’s That Sound,” he says “Eight Letters. Three Words. One Meaning. A love that is reflective of body language, a passion that not only reflects the love of a person or a thing, but a zest for living and experiencing life.”




Following in the footsteps of a host of his favorite musicians, “831 Vol 1 What’s That Sound”, is the quintessence of listening pleasure, a musical compilation of life and love that brings the element of timeless music that reminds you of an eclectic blend of legends Prince, Luther Vandrosss, and Donny Hathaway, all rolled into one. The album’s lead single “Body Shop” shows Kyontés musical versatility with an up-tempo club banger about inviting an already perfect woman into his life or “shop” for display.




Having worked alongside many talented artists across the genres of R&B and gospel, Kyonté is making his mark as a solo artist. A native of Washington, DC, Kyontés hometown has already recognized him as both the 2008 Entertainer of the Year as well as the 2008 Artist Most Likely to Succeed. His over 15 years of live performance experience and classically trained vocals ensure a stage presence unlike any you’ve seen in a long time.





The official “831 Vol. 1: What’s That Sound” was released on February 23, 2010 at the legendary Blues Alley in Washington to two sold out shows!

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Art, Beats, + Lyrics: An Urban Art Exhibition

Art, Beats and Lyrics is an Exhibition of multi-media art and design that explores the recent work of a diverse group of visual artists who have emerged from the sub-cultures in Hip-Hop throughout America.

AB+L explores several themes in Hip Hop and highlights urban art forms expressed through photography, graffiti and paintings fused with DJ’ing, break dancing and live music.The core of the project involves painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, performance and product design by well-known artists as well as up-and-coming local talent. This event is being promoted by our good friends over at Fusicology and sponsored by Gentleman Jack. You should definitely go and check it out next weekend and expose yourself to some serious creative individuals and immerse yourself in their work.

Friday March 26 at 7 pm-

Saturday March 27 at 12 am

@ Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium

1301 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, D.C.

Dope Art, Dope Music, Dope People, Free Drinks + Free to get in...

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Royal Patience...learn to have it while waiting for good music

One of Gypsy Soul's favorite artists who we have worked with several times dropped a mixtape a few weeks back. The "Young Lioness" Teedra Moses has provided her fans with a little teaser as we await her sophomore follow up. The Royal Patience Compilation...A Love Journey mixtape is full of songs that will keep you well held over until it arrives. Go and visit Teedra for your free download if you haven't already got it and enjoy.

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Green Zone Movie Review

Though a work of fiction, in my opinion, Green Zone provides probably the closest explanation to the truth behind the Iraq War that the American public will ever receive.


Check out the official synopsis and then the review:

Oscar® winner MATT DAMON (The Bourne franchise, Invictus, The Informant!) and internationally renowned director PAUL GREENGRASS (The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, United 93) re-team for their latest electrifying thriller in Green Zone. In the film, one soldier will go as far as it takes to uncover a conspiracy that extends throughout an unstable country erupting into war. A lone warrior is left with one option: go off reservation to find the hidden truth. It is 2003, and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller and his team of inspectors have been dispatched by their commanders to find weapons believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but instead stumble upon an elaborate cover-up that subverts the purpose of their mission. Spun by operatives with intersecting agendas, Miller must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil for answers that will either clear a rogue regime or escalate a war in an unstable region. At this blistering time and in this combustible place, he will find the most elusive weapon of all is the truth.

If you're looking for an action film with a great story line Green Zone is it. Green Zone is smart, engaging, suspenseful, action packed, and well developed. As a young lady that has become a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 fanatic I can appreciate the seemingly simple details that this movie encompasses. From the beautifully choreographed and realistic movements displayed by the soldiers as they execute missions to the moving action camera that allowed viewers to feel as if they were in lock step with the players of the action scenes, Green Zone grips you. Director Greengrass does great in blending various types of shots that help exhilarate your emotions as you follow the movie.

The story in it self is compelling and does an outstanding job of giving a combination of Iraqi points of view. Many of us may be jaded to the struggle and experience of the people of Iraq because of the lack of accurate, consistent, and well rounded coverage by the media or unpleasant propaganda propelled by politicians, but Green Zone places the viewer in a position to have to heed the view of those in Iraq. The constant interaction between Capt Miller (Matt Damon) and "Freddy" the Iraq civilian places a face to the everyday person on the ground.

For those of us think that we as American's have the final say in the future of another country, a very pivotal scene displays an Iraqi man who states quite clearly "You do not get to decide what happens here" (not a direct quote) and for the first time I think the people in the theater opened themselves to seeing this conflict through the eyes of the persons living on Iraq soil.

