Beyoncé Knowles - If I Were a Boy video from the new album, I Am…
Soul Men Movie Soundtrack Available November 4
Published in Press Releases
Stax Records is releasing the soundtrack to Soul Men on November 4th. Soul Men stars entertainment icons Bernie Mac, who passed away on August 9, and award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson. The Soul Men soundtrack features music from Isaac Hayes, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, Sharon Jones and the DapKings, and more.
“Private Number” Audio Stream
Soul Men Movie Trailer:
Authentic soul music and superstar musical performances are the consistent theme and backdrop for the side-splitting comedy, Soul Men, starring entertainment icons Bernie Mac, who passed away on August 9, and award-winning actor Samuel L. Jackson. The film also includes a cameo appearance by Isaac Hayes who died the day after Mac in unrelated circumstances. Soul Men, directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Undercover Brother, Roll, Bounce) will be released November 7, 2008 nationwide (Dimension Films/MGM) and the soundtrack will be available November 4th on legendary label Stax Records.
In his last movie performance, popular comedian Mac, Jackson and Grammy winner John Legend (who makes a special appearance in the movie) play members of a fictitious group, The Real Deal; when Marcus Hooks (Legend) leaves to pursue a successful solo career, Floyd Henderson (Bernie Mac) and Louis Hinds (Jackson) attempt to continue with dismal results. The death of Marcus sparks a reunion between the two former soul singers who haven’t spoken in twenty years; Soul Men (which also stars Sean Hayes, Jennifer Coolidge and Sharon Leal, who plays Jackson’s daughter) follows the hilarious escapades of the two former partners as they finally come back together for Marcus’ funeral at New York’s Apollo Theater.
Music naturally plays an integral part of Soul Men, particularly poignant with the appearance of Stax legend Isaac Hayes whose passing on August 10 was mourned worldwide. Scene for scene, Mac – whose popularity soared in recent years through his weekly Fox TV series, the Emmy-winning Bernie Mac Show – is at his comedic best playing opposite Jackson in this non-stop tale of rivalry and competition.
More than providing the musical narrative for the upcoming movie, the soundtrack for Soul Men stands alone as a solid album that faithfully recreates the legendary sound and flavor associated with Stax Records at the height of its popularity in the late ‘60s through the mid-‘70s.
With a slate of top contemporary artists including Grammy winner John Legend, neo-soul stars Anthony Hamilton, Leela James and Ryan Shaw, cult favorites Sharon Jones with her band The Dap Kings (known for their work with Amy Winehouse among others) and Me’Shell NdegeOcello among others, the Soul Men soundtrack focuses on some of the greatest music classics from the Stax catalog.
The 1968 No. 1 UK pop hit, “Private Number” (originally recorded by William Bell & Judy Clay) is given a solid makeover by soul singer/songwriter and musician Chris Pierce and James accompanied by Memphis-based band The Bo-Keys (whose line-up includes famed Stax musicians Willie Hall and Charlie Pitts); Rufus Thomas’ 1967 Sir Mack Rice-penned “Memphis Train” given a truly funky workout by Shaw with The Bo-Keys; “Comfort Me,” a 1966 Carla Thomas chestnut is performed with soulful emotion both in the movie and on the soundtrack by actress/singer Sharon Leal; while the film’s Mac, Jackson and Leal offer a hilarious take on Isaac Hayes’ memorable 1972 smash “Do Your Thing” as the album’s closer The CD also features stellar original Stax recordings by Hayes (“Never Can Say Goodbye,” a 1971 Top 5 R&B and Top 30 pop hit) and longtime soul man Eddie Floyd (of “Knock On Wood” fame) via the 1968 hit “I’ve Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do).”
Other key cuts on the soundtrack include an infectious cover of the James & Bobby Purify 1966 hypnotic classic, “I’m Your Puppet” by superstar John Legend with Mac and Jackson with production by Raymond Jones (whose credits include Patti LaBelle, Chic and Stephanie Mills); “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In),” a new take on a rare tune originally cut by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, reinterpreted by the inimitable Sharon Jones and produced by Dap Kings’ member Bosco Mann; and rousing opening cut of Frank Fitzpatrick’s “Soul Music,” performed by Anthony Hamilton and The Bo-Keys, produced by group member Scott Bomar and recorded at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis.
