Producer DJ Frank E Interview

Riding the current wave of the Electro / Hip Hop / Euro / Crossover music category which is taking the world by storm, DJ Frank E finds himself in the EYE playing a major role with this new music trend. Crafting hits for Flo Rida, Chris Brown, B.O.B and many others, it wasn't always peaches and cream for the producer wunderkind. Prior to his chart wielding success, Frank E cut his teeth as a DJ in the most unlikely places Ft. Collins / Denver, Colorado area, while also sharpening his production skills. In this extensive interview with PMP, DJ Frank E tells his story, his struggles and achievements.

On making music his career choice:

I had no clue how music was made. It didn't even occur to me that there was such a creative process behind every single one of those albums that I knew and loved. No one told me that, "one day, if you try really really hard, you could take all this drumming and music knowledge and turn it into a career." I was a white kid from the burbs - that's just not what we do. So...I continued NOT doing music until one night when I was at a party. I heard some kids playing music really loud and "freestyling" in the back. I walked in and saw the instrument that changed my life - the Korg Triton. That was the moment that I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I asked if I could make a beat, they agreed, then proceeded to call it "some white boy s***, and laughed at me. Little did they know, I had my up my mind.

How being a DJ help with the creative process:

For me, DJing is a great way for me to follow trends, see what people are reacting to, and test new ideas. It's the perfect type of research for a producer, depending on your crowd of course. I used to sneak in my own songs or remixes at the club to see how people would react. I learned so much from DJing that I never actually realized. DJs just have natural instincts that tend to make them good producers. It's like they are walking encyclopedias of what works, what doesn't, and why. Everyone should take a DJ class.

On working with Madonna:

Talk about stress. It felt like I was about to meet the President or something. I got to the session 2 hours beforehand to set up and give the files to the engineer, and I can't remember a longer 2 hours of my life. It was like a countdown. Every 5 minutes I'd get an update on her status. I received updates up to the last 15 seconds, when she finally walked into the room. She said, "So YOU'RE the one?" and I politely answered, "No... YOU'RE the one." We got along great after that, and finished the song (Madonna ft. Lil Wayne - 'Revolver') on my 2nd day with her.
I will never forget the feeling of leaving that session after vocal producing Madonna, and thinking to myself, "It can't it really get any harder than this." I've taken that mentality into every other session I've been in, and it's helped me make the session and song more of a success. Unfortunately, the mix sounded like crap and the song flopped, but hey, you win some and you lose some.

Read The Full Interview Here

Lupe Fiasco And B.o.B. Live At Denver's Ogden Theatre Concert Reviews, Video & Photos

As reported by Greg Stieber at the Denver Post

As the house and stage lights went dim at the Ogden Theatre last night (Thursday, April 29), the crowd was in a frenzied state of anticipation. Opener B.o.B. had concluded his blazing set a few moments earlier, performing like a headliner as he engaged the crowd, joked around and even invited one woman on stage for a serenade.

The bar was set high — and Chicago-bred emcee Lupe Fiasco did not disappoint. As the crowd chanted “Lupe!” — which was a mainstay of the evening — Fiasco bounded onto stage and opened with the song “Shining Down” from upcoming album “Lasers.” The crowd erupted with cheers as a set of strobe lights silhouetted Fiasco’s movements.

With the release date of “Lasers” continually being pushed back, the crowd was anxious to get a sneak peak at his new material. Fiasco was in good spirits as his set continued to roll like a freight train, though he had to catch his breath momentarily between songs as the altitude was making him sleepy. His confessions of sleepiness came as a surprise as he bounced all over the stage the entire night. Fiasco’s showmanship and general appreciation for the Denver crowd were also evident when he thanked them for getting the venue sold out three weeks in advance.

Fiasco appeared cool and confident on stage as this tour represents what could be a turning point in his career. The upcoming release of “Lasers” has the potential to vault Fiasco into legitimate hip-hop stardom. Judging from the three to four songs he played from that album, it sounds like a winner.



Fiasco drew heavily from his album “The Cool” for the remainder of the set, including the songs “Go Go Gadget Flow,” “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” and “Paris, Tokyo.” He also squeezed in the skateboarder’s anthem “Kick Push,” and, after a brief break for his band, closed out the evening with the song “Super Star.” After seeing Fiasco perform, there is not a better word to describe him.



Concert review #2 reported by Quibian Salazar-Moreno / Boulder Weekly

The Laser Tour Denver show sold out about three weeks ago. With a tour that features B.o.B. who has the No. 1 hit in the country with “Nothin’ On You,” and headliner Lupe Fiasco who has two superb albums under his belt, the question comes to mind, who really sold out this show? Regardless if you came to see either B.o.B. (aka Bobby Ray) or Lupe, you were in for a surprisingly magnificent and energetic live show from both.

Bobby Ray was backed by a band and was effortlessly singing, rapping, and plucking away on his acoustic guitar. He’s a natural performer weaving in and out of songs from his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, like “Don’t Let Me Fall,” and “Lovelier Than You” to his mixtape classics like “I’ll Be in the Sky,” and “Generation Lost.” How was Lupe going to be able to follow this? Like any up and coming rap superstar, Bobby Ray ended his set with his hit “Nothin’ On You” and a hype jam session with his band. Those that thought B.o.B. was just his hit song had their eyes opened wide.

Lupe Fiasco took the stage after a short intermission with his own band along with a band member behind a couple of laptops running what looked the electronic portion of the show. He commanded the stage from the outset running through fans favorites like “Hip-Hop Saved My Life,” “Kick, Push,” and “Superstar.” Although Lupe’s new album, Lasers, isn’t due out until later this year, he was happy to share a plethora of new tracks including his new single, “I’m Beamin’,” for which the video just hit the interwebs this week. He kept it light throughout the entire set, performing more of the crowd-friendly tracks as opposed to deep-thinking songs like “Dumb It Down” or “American Terrorist.” But for those who wondered if a lyricist like Lupe could truly rock a show, he definitely proved he could.

Photo link:
Boulder Weekly - Picasa

Lupe Fiasco Steppin Laser Tour dates:
Sat 05/01 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
Sun 05/02 - West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues
Tue 05/04 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
Wed 05/05 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Center
Thu 05/06 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
Fri 05/07 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
Sat 05/08 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater

More fan shot video below.







(video courtesy of KrayDoesTheTube, Emoney & a2mNT)

Flobots Receive Denver Mayor's Award For Promoting Social Consciousness

Denver band Flobots accepts the 2009 Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts on Feb. 17, and performs the song "Good Soldier."

via The Denver Post

"Isn't it just incredible to be here in the same room with each other?" Flobots co-lead singer Jonny 5 said to cheers Wednesday, accepting a 2009 Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts from Denver Office of Cultural Affairs director Erin Trapp.

Denver's rocketing hip-hop band was honored for promoting social consciousness, music education and civic engagement through its music and its own nonprofit organizations, flobots.org.

Pitbull Live In Denver

Pitbull performing at the Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO Wednesday September 30, promoting his latest 'Rebelution' in stores now.

Photos and show overview:
Denver Post

(video courtesy of 91rosie)