New Orleans is quickly becoming the premiere music mecca of the south with acts like Salt & Pepa hitting New Orleans’ House of Blues on their 40-city Greatest Hits tour.
Houston’s R&B group 3G’s flew in for record store and radio station meet and greets, the taping of WWL’s teen show “Our Generation” and of course an in-depth interview with Street Vybes! Read on to get the 411.
Salt & Pepa, along with Spinderella and rapper Rufus Blaq, performed a two-show concert in April at the House of Blues, The first sold out and the second one did almost as well according to Hardy McBee, the House’s Promotions Manager. Salt & Pepa rocked the House of Blues with chart toppers like “Tramp,” “I’ll Take Yo’ Man,” and the ever popular “Push It: Between show times Vybes had the honor of speaking with one half of the rap duo.
“New Orleans is off the hook, that crowd was awesome, I couldn’t even hear myself on the mic they were so loud,” said Salt when asked about performing In New Orleans. Vybes had the opportunity of letting Salt & Pepa know that New Orleans’ own hottest lady of rap, Mia X, did a remake of “I’ll Take Yo’ Man,” a son of tribute to the first ladies of rap on her debut LP Good Girl, Gone Bad, “I didn’t hear about that, I think that’s awesome – I’m flattered anytime someone does something like that,” praises Salt. “They said Foxy did ‘Tramp’ over, so yeah, that’s hot.” Sorry folks, time for Salt & Pepa to hit the stage again, but Vybes did have time to find out what’s next for these rap divas.
“We’re working on the Greatest Hits album, and as you know, we have two new cuts on it. And the songs you heard ronight like ‘I’ll Take Yo’ Man,’ ‘Tramp,’ and others,” adds Salt. “And we’re finishing up our 40-ciry tour,” As Salt exits it’s just Vybes‘ luck— touring mate Rufus Blaq puts in an unexpected appearance, giving me the chance to get a quick comment. “Straight up, straight up, coming straight out of the mid west Y-town, Ohio, this is Rufus Blaq— ‘Gimme yi yi yo’ [a rap phrase he’s known for]. I wanna put it down for New Orleans— Master P, Silk da Shocker, Mia-X, Mystikal, and everybody that’s holding it down for hip hop,” states Rufus Blaq. “Dirty south music is gonna reign supreme for a long time, live with it and I represent it to the fullest.”
In other Vybes news, Houston’s R&B group Dave Cole, Dion Bell and Martin Bell, aka 3G’s, flew in for meet and greets throughout the city at music retailers and radio and television stations to promote their work on the Unconditional Love soundtrack. 3G’s, which stands for three gentlemen, met with Vybes to talk about their involvement with the soundtrack that features vocal powerhouse Johnny Gill on the lead track. They also spoke to Vybes about artists with whom they want to work, and their scheduled debut CD release on group member Dave’s Star Records label.
3G’s are featured on four of the 17 tracks on the Unconditional Love soundtrack. “I started my label Star Records; our group was already strong and ready for the industry,” says Dave. “Since we were already groomed and seasoned we decided that we would move forward and allow 3G’s to be the first to come off Star Records. And we thought a soundtrack would be good exposure, so we decided t0 submit those four songs to the soundtrack to give us a push,” he adds. “We’re featured on two more sound tracks from films starring Vanessa Williams and Angela Bassett.”
3G’s, formerly known as 4-U, originally started out as a quartet containing two sets of brothers like the group Jodeci. Unfortunately, tragedy struck— one of the group members, Dave’s brother, passed away. “We pulled ourselves together and kept our musical dream alive,” expresses Dave.
Trying t0 switch to a more upbeat mood, Vybes asks about artists that 3G’s admire and with whom they eventually hope to work. “Will Downing, Baby-Face,, Johnny Gill, Boyz to Men, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, and Stevie Wonder,” they reply. They go on to add Master P and Snoop. 3G’s plans to return t0 New Orleans this summer possibly put- ting on performances at various functions held throughout the city.
Silver Lining’s Backstage Pass to the Record Industry seminar held at New Orleans’ Fairmont Hotel gave entertainers information involving the recording industry. Entertainment attorneys, marketing and promotions reps, producers, A&R reps and more were on hand for the event to provide the music enthusiast with a wealth of information on the business of music.
Speakers such as Mike Avery, A&R for Arista, Wesley Mallete of BET [Black Entertainment Television], Laura Tennyson from the House of Blues, Warner Bros. Rep Renee Burdine, and keynote speaker and local entertainment attorney Suzette Becker shared their knowledge and experience of their prospective fields with guests.
“I am extremely impressed with the organization and professionalism of Silver Lining’s seminar,” says Suzenc Becker. “They make a sincere effort traveling from city t0 city to nurture local netwotking, encourage professionalism and educate within the urban music scene.” Warner Bros. rep Renee Burdine adds, “I enjoyed the seminar. Anything you need to know to get into the music business and maintain is all here. Hopefully next year it will be bigger.”
Hosted by Q’93’s on-air personality Uptown Angela, the seminar was followed by a VIP networking reception with an Artist Showcase featuring up- and-coming local artists from hip-hop to classical music. “The seminar was very informative. A lot of questions that people had about trying to get into the music business were answered,” says Uptown Angela.
“The seminar provided people with information they need before getting into the music business, sort of like going to a car dealership with Consumer Reports. You already know what to expect,” she adds. “It’s about giving people a chance, because that’s what it’s all about— giving people a chance.”
Some featured artists were Transition, a new hip-hop group that focuses on positive lyrics, 1998 WYLD talent show winner Arriene Thomas, classical singer Delores G. White, along with female rap duo X-A-Cutionist, and Jason Neville, who sang a slamming cut from his upcoming album on Rose Records. “I was kinda nervous going on stage by myself,” says Jason Neville. “But I though the event was nice, I heard some stuff that I didn’t even know was around.”
“Silver Lining Entertainment’s goal is to become a full television and film production house,” says president Angela White. “Currently we’re utilizing the music seminar as a way to learn and understand the market, also to bridge gaps and build relationships. What’s great about New Orleans’ market is there are so many independent labels. We’ve already been to eight different cities, but there are not that many independent labels. Everybody’s trying to sign with the majors: Arista, Sony, MCA, but here everybody already has their music pressed and ready to go,” she further comments.
“Within two weeks after our last seminar we met everybody that was important and who’s who in New Orleans— and that’s because we’re on a professional level of hustling as opposed to the street level. Next year we expect to come back on a much bigger level.”