The unyielding search for the truth was a strong theme I received from this movie. We must handle truth, even when it doesn't serve our agenda, with the utmost care and highest regard, it is what trust, justice, and every sacred thing we hold dear is molded from, especially when lives are at stake. The most profound couple of lines to me were "The reason's we go to war ALWAYS matter. What's going to happen the next time we need people to trust us?" Matt Damon did an outstanding job of portraying a person sincerely in search of the truth and righting a wrong that has taken the lives of so many, even if it means risking his job or his life.

Green Zone is a movie I will see again, buy on DVD and tell anyone that will listen to go and experience the closest thing to the truth that any of us will ever get in regards to the reasons behind the Iraq War.

Thank you to Allied for the screening privileged.

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The Love & War MasterPeace

The long wait for the self proclaimed " R&B Hippie Neo-Soul Rock Star," Raheem DeVaughn's third studio LP is finally here. He has presented The Love & War MasterPeace. The artwork speaks volumes itself, many of us recall the saying, "the revolution will not be televised," but with DeVaughn clad in all black and fist raised in the air set inside of a tv screen it seems he thinks otherwise. Music has been in a dire need of a solid offering that offers more than trendy radio cuts, buts digs deeper and exposes the depth and emotion that R&B/Soul music used to evoke. If you are a fan of GOOD music than you will get more than a fair serving with what Raheem DeVaughn has delivered with this album, disappointment doesn't seem quite possible.

The album begins with Dr. Cornel West stating plainly that DeVaughn is the "greatest soul singer of his generation...who has created a masterpiece," and placing him clearly as belonging to the lineage of great artists such as Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Issac Hayes, Bob Marley, and Donny Hathaway. He challenges you to, "stay with his groove." Immediately following the introduction the album kicks off with Bulletproof feat. Ludacris followed by an album standout The Greatness feat. Wale. It makes a point to illustrate the need for appreciation of beauty from the inside out, a call to look a little deeper in yourself than just staring at what you see as a physical and material reflection in the mirror. Next you have I Don't Care, which finds the artist proclaiming to his woman that they are an ideal match, regardless of what others may say. Next up is Black & Blue, and in this track you'll hear exactly what love is not with regards to domestic violence. Love is a number of things according to Raheem, but it is never conveyed by putting your hands on the one you love. Among the next few tracks any gentlemen will find them perfectly suitable for making a case for themselves to lady of their interest. Mr. Right, Fragile, My Wife, B.O.B, and Bedroom follow almost a logic sequence of courtship, commitment, keeping things fresh, and then taking them to the next level. Microphone and Garden of Love continue the album's theme of love and at this point you should be more than halfway through the album.

By the time you reach the latter half of the album you are revisited by Dr. West and a PSA, which readies you for songs centered more around social change and the current environment that we all currently live in. At this point almost everyone is familiar with Bulletproof, but there are other songs that in my opinion outshine it such as Revelations 2010 feat. Damian Marley and Nobody Wins A War, which can only be described as a music afficionado's ideal posse cut. You couldn't ask for more than a track with Jill Scott, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Algebra, Shelby Johnson, Chrisette Michele, Dwele, Ledisi, Citizen Cope , Chico DeBarge, and Rudy Currence all singing effortlessly and voices blending together in a way that only they could execute.

All in all The Love & War MasterPeace LP is a cohesive project that should easily engage and satisfy those who look to hear good quality music. Just as Sade's recent Soldier of Love LP moved almost 500,000 units in the first week, I expect Raheem DeVaughn to do the same. Many in the industry complain of slow sales and a decline in business, but what I think it is simply put is that consumers are eager for projects like the ones previously mention that deliver solid song selection, well executed performances, and a consistent high caliber of music throughout the entire album. Go and cop the album and see what you think. And if you want there is even a deluxe edition that offers eleven additional cuts. So since you have quality music available, its time to show some support for it.

01 Dr. Cornell West Intro
02 Bulletproof f. Ludacris
03 The Greatness f. Wale
04 I Don’t Care
05 Black & Blue
06 Mr. Right
07 Dr. Cornell West Interlude
08 Fragile f. Malik Yusef
09 My Wife
10 B.O.B.
11 Bedroom
12 Microphone
13 Garden Of Love
14 Dr. Cornell West P.S.A.
15 Nobody Wins A War f. Jill Scott, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Algebra, Chrisette Michele, Shelby Johnson, Ledisi, Citizen Cope, Dwele, Chico DeBarge & Rudy Currence
16 Revelations 2010 f. Damian Marley

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GEt toGHEther with j*Davey

J*Davey

J*Davey is a Gypsy Soul musical staple and in constant rotation on our dial!