A slew of top notch musicians are heard throughout Soul Men: Ben Cauley of The Bar-Kays, L.A. session fixture bassist Freddie Washington, keyboardist extraordinaire Patrice Rushen and drummer James Gadson are among the participating players on the project which also includes original material from Me’shell NdegeOcello (the mellow “Water,” on which she also plays bass).
With hysterically funny scenes, including a car chase in a vehicle suitably known as ‘Muthaship’, a salacious encounter between the two men and groupie mother/daughter duo, and a cameo appearance by soul star/comedienne Millie Jackson, Soul Men recreates a golden era in R&B and popular music while providing audiences with a enjoyable experience thanks to Jackson and both Mac and Hayes, whose contributions to the world of entertainment remain immeasurable.
Tracklist:
1. Soul Music – Anthony Hamilton (2:58)
2. I’m Your Puppet – John Legend, Bernie Mac & Samuel L. Jackson (4:05)
3. Private Number – Chris Pierce & Leela James (3:08)
4. Water – Meshell Ndegeocello (3:14)
5. Never Can Say Goodbye – Isaac Hayes (5:16)
6. Boogie Ain’t Nuttin’ (But Gettin’ Down) – Bernie Mac & Samuel L. Jackson (4:10)
7. Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (2:59)
8. Memphis Train – Ryan Shaw (2:53)
9. Comfort Me – Sharon Leal (2:32)
10. You Don’t Know What You Mean (to a Lover Like Me) – The Sugarman 3 featuring Lee Fields (3:30)
11. I’ve Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) – Eddie Floyd (2:44)
12. Do Your Thing – Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson & Sharon Leal (13:54)
GET TO KNOW GIT Records artist Derty Den
Published in Press Releases
GIT Records’ Derty Den emerges as a new face in Hip Hop; a North Carolina native sets the tone for his state. Far from the perpetuated Southern bling, bling, booty call” rehash. At times, his swagger, energy, and flow can be reminiscent of the late, great Biggie Smalls, as he too is comfortable with size and confident in his abilities. In just a short time, Dirty Den has already done what few can accomplish - get people excited about music again.
Den’s true-to-life, story-telling style of rap has earned him Best Southern Artist credentials at the Underground Music Awards. Derty Den’s industry buzz is growing rapidly; with continuous coverage in major music publications such as The Source, Ozone, Tastemaker, Hip Hop Weekly, Juice, Yo Raps, St8 Hip Hop, largest French magazine, Rap Us and his most recent feature in the most coveted section on All Hip Hop(dot)com , “Breeding Ground.” Where Den talks about his record deal with independent label, Getting It Together, his international success and putting North Carolina back on the map.
His prolific street-anthem “Poppin,” is steadily building momentum on the Southern home-front, and throughout the Northeast. Derty Den has even gotten the attention of leading mixtape purveyor, Don Cannon (Apphiliates) to host his latest mixtape “Heat Wave”.
For more information check out Derty Den at www.myspace.com/DirtyDengit
Tommie Sunshine Relax, This Won’t Hurt (Ultra Records) October 21st, 2008
Published in Press Releases
Tommie Sunshine “Relax, This Won’t Hurt” (Ultra Records) October 21st, 2008
“This is the sound of Tommie Sunshine in 2008.” - Tommie Sunshine
“Relax, This Won’t Hurt” Tracklisting:
1. Audio Bullys - Flickery Vision (Extended Mix)
2. Skream - Midnight Request Line (Switch Remix)
3. Pirate Robot Midget - It’s My Beat Now (Riva Starr Remix)
4. The Faint - The Geeks Were Right (Boys Noize Vs. D.I.M. Mix)
5. Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Proxy Remix)
6. Midfield General featuring Vila - Disco Sirens (Boy 8-Bit Vocal Remix)
7. Boy 8-Bit - Fogbank
8. South Rakkas Crew - Mad Again (Boy 8-Bit Remix)
9. Diplo feat. Rye Rye - Wassup Wassup (Crookers Remix)
10. Detboi feat. Serocee - Jump Up Jump Down
11. Tigerstyle feat. Vybz Kartel, Mangi Mahal & Nikitta - Balle! Shava! (Sinden Remix)
12. Surkin feat. Chromeo - Chrome Knight
13. AC Slater - Jack Got Jacked (Udachi Remix)
14. Math Head - Turn The Music Up (AC Slater Remix)
15. The Aston Shuffle feat. Tommie Sunshine - Stomp Yo Shoes (Bloody Beetroots Clap Remix - Aston Shuffle Vocal Edit)
“The title ‘Relax, This Won’t Hurt’ comes directly from the last words Hunter S. Thompson wrote before taking his own life but I see it as a three-fold title. I love Thompson’s work and it is a tribute to him but is also very telling of how I see the music I used to tell the story on this CD. This is music mostly unheard in the US outside of underground clubs and will sound rather new to most listeners. The third reference the title refers to is the state of this country and how every day we are tricked into thinking the decisions that are made by the people who lead us are in our best interest when they clearly are not. Please note, I picked the title a full month before the economy really went down the tubes.” - Tommie Sunshine
Influenced by equal parts New Wave, Rock & Roll, and House music, American rave legend and Brooklyn, NY resident Tommie Sunshine is raising the bar. Covering ground as artist, remixer, producer, taste-maker, DJ, and songwriter and traveling the globe with his legendary dj sets it won’t be long before there will be, at least a little, Tommie Sunshine in your life.
