The third annual Essence Music Festival returns to the Superdome July 3-5, and organizers have once again assembled an all-star lineup of super R&B, gospel, blues and jazz talent.
The festival kicks off July 3 with New Edition, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, and Kirk Franklin and The Famlly. On July 4 the music continues with Patti LaBelle, Kenny G., Ashford & Simpson with Maya Angelou and Erykah Badu. And closing out the festival July 5 will be Maxwell, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Morris Day & The Time and Solo.
Besides the main stage performances, there will be continuous music in the superlounges featuring The Ohio Players, Will Downing, The Bar-Kays, The Chi-Lites and many more. Free daily seminars will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center July 4-6 with guest speakers U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, attorney Johnnie Cochran and others. For more info call 1-800-ESSENCE.
And the award for most members in a hip-hop group goes to…Psycho Ward. The local hip-hop group has 28 members, and according to group member Blaknificent (Thomas Williams) Psycho Ward’s biggest challenge is trying to get all 28 members together to meet or rehearse. On stage, however, they rotate members so that only five to six members perform at any given time. “I don’t think there’s a stage big enough to hold all 28 of us,” laughs Blaknificent. On their latest effort, Psycho Ward managed to round up 19 members to record a 15-song CD called www.psychoward.com on D.E.O. Records. It’s hip-hop music with a positive vibe. “We do what we feel. We do music from our hearts,” says Blaknificent. We’re trying to bring the true essence of hip-hop back. With all the madness that’s been going on in rap music like the murders of Tupac and Biggie, it’s time for a change.” The album was produced by Tribunal, which is Blaknificent, Raj (Roger Dickerson) and E.F. Cuttin (Thomas Edwards).
To help promote the CD, Psycho Ward hosted a record release party at Cafe Brasil and all of the proceeds went to New Orleans Battered Women’s Foundation. They’ve been interviewed on “Hip Hop Half Hour”, a video show produced at Tulane University, and were one of the featured performers at the LMNOP Music Conference. Radio listeners are familiar with Psycho Ward’s work—the group produced three introduction songs that frequently air on Q93’s nighttime show with Wild Wayne. After hearing Psycho Ward’s music, Wild Wayne believes they have serious potential to do well, especially on the East Coast, where hip-hop has a strong following. “Psycho Ward is bringing hip-hop to New Orleans the real way,” says Wild Wayne. “They’re not trying to sugar coat it or emulate anybody else. It’s true hip-hop, but they’re giving it a southern spin.”
Psycho Ward, which was formed in 1994 by Chill and Mac with 13 original members, says it’s time for people to put aside their differences and work together to improve their communities. “There’s different wards in the city, and people are fighting and killing each other over wards. That’s crazy, says Blaknificent. “We’re from everywhere in the city. We got together and made things work and kept it positive. lf we can do it, anybody can do it.” www.psychoward.com is available at local record stores.
Wild Wayne is currently hosting several club nights presented by Wolfpack Entertainment. On Friday nights, the party’s on at Beady’s Lexus II in Thibodeaux with live rap and hip-hop music. On Saturdays, The Bridge City Circle Restaurant and Bar (1200 Bridge City Ave.) also features local rap and hip-hop artists. And on Sundays, it’s “Teen Night” at The Bridge City Circle Restaurant and Bar with a live DJ from 5-9 p.m.
If you still wanna get your groove on after the weekend is over, check out Monday nights at Tipitina’s. V.O.I.C.E. (Vibes of Intelligent, Creative Essence) Productions presents V.O.I.C.E. night featuring local and national R&B, hip-hop, reggae and funk talent as well as guest DJ’s, surprise guest appearances and next level poetry reading, 9 p.m.-’til. If you’re a local artist who would like to perform on V.O.I.C.E. night, send a demo tape and bio to: Fire on the Bayou Recording Studio, 10050 Morrison Rd., Suite 206, New Orleans, LA 70128 or call (504) 241-8802.