This week the group released their latest video
"Get Together" directed by Veronica "V-Chip" Hinds

Brook D'Leau Jack Davey


Photos by Timothy Christmas

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The Praise Cafe: YPJ & FVC

When I woke up this morning I didnt feel a particular way, I was alright. And while driving to work I was listenin to one of my favorite artists as I rawked through the streets. But while waiting for a park I went through my ipod and saw a song I hadnt played in a while..."JESUS (THE OMG Song)".

The great thing about gospel music is that you can play it anytime--sad , mad, happy, confused, overjoyed, whatever and it will always bring your spirit just that much higher. As a person raised in the church and a lover of the arts, Ive always dug great gospel music. As an eclectic outcast sort Ive been particularly fond of artists that go outside the box, and there are a couple of gospel artists I adore for their progressive praise offerings. SOOOOOOOOOO I decided that today would be the day The Soulcialista would debut The Praise Cafe, a special monthly feature of gospel artists that feed the SOUL and that our crew truly enjoys!

This month's Praise Cafe feature is YPJ & FVC! They have released their 2nd album Popular Jesus which features "JESUS (THE OMG Song)", "Whutchutawkinbouw?!?!", "We War", "I Am Not Ashamed" and more!

Check out "JESUS (THE OMG Song)"




Listen to more music & PURCHASE music HERE



Who is YPJ and FVC?

YPJ is the youth pastor and music director for Faith Apostolic Ministries, a mega ministry in northern Indiana. His desire is to see the lives of young people enhanced through music ministry and a clear delivery of the word of God. YPJ travels the country spreading the message of God's undying love to thousands. "It's all about Jesus until they tag my T-O-E," he declares.

At the age of 11 YPJ began playing the piano at his fathers's church in South Bend, IN. His style of music was always considered weird and unorthadox to his peers. This was at times very discouraging, but consistant reminders from his mother of how his unique play was from God kept him focused. From the ages of 15-18 YPJ continued playing for his church and many local groups. His desire was to go into full time road travel with his music as a gig musiscian. However, the Lord revealed his call to ministry in 1997. Though quite reluctant, YPJ excepted the call and stayed in South Bend assisting his parents. He noticed that his parents church was becoming one of the largest churches in their region, but they had very few youth.

In 1998 YPJ founded the Faith & Virtue Connection, a youth group devoted to drawing young men and women closer to Christ. Within two years FVC had grown from 12 young people to over 200. YPJ quickley took advantage of the opportunity to incorporate his music background with his outreach methods. Thus he convinced his church family to invest in a state of the art music and video studio to better help bring forth many of the youth's talents. One group created through the investment was the Faith and Virtue Chorale, an ensemble of some of FVC's finest singers, and musicians. Under the direction of YPJ, FVC began to travel abroad sharing the message of God's undying love with thousands. Their stage performance has been called wild, humorous, exciting, and anointed.

There church family has branded them the "Clowns of Gospel Music". YPJ's desire is to bring laughter and joy back to a very serious and at times cold "churched" generation. "Laughter is like a medicine," he says, "So we want people that see us perform to overdose, but at the same time leave uplifted through the message of Jesus. We're not trying to be the best vocally, nor are we trying to be anything that we're not. We just want people to know that there are still some youth out here that will never compromise the gospel." YPJ's unique style of playing and writing was soon titled "Dream Music" by his friends because he always said he would dream about songs before he wrote them. Plus, his unusual chord structures, drum beats and bass lines are said to be out there.

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VIDEO Recap: N'Dambi at Organic

Gypsy Soul brought N'Dambi to Organic Soul

Check out this video from Stevie Soul

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Catch A Ride with Shae Fiol

On February 16^th Shae Fiol graced Teavolve with her presence and soulful voice. Performing songs such as “Lonely, Lovely” and “Women’s Presence” Shae brought down the house. The audience joined in sing and clapping as the atmosphere was inviting and relaxed. By the time Shae was done performing, she was immediately called back for an encore performance. With serenity still in the air and the night coming to an end, many lined up for more of Shae Fiol to take home her album “Catch a Ride”.

A more intimate side of Shae was captured in this interview thanks to I See Color Live, Gypsy Soul’s partner in production. Check it out.

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"Spend Some Time" with Maysa

Check out one of the best Smooth Jazz Vocalists out there in her new music video for single "Spend Some Time," off of her new CD, A Woman In Love. This is Maysa's newest offering, enjoy!

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