Tommie’s latest endeavor is a hard hitting, bass heavy, house music mix album titled “Relax, This Won’t Hurt” releasing on Ultra Records October 21st, and will again set the Sunshine standard of innovative music made for the dance floor.
“To be totally truthful, this new genre of music was pioneered by Basement Jaxx and they are the ones who specifically made me interested in music like this. I would also like to note that the artists whose music I used on this CD are the best of the best and the only missing ones are A1 Bassline, Herve, HeavyFeet, Hannah Holland and Fake Blood (so many tracks I wanted). These are the artists I play each and every time I DJ and the electronic musicians that I most admire. The CD is a wild ride filled with musical influences from around the world and I covered as much ground as anyone can in just over an hour while giving the tracks room to play out. I can only hope this collection of music inspires the listener the way that each of these tracks inspired me to include them in the mix.” - Tommie Sunshine
Upcoming Tommie Sunshine Tour Dates, More TBA:
10/17: Shaw Studios, Hong Kong
10/18: Q97 - Hong Kong
10/25: ADE - Amsterdam, Netherlands
11/1: Posh Ultra - San Antonio, TX
11/8: Xlib - Club Kiev, Ukraine
11/10: Social Club - Paris, France
11/13: Amnesia - Milan, Italy
11/14: Razzmatazz - Barcelona, Spain
11/15: Badlands - Berlin, Germany
11/22: Stereosonic - Brisbane Showgrounds Brisbane, Australia
11/22: TBD - Auckland, New Zealand
11/28: Stereosonic - Manning Bar Sydney, Australia
11/29: Stereosonic - Bonython Park Adelaide, Australia
11/29: Stereosonic - Melbourne Royal Showgrounds Melbourne, Australia
11/30: Stereosonic - Claremont Park Perth, Australia
About Tommie Sunshine:
As an established remixer, Tommie has been requested to retouch work from a diverse list that includes the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Good Charlotte, Scissor Sisters, The Gossip, Fallout Boy, The Killers, Junkie XL, Panic! At The Disco, Shiny Toy Guns and Avril Lavigne. In 2006, Tommie released ‘Systematic Sessions Vol. 2 - Tommie Sunshine & Marc Romboy’ in Germany. 2007 saw the release of the Australian gold selling ‘One Love Vol. 5: Your Disco Will Eat You’ and the American release of ‘Tommie Sunshine presents Ultra Rock Remixed’ a double CD chock full of his remix and original production work. 2008 sees Tommie’s single ‘Limit of Your Mind’ released on Alphabet City in Germany.
About Ultra Records:
Widely regarded as the leading electronic music label in North America, Ultra Records has had success in releasing artist albums, mix compilations and single releases since its inception 11 years ago. It is also the US (and for some the Worldwide) label home for Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, Benny Benassi, Ferry Corsten, Tommie Sunshine, Above & Beyond, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Sander Kleinenberg, Kaskade, Sander van Doorn, Morcheeba, Kraak & Smaak, The Young Punx, Enur and many more.
Ultra Records has grown to include a Publishing company, another label titled Sequence, and is at the forefront in both our New Media and Digital Distribution departments with their artists and music.
