UnRated Urban Magazine

By Sommer Thornton

J. Cole is one of the most anticipated new comers in hip-hop. Following in the footsteps of successful sophomores Wale and Drake, J. Cole, who hails from North Carolina, offers what hip-hop has been missing for quite some time. That’s why his loyal fans packed Chicago’s Bottom Lounge for what was supposed to be a brief after party for Lollapalooza. Instead, J. Cole performed nearly 20 tracks from his mix tapes The Come Up (2007), The Warm Up (2009), and from studio sessions for his upcoming album, Cole World(2010), which includes his first single, “Who Dat.”

J. Cole’s rap style is a lyrical gumbo of the greats –Jay Z, Tupac, Kanye West, Eminem, and Common – some of which happen to be J. Cole’s inspirations. But Cole brings something authentic to the game. The Roc-Nation artist speaks from the perspective of a  bi-racial kid from the south who graduated from a big-city university with honors, yet endured the same hardships as the foster kid, the kid from the projects, the kid with the parent on drugs, the kid who dreams of going to college. J. Cole infuses passionate metaphors and inspiring messages in his verses, all while flaunting his intelligence. It’s clear that J. Cole refuses to dumb down his lyrics.  And his fans appreciate that. The multi-ethnic crowd rapped every line with J. Cole as he performed tracks that had never been released. At one point, he took the mic and put it to the audience. When the fans sang his lyrics on point, J. Cole blushed in gratitude.

While J. Cole’s swag is of the humble, smart- cool kid, he’s no doubt easy on the eyes. With same veracity he raps for positive change, he talks about stealing a guy’s girlfriend, gratuitous sex, and refuting haters. Songs like “Losing My Balance,” “Dollar and a Dream,” and “Lights Please,” are an honest snapshot in time, relevant to people around the world.

As eloquent as he is eclectic, J. Cole has already collaborated with some of the most prolific lyricist in the game-Talib Kweli, Wale, Jay Z and Mos Def. Now, J. Cole is producing his own tracks. And he doesn’t limit himself to one genre of beats. He samples classic music from everyone from Hank Crawford to Mary Love.  Though some try to place him in the category of “conscious rapper,” J. Cole’s style is a mixture of consciousness, passion, pain, reflection, and braggadocio. 

There hasn’t been this much support for a newcomer from rap vets and fans since – well since Drake, but it had been a long time prior to him. But unlike Drake, J. Cole speaks to the streets, to suburbia, and to hip-hops heads around the world. Instead of trying to be the hardest, the most conscious, the best dressed, or wear the brightest chain, J. Cole is focused on the basics, good music. And for that real fans salute him. 

Photo by Dan Locke

By Dan Locke

Universal Motown Records singer-songwriter-producer KEM has joined forces with R&B/soul singers Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim, Raheem DeVaughn, and Universal Motown label-mate Hal Linton for the 2010 Budweiser Superfest that kicked off last month (August).

Co-headlined by KEM and Anthony Hamilton, the anticipated summer powerhouse tour will make stops at a mix of arenas and amphitheaters across the U.S.

A live performer who commands the stage with his soulful vocal ability and captivating stage presence, KEM promises to deliver a standout live experience not to be missed. In addition to revisiting popular classics such as “Love Calls” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” the Detroit native will also showcase his new single, “Why Would You Stay,” plus other songs from his third studio album, “Intimacy,” that was released in August.

Photos by Dan Locke

By Sommer Thornton

Beauty, brains, and a voice is an understatement to what newcomer Melanie Fiona brings to the R&B game. Tuesday night she performed in Chicago as part of the Lexus Listening Lounge – promotion of Lexus’ GS, ES, and the ISC convertible. Lexus produced a showroom style soiree inside the Chicago Illuminating Company downtown. The large courtyard and mansion-like foyer was the perfect milieu for socialites and businessmen to mingle and check out Lexus’ sleek new whips.  

Melanie Fiona, a Toronto native, showed the audience her eclectic vocal style and her lively stage presence singing notable hits, Give it to Me Right, It Kills Me, and Monday Morning. The audience was already feeling Fiona’s exotic beauty, and her passionate lyrics. But when she went into her rendition of Bob Marley’s classic, “One Love” –to a smooth reggae groove, she set the roof off! “Where my Shottas at,” Melanie called out, channeling her West Indian roots.

Melanie proved she’s a unique artist focused on entertaining her real fans with an exciting performance. Fiona even sang her own version of Kanye West’s Heartless, digressing from her song, Somebody Come Get Me [Before I Kill This Man].”By the end the audience was captivated by the luxurious ambiance and this novel songwriter with the amazing voice. 