What do you get when you take a rapper who writes “fire” rhymes and give him a few years to “master” the art of rapping? Master Smoke, of course. Master Smoke (Ricky McCloud) is a gifted young rapper with creative skills and a sense of humor that is evident in his music. Take for example the humorous title of the album Where Ya Baby Daddy At? on South Coast Music Group or the song “Bigger the Booty, Better the Booty”. There’s no doubt that this CD, due in stores July 4, will be the buzz album of the summer. It was produced by Precise and recorded in less than two weeks with a little help from some of Master Smoke’s friends. “Recording the album was so much fun,” says Master Smoke. “Precise gave me the feeling that I was still ‘the man’. Partners-N-Crime, Ghetto Twiinz, ReCon, Slice, E.R.C., Tre-8, Threat, Mr. Rob G. and Ms. Ray were hanging out in the studio having a great time.” If you’re looking for gangsta rap with violent images you’ve come to the wrong place. Where Ya Baby Daddy At? is a party CD that you’ll want to listen to when you’re in the mood to have fun or if you’re headed out to the clubs. “I’m not a gangsta rapper,” says Master Smoke. “I don’t bounce rap. I’m an entertainer. I ‘act a donkey’ during my show. In other words, I act an ass.”
Master Smoke started rapping during high school after suffering an injury that ended his football career. He teamed up with Macnonomous (Furman Victor), and they were known as the rapping duo Captive Rock. Master Smoke became friends with Bustdown, who taught him a lot about the business, and later met Tim Smooth, who introduced him to Precise. In 1993, Master Smoke released a single called “Master Smoke Makes an Astonishing Debut”. In 1995, he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was unable to walk for eight months. During that time he wrote raps and was inspired by Mystikal to get serious about rapping after seeing Mystikal and Tim Smooth perform on Soul Train. As his health improved, his dedication to rap music grew, and in 1997 he hooked up with Precise and recorded his debut CD. Future plans for Master Smoke include recording two more albums and producing other artists from Slidell, where he was raised.
It’s not often that we feature an artist (by artist we mean painter, sculptor, etc.) in the street column. Our column is usually reserved for artists who sing, rap, etc., but one particular name comes up over and over again whenever there’s art work to be done on music projects. Because his skills are just as important as that of a singer or producer when it comes to creating the entire music package, we thought it would be fitting to introduce to you Paul Deo. Deo is a multi-talented artist (he paints, animates, sculpts, etc.) who has done design work for everyone from Michael Jackson to Spike Lee, and the list keeps growing. Most recently, his graffiti murals were featured on KRS-One’s video for “Step Into A World (Rapture’s Delight)” that was filmed at The State Palace Theatre during the Gavin Convention. Last year, he provided the art direction for Mystikal’s “Here I Go”, a video that highlighted New Orleans landmarks including the French Quarter and Piazza D’Italia. For those of you in search of a talented artist to produce your next CD cover, he’s the guy to call. He created the cover for the Rebirth Brass Band’s latest release We Come To Party. And who do you think designed the backdrop, poster and t-shirts for last month’s Reggae Riddums Festival? You guessed it—Paul Deo.
Deo spent years honing his craft while growing up in New Orleans and New York. Inspired by an aunt who taught him charcoal and oil painting, he won his first art contest when he was seven. The grand prize was a Jacksons’ album and a chance to meet the Jacksons live at Radio City Music Hall. Deo, who admires creative geniuses like Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix, says music has always influenced his art work. “I can’t paint without music,” says Deo. “I need it to push me.” In college he designed Greek shows and later went on to create Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” tour jacket and helped design Spike Lee’s movie Malcolm X. “For Deo, working with Lee was one of his most rewarding projects and a great learning experience. “[Spike Lee] showed me the ins and outs of the film business,” says Deo. This month, Deo is busy shooting his own film called To The Bone. To The Bone is a live-action animation movie filmed in New Orleans that deals with knowledge, wealth and violence in the 21st Century. Good luck to Deo, who plans to enter his film in major film festival competitions.
Deo is currently accepting demo tapes for the To The Bone soundtrack. All music formats will be considered. Mail tapes to: The Paul Deo Company, 4713 Chestnut St., New Orleans, LA 70115 or call (504) 895-7385.
Response to last month’s “Street Talk” question: “Do you think rap music causes crime and violence?”
Blaknificent (Thomas Williams): “No, I don’t think so. I think people pretty much do what they want. I would hate to think that a record has that much control over a human being. That means that that person doesn’t have any mind control at all, and that’s dangerous.
This month’s “Street Talk” question is: “Who was your favorite performer at the Essence Music Festival and why?” Mail your comments to: Street Talk, 1216 Edenborn Ave., Metairie, LA 70001. (Letters must be received before July 15.)