USA Billboard Dance Airplay Label of the Year 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Winter Music Conference Label of the Year 2005, 2006, 2007
The #1 Dance and Electronic Label in North America , #2 Independent Label in the USA according to Hits Magazine 2nd Quarter 2008
The Whip’s X Marks Destination out early 2009 on Razor & Tie And CMJ Showcases Announced
Published in Press Releases
The Whip’s “X Marks Destination” out early 2009 on Razor & Tie And CMJ Showcases Announced
Cathartic anthems that induce absolute chaos on the dancefloors, songs about daily struggles and striving towards freedom - delivered in the form of a banging dance tune. The Whip are a celebration of freedom, rebellion, forgetting shit, leaving your problems behind, going out and having a bloody good time. There’s no upbeat rhetoric about this band, what they lack in sap they make up for in swag, the true Mancunian way.
Brimming with a 21st century sense of frustration and alienation and bringing people together on the dance floor to sweat and stomp their worries away. Their hometown rock/rave forefathers have been making us party since the birth of the UK indie dance scene in the 80’s and The Whip are now carrying the baton onwards for a new generation to enjoy. Now the time is once again upon us, so go grab your hoodies, acid face memorabilia and put on your best northern swagger because The Whip are about to break America.
It’s been quite a year thus far for Bruce Carter (vocals/ guitar), Danny Saville (keyboard/ synthesizers), Nathan Sudders (bass) and Fiona Daniels (drums), hailing from Manchester. The northern quartet have been touring non-stop at some of the summers biggest festivals like Glastonbury, Reading, and Creamfields and are about to show the United States a thing or two with their upcoming US dates and forthcoming release of their debut full length X Marks Destination set to drop in early 2009.
“If DJs really were rock stars they’d be Manchester rave-rockers The Whip, whose Happy Mondays at lightspeed shtick is a celebration of sonic squidges (’Divebomb’), taut techno drops (’Trash’) and satisfied smiles all around” - NME
Official CMJ Parties
Wednesday, October 22nd
Music Hall of Williamsburg
w/ Curfew, Late of the Pier, Ki: Theory, Nickel Eye and As Tall As Lions
Friday, October 24th
Irving Plaza
w/ Outsiders, Soulwax, 2 Many DJ’s, Pete Tong, James Lavelle, Luciano, Rob Da Bank and Late of the Pier
The band sees no separation between themselves and the audience when they are performing - they are at the same party as everyone else on the dancefloor (or mudcovered field), and to get excited for their CMJ parties watch their performance from this year’s Creamfields Festival…
“We did not ghostride them, but we jernted our caffeinated bodies to their post-Happy Mondays, post-Joy Division blendissimo of dark new wave and looped live techno. Their drummer’s name is Lil Fee, but we did not have to pay to see them. It was awesome” - TheFader.com
“Well done to The Whip for being the first band to be signed up for next year’s [2009] Glasto. The electro rock maestros blew the crowd away after getting Har Mar Superstar up on the dance stage at the weekend. They will be joining the big boys on The Other Stage next year” - Daily Mirror
“Backed by the almighty Funktion-One sound-system, the foundations of the grand, spacious hall were literaly rocked six-foot under, the bass perforating eardrums everywhere” - Art Rocker
“The Whip’s ‘Divebomb’ is one of the best tracks of the year” - Guardian Guide
**Album Out Early 2009**
And just in time for Halloween, check out The Whip’s neon-doused nightmare in the video for lead single Trash.
ACCLAIMED HIP-HOP ARTIST K’NAAN SET TO GUEST STAR IN CW NETWORK’S NEW PROGRAM - 4REAL Somali Born Artist K’NAAN joins All-Star Cast in 4REAL:Kenya K’NAAN’s sophomore album Troubadour set for release January 2009
Published in Press Releases
ACCLAIMED HIP-HOP ARTIST K’NAAN SET TO GUEST STAR IN CW NETWORK’S NEW PROGRAM - 4REAL Somali Born Artist K’NAAN joins All-Star Cast in 4REAL:Kenya K’NAAN’s sophomore album Troubadour set for release January 2009
Celebrated Hip Hop emcee and griot K’NAAN will be a part of the new CW program, 4REAL, airing this Sunday at 5p.m EST (4p.m CST). K’NAAN joins other guests on the program Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes, Joaquin Phoenix and M.I.A. to name a few.
4REAL takes celebrity guests on adventures around the world to connect with young leaders who, under extreme circumstances, are affecting real change on some of the most pressing issues of our time. In the episode K’NAAN joins host Sol Guy in Kibera, Kenya, the largest slum in East Africa. K’NAAN takes you behind-the-scenes of his international hit video “Soobax” while unveiling Kibera’s high-spirited community suffering from lack of clean water, health systems and basic sanitary facilities.