After her performance, Melanie chatted with UnRated Urban about touring with Alicia Keys, breaking down barriers in the industry, and love.

UnRated Urban: What barriers have you already busted down-either on the business side or the creative side of the industry?

MELANIE: I’m an attractive girl, rooted in music and not in gimmick and everything else. I’m more concerned about giving a good show, making sure everyone has fun. I want people to take my music seriously, so I purposely chose to go along a different path.

UnRated Urban: I saw you rocking on stage. You didn’t care how you looked. You were having a great time, so the audience fed off your vibe.

MELANIE: When you care too much about what everyone thinks about you, you’re not living your best life. Cause you’re too consumed with other peoples opinions.

UnRated Urban: How is your sound received by the R&B Soul community in the States vs. Canada vs. Europe?

MELANIE: Different songs came out in Europe and Canada. So it was fun to see how different countries responded to different sides of me.

UnRated Urban: What song brings out the most memories when you perform it?

MELANIE: It Kills Me, is the most memorable. I was in the thick of it when I wrote that song. So I put my all into it when I perform it. I always go back to that time in my life. Sometimes I get emotional while I’m performing it.

UnRated Urban: There is that line in the song that says “I know you’re messing around, but who else is gonna hold me down” You have to really be in love to understand that line.

MELANIE: Yes you have to be in that situation to understand. But yes I was saying I have your back, but no one has my back. I’ve learned that that’s not good in a relationship.

UnRated Urban: What is your view on love these days? Did you find that making this cd changed your opinion on love?

MELANIE: I believe in self love first. You gotta be happy with yourself before you can expect someone else to love you. When it’s right, it finds you. I want to find love. I feel that it’s necessary. I’ve been on the bad and good side. I love myself now.

UnRated Urban: Give me one word to describe your experience touring with Alicia Keys.

MELANIE: Enlightenment – on so many levels. She was such a joy. She was so pleasant and genuine.

UnRated Urban: What have you learned touring with A. Keys this first time around?

MELANIE: I learned humility, positivity. I grew because I was able to see some flaws and become better.

UnRated Urban: Have you had the opportunity to meet any of your idols?

MELANIE:Yes- Alicia Keys, Prince, India Arie, Brandy, Janelle Monáe – I can relate to her because she’s new and she’s a strong woman who’s refusing to let the industry change her.

UnRated Urban: Both of your parents are musicians, your father a guitarist, your mother a singer: What song are you most proud to share with your parents?

MELANIE: There is a song I just tweeted about. It has no title. But it delves deep in to the core of who I am. One line says, “You treat my dreams like it’s a game -like I’m a chess piece here for play” I’m really excited to share it with my parents.

Photos by Raymond Boyd

By Dan Locke

It was a different type of performance at this year’s Lollapalooza. I was turn down for a photo pass but I did have a ticket for one day so I used it to see Erykah Badu.

Sporting a new blonde mohawk, Badu started out being late as usual with her band starting things off with a ten-minute intro before she hit the stage.

She performed an hour set that included Out My Mind, Just in Time, On & On, Apple Tree, Annie (Don’t Wear No Panties), Didn’t Cha Know, Bump It, The Healer, 20 Feet Tall and Penitentiary Philosophy.

XXL Magazine brought their XXL Live Tour to Chicago’s The Shrine nightclub on July 29^th. The tour, co-sponsored by Rémy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac, featured Clipse and special guest Twista on its stop in Chicago.

Hometown artist Twista amazed the crowd and those that may have forgotten about his lyrical skills. During his half hour set, the fastest tongue in rap began with his verse on Po Pimp and continued with hits Slow Jamz, Wetter and Overnight Celebrity and debuted new tracks I Do and Make a Movie featuring Chris Brown from his upcoming CD The Perfect Storm.

The evening’s headliner, Malice and Pusha T aka Clipse hit stage shortly after Twista keeping the crowd hyped up as they performed a short set that included Kinda Like a Big Deal, All Good and Popular Demand. All in all an entertaining and enjoyable evening for rap fans.

BET’s 106 & Park’s host Rocsi Diaz stopped by The Shrine Chicago Friday, August 13th with Legendary R&B singer R. Kelly to host Club Net 360′s Ultra Sexy Fridays with DJ Vince Adams.

R. Kelly surprised the crowd with an impromptu performance and Rocsi brought a round of shots for all the ladies in the club.

The four-city tour hit the Chicago Theatre on Friday, May 13, 2010 at 8 p.m. The extraordinary event encompassing fashion, fantasy, music and magic included performances by Grammy award-winning singer Macy Gray and young hit make Eric Hutchinson.

