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The Beat-Ya-Feet Kings.
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DC Dance Team Makes it on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew
DC natives will tell you that the official music style in the city is Go-Go. The DC-based band Experience Unlimited (EU) let the world know just that in the 1980’s Spike Lee movie “School Daze” when they performed their hit song “Da Butt” during a scene in the film. Come this month, folks in DC and around the world will learn the official DC dance step-- the Beat-ya-Feet. The DC-based dance troupe, the Beat-Ya-Feet Kings will be appearing on MTV’s popular dance show America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC), hosted by Mario Lopez on August 9. They will be showing the world just how it’s done in DC.
Hailing from southeast DC, the Beat-Ya-Feet King members are Dante Hancock, 24, Jose Hancock,26, Richard Ogunsiakan, 24, Brandon Faulkner, 23 and sole female member Porche Anthony, 22. During the school year they give back to the community, recently wrapping up in June a successful after-school program they facilitated in Hart Middle School and other area schools where they taught students how to dance.
The dance crew is managed by Diallo Sumbry who also manages the African drumming group Farafina Kan. The members of the Beat-Ya-Feet Kings are hometown celebrities, garnering a buzz whenever they perform, recently showing their stuff off in the month-long Artomatic which was housed in the Navy Yard area of town on M Street.
The Beat-Ya-Feet Kings have dozens of Youtube.com videos and have performed in events throughout the city and in national venues such as Harlem’s famous Apollo Theatre.
Be sure to catch them when ABDC premieres Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 9 pm ET on MTV. You can watch the Beat-Ya-Feet Kings on Youtube.com by typing in the name “Beat Ya Feet Kings”
The Honfleur Exhibit Showcases Visual Artistry East of the River for 3rd Year
For the third year running, artists rooted in Wards 7 and 8 will be featured in Honfleur Gallery’s East of the River exhibition, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. This year’s collection includes installation, photography, painting and digital prints that are the artists’ interpretations of the theme, “Beauty and the Beast.”
Many topics addressed by the artists are specific to the areas East of the River yet relate universally. The issues of neighborhood dilapidation, social problems, violence, under-recognition and poverty contrast with aesthetics that are at times vibrant, graceful, buoyant and truthful. For more information, contact the gallery at 202-536-8994. The gallery is located at 1227 Good Hope Road SE.
DC Hip-Hop Staple Artist Releases New CD That Addresses Domestic Abuse
Lyricist Enoch 7th Prophet has dropped his fourth solo album Data Frequency which embodies his current state of mind, he says.
“In this album I explored my Hip Hop connection working with a producer by the name of King Cee. I wanted this album to tap into my other talents as an emcee --writing, and singing.”
AfterLife is the first single released from the Data Frequency album. According to Enoch, this track emotionally travels through the life and times of a child and mom who are victims of domestic abuse.
“Afterlife is a true and personal story, bout Dj Earth1ne,” shares Enoch. DJ Earth 1ne is the stage name of Enoch’s fiancée LaTina Mobley who is often onstage with him during his shows spinning records.
Listeners can visit Enoch on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/tonescientizt to get a sample of the single and new releases from the artist. Online music loves can catch his online radio show Mental Salvation at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MentalSalvation. Mental Salvation Radio won the 2008 Podcast of the Year Award for its popularity and format.
Enoch will be performing on Aug. 5th in Baltimore, MD @ Club Reality hosting the hip-hop traveling party Cake n Kisses from) 9pm to 2am. The event is FREE. 21+
Grammy-Nominated Producer Kokayi Joins the Label QN5
New York City Independent hip hop label, QN5 Music, has signed Washington, DC’s Grammy-nominated emcee/singer/producer, Kokayi, to its official stable of innovative artists and producers, including local artist Substantial.
“I’ve always been extremely proud of the roster I’ve assembled under the QN5 banner and I’m highly selective of who we work with – but when I heard Kokayi’s Mass Instructions album, I was floored,” says QN5 label founder, Tonedeff. “This is a cat who seamlessly blends genres without so much as flinching and brings his own unique sound, slang and vibe to the table. His talent won’t allow him to play by the rules, so QN5 is definitely the perfect place for him.”
Pronounced “Ko-Kah-Yee,” this northeast native takes his name from the Swahili word meaning “to summon the people.” Kokayi produces his own music, writes his own rhymes, and creates works for other artists. Prior to joining QN5, he was nominated for a Grammy award earlier this year for his production work on vocalist Wayna’s song “Loving You”.
Kokayi joins the QN5 label as an in-house producer and artist who will release the sophomore follow-up to his independently released 2007 debut Mass Instructions.
“Honestly I pour everything out on a song,” Kokayi says. “If I can move people that say they don’t like hip hop, than I know my job is done.”
Visit QN5 at http://qn5.com/ |