Over the course of the last two years K’NAAN has played over 350 shows spanning five continents, recorded and released his debut outing, The Dusty Foot Philosopher. He has had the privilege of sharing the stage - as well as recording with - artists such as Mos Def, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Talib Kweli, Amadou and Miriam and many more. These artists have publicly celebrated the relevance of his political poetry, live performance and purpose-driven mission.
K’NAAN’s upcoming new album, Troubadour is armed with classic beats, live instrumentation and innovative rhymes. On it the artist carves a new path filled with eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics in the tradition of great folk singers and protest songs.
Confirmed fall tour dates for K’NAAN are as follows:
11/26 Park City, UT Harry O’s
11/29 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
11/30 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
12/06 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
12/07 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom
12/09 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
12/11 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
12/14 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
12/16 Toronto, ON The Phoenix Concert Theatre
12/17 Montreal, QC Metropolis
12/18 South Burlington, VT Higher Ground
* 11/26-12/18 with Matisyahu
Triple C (Carol City Cartel) - How You Like Me Now video
Published in Videos
Triple C (Carol City Cartel) - How You Like Me Now video
Boz Scaggs New Album Out October 28
Published in Press Releases, Tour Dates
Boz Scaggs offers his second volume of standards and ballads titled “Speak Low” on October 28, 2008. To support the release, Boz will be stopping by intimate jazz clubs around the country starting on the Oct. 28 at the Napa Valley Opera House in California. See below for more tour dates.
Five years after his first volume of standards, But Beautiful, debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Jazz chart, GRAMMY award winning musician Boz Scaggs offers his second volume of standards and ballads, aptly titled Speak Low (out September 30 on vinyl and wide release on October 28th via Decca).
The multi-dimensional singer, whose 1976 album Silk Degrees was one of the landmark pop titles of the decade, began working on Speak Low several years ago. He’d settled on most of the material, and had developed a rough notion of the sound in his head. “I had a few distinct elements I wanted to hear paired with my voice,” Scaggs recalls, “but I needed an arranger who could bring those textures to life.” He remembers wondering whether he’d ever realize the sound he’d imagined. And then he experienced what he describes as a remarkable coincidence. “It was raining, cold out. I walked by the Blue Note and heard music coming out of the club. It was vibes, string trio, a couple of horns – this was the sound I’d been hearing in my head, exactly. Turned out to be Gil Goldstein and a nonet. After the set Gil and I started talking, and it was just a really nice meeting. When we got together around a piano, that was it. We knew.”
The album was recorded at Skywalker Sound, a state-of-the-art studio that’s part of filmmaker George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch complex. The room is massive, a soundstage big enough to fit an orchestra. Yet Speak Low sounds like it was made in someone’s cozy living room. “The sense of intimacy you get there is quite remarkable,” Scaggs says. “You think you can get closer to the music in a smaller room, but that’s not always true. At Skywalker, the vastness brought us all together…. The quiets in that room are much quieter, and all of the dynamics are really vivid. It’s a great room to sing in.”
Fans can experience the intimacy of this album live as Scaggs embarks on a nationwide tour this fall with multiple shows in most of the cities. This special tour will bring Scaggs to legendary jazz clubs across the country where he’ll not only perform the standards from ‘Speak Low’ but he’ll debut new versions of fan favorites like “Lowdown,” “JoJo,” and “Lido Shuffle.”
BOZ SCAGGS TOUR DATES:
October 28 Napa Valley Opera House Napa, CA
October 30 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA
October 31 Jazz Alley* Seattle, WA
November 1 Jazz Alley* Seattle, WA
November 2 Jazz Alley Seattle, WA
November 5 Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant* Minneapolis, MN
November 6 Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant* Minneapolis, MN
November 7 UCO Jazz Club* Edmond, OK
November 10 Blue Note* New York City, NY
November 11 Blue Note* New York City, NY
November 14 Blue Note* New York City, NY
November 15 Blue Note* New York City, NY
November 16 Blue Note* New York City, NY
November 19 Blue Alley* Washington, DC
November 20 Ram’s Head on Stage* Annapolis, MD
November 23 Wilbur Theatre* Boston, MA
* Indicates two performances