Macy’s fashion spectacular will hit the runway with an innovative look into the wonderland of style and inspire guests to dream big. Collections featured included Jean Paul Gaultier, Jezebel, Just Cavalli, Felina, 2(x)ist, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Material Girl, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Sonia Rykiel, Sportmax and Tommy Hilfiger. This over-the-top event will once again benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana

Photo taken during the dress rehearsal on August 13, 2010. Photo by Adam Bielawski

By Sommer Thornton               

The winners of Gillette’s Ultimate Job Contest, Jason Fisher and Adam Ward are living the summer dream. They get to embark on an 18-City tour to MLB games, award shows, and the most popular restaurants and clubs across America promoting Gillette’s newest innovation, the Fusion Pro-Glide Power Razor.

Last weekend the guys stopped in Chicago for Lollapalooza and made believers of the locals by setting up a fully-equipped Shave Station at Navy Pier, allowing passers-by to actually shave on site. With their video blog at proglidesummerjob.com detailing all of their experiences, Adam and Jason—writer/producers from Los Angeles are single handedly ushering in the glide revolution.

Chosen from a pool of contestants at a Gillette rap contest in New York’s Hudson Hotel, Adam and Jason were ideal because they were average Midwestern boys – relatable, but had the charisma to get strangers to try the new razor on themselves. Most women don’t realize that shaving is such a tedious task for men. At the Shave Station, they watched patiently as their men used the razor for the first time and instantly fell in love with the new design. The new vibrating Pro-Glide gives a cleaner shave with virtually no tug, and no cuts or nicks. After shaving part of his burly beard, Patrick Whittaker, a glider convert commented, “It’s much easier than my cheap disposable razor. I’ve got this crazy in-grown hair on my neck and this took care of it very well.” Using the pro-glide combo—the thermal scrub, face wash, cooling lotion, and the hydration moisturizer makes for the most comfortable shave most of the converts had ever experienced. This is how shaving was turned into gliding.

After they left the Shave Station it was off to the Lolla festivities. But first, the guys stopped in the Hard Rock Hotel, where they got to pick from all sorts of goodies provided by Tiger footwear, Garnier Fructis hair care products, Express clothing, UV Vodka, and receive complimentary tattoos and haircuts. The Hard Rock Hotel is also where the guys got to meet some of the Lolla performers who entertained VIPs in the music lounge, and where the pre-party was kicked off in the DJ’s suite. Hayden Panettiere and David Arquette even stopped in and got tattooed!

Later that afternoon, the guys headed out to Grant Park, to hear headliners Green Day, Soundgarden, Cypress Hill, Wolfmother, and Erykah Badu rock out amidst thousands of fans. The most memorable Lolla moment for the guys came during Green Day’s performance of “Longview” when they pulled an audience member on stage and let him rock a verse. Not only did the lucky guy know all the words, he had the entire crowd going crazy for him. At that moment, he embodied Green Day, and at the end of his performance, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong gave the ultimate fan his guitar. “That guy’s night was like our entire summer,” Adam recounted.

VIP access at Lollapalooza was another stop on an already amazing tour that included attending a Yankees game—where the guys met Derek Jeter—another glider convert, the Vegas Strip, the Espy Awards, and morning news programs in Times Square. Adam and Jason have been on an all expense paid dream road trip promoting Gillette this summer and they hope that shooting and editing their blogs will help sharpen their skills working in Hollywood and forge some valuable connections. The guys say that so far their two most incredible experiences on the tour were when they met Dr. J [Julius Erving] at the Espy Awards, and when they shaved Redskins tight end Chris Cooley’s head.

Next stop for the guys is the ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Their days are jam packed with interviews, demonstrations, and filming and editing. Though they barely sleep, they are having the time of their lives. They get to play on the job and travel the country as cult celebrities. Such a priceless experience is less like work, and more like the ultimate summer adventure.

Photo by Dan Locke

VH1 just announced its fall lineup and it includes new faces and returning favorites.

New offerings include NBA star Carmelo Anthony and television personality LaLa Vasquez planning their nuptials and tying the knot in  Carmelo and LaLa (September 19);  Real and Chance: Legend Hunters (September 19). The dynamic duo will search for the truth behind some of nature’s infamous animal tales including the Hogzilla, Super Crocs, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster; and Basketball Wives spin-off Football Wives (October 11).  Described as Dallas meets Dynasty meets the gridiron, the series will give an inside look into the lives of the women who are the driving forces behind the scenes.

Returning favorites include the second seasons of American Idol and Grammy winner Fantasia Barrino’s series Fantasia For Real(September 19) and the brother sister team of Brandy and Ray J Norwood in Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business (October 24).

For more information on these shows including sneak peek premieres, and online extras, visit www.VH1.com

Photo courtesy of VH1