WAX At The Viper Room - April 7th, 2011 Concert Recap

I had the privilege to check out up and coming artist WAX live at the Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA on Thursday April 7th, 2011.

WAX has been making some noise on L.A. scene for some time now with his latest mixtape Scrublife hosted by DJ Skee and most recently landing a record deal with Island/ Def Jam.

Coming from Orange County and considering the Southern California freeways around rush hour, the traffic can be unpredictable. To my relief, I arrived at the club an hour early, as a line was already 50 people deep and had wrapped around the building. As the night progressed, the club began to turn people away because the Viper Room was at over capacity, completely SOLD OUT! This was a mark of a good sign.

WAX's tribe included hip hop lovers, skaters, hipsters and all serious music people in the know. Even Hollywood was represented with actors Breckin Meyer and Mario Van Peebles in attendance. Confirmed - All that were present knew things were about to jump off with an exclusive live performance with WAX!



WAX didn't waste any time as he hit the stage performing RED the lead track off of his Scrublife mixtape (see video atop), then diving into the mercurial track Music and Liquor complete with an infectious spaghetti western whistle accompaniment provided by DJ Zoe on the 1s and 2s (see video above).

The audience ate up WAX's lyrical prose and energy as if it was biblical mana, intense.



WAX showed that he was not just a rapper and broke out his newly purchased six-string acoustic guitar, then he proceeded to tear into some Sublime-esque rhymes and rhythms. His first solo acoustic treat, She Used To Be Mine. Yeah the song is crass and crude, but robust with humor of the horror finding out your girlfriend (now WAX's ex-girlfriend) is leading a secret porn life with a 9 piece Salsa band.



With its Weezer song-along like sensibilities, WAX searches for heartbreak no more with the ditty No More Love Songs.

WAX had more musical tricks up his sleeve. His live band Dat Azz and ever faithful female back-up singers' the 2-Lips, WAX approached another epoch of his live set that blended every modern musical hybrid you can think of, done ala WAX style. Take a view and listen below.







I can easily see WAX on the Warp Tour as a break out artist, easy. Now let's get Kevin Lyman on the phone immediately and get this kid on.

WAX's musical content consists of music, broken relationships, anger, Kush, alcohol, good times with your bro's, lady friends and neighbors, but not exclusively in that order and not limited to either. From WAX's 40+ min performance, you get the sense he's edging for more new song writing and live adventures, guaranteed. And with the Cali lifestyle backdrop intact we almost wished we could live in WAX's world all-day, everyday. Amen to dat.



More info on and to download WAX's Scrublife mixtape hosted by DJ Skee HERE

Yelawolf Performing On Top Of The Standard Hotel Downtown LA

via DJ Skee TV

Yelawolf Trunk Muzik 0 To 60 on Interscope/Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment expected to drop November 9th.

DJ Skee's SkeeTox In Los Angeles Tonight!

First of it's kind, DJ Skee brings the mayhem with his first annual SkeeTox event touching down at the Vanguard tonight, with performances from Mike Posner, Cisco Adler and Ya Boy and many surprise guests.

Here's what the Los Angeles Times Pop & Hiss section has to say about SkeeTox ...

Whether you sport khakis and Chuck Taylors, backpacks and beanies, or flannels and designer frames, you'll find something tailored to you this weekend. One of the busiest two-day stretches in recent rap memory commences Friday night at Vanguard with DJ Skee's "Skeetox." Presented by popular KIIS FM and Sirius XM personality DJ Skee, "Skeetox" finds the nascent music mogul behind the turntables, backed by a seven-piece band and performances from Mike Posner, Cisco Adler and Ya Boy, plus undisclosed "huge big-name acts."

While Pop and Hiss has been sworn to secrecy upon threat of execution by a team of steroid-addled Ukrainian hammer throwers, those looking for hints might be well-served to scan the old Death Row discography and pick out a few of the more prominent names. In addition, rumors have swirled regarding names very familiar to those with subscriptions to The Fader. According to the news release, "Skeetox" will feature a full LED light wall and visual stage show -- "think Pink Floyd meets Nicki Minaj meets Lady Gaga." So basically, expect "The Muppet Show," but with more marijuana and rapping.

DJ Skee Appointed By California Governor Schwarzenegger For Inner City Youth Program

via the press release

March 25, 2010, LOS ANGELES – Not many would assume that hip-hop and philanthropy go hand-in-hand; though the biggest names in the industry are currently disproving the assumption. As the Hip-Hop Ambassador to Governor Schwarzenegger's founded charity, After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles; internationally recognized DJ Skee is devoted to giving back to the inner-city community, where so much of the hip-hop culture originates.

Founded by Governor Schwarzenegger, After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles (ASAS-LA) is a leading middle and high school after-school program provider whose programs educate, enlighten and inspire thousands of students each day through after-school activities centered around health, fitness and nutrition; the visual and performing arts; and youth leadership and community service learning.

ASAS-LA brings innovative, cutting-edge enrichment programs to middle and high school youth that contribute to reducing drug use, crime and violence; while increasing the safety of students in the after school hours. The organization serves 10,000 students located in disadvantaged areas throughout LA County. Kobe Bryant is ASAS-LA's National Celebrity Ambassador.

DJ Skee, who is the host on the most listened to radio station in the country, Los Angeles' KIIS-FM, and can be heard on Sirius / XM Satellite Radio as the lead host for a show syndicated through Europe, Asia, and Australia, as well as on Dish Network that reaches over 30 million households...is greatly involved with the charitable organization's hip-hop programs.

ASAS-LA's music program, All-Star Records is a free after-school music program serving at-risk students ages 10-18 within the inner city Los Angeles area. Its goal is to teach the fundamentals of hip-hop and R & B music, enabling students to form crews, create, play and perform the music they love. Its mission is to provide low-income youths with a safe learning environment to excel in the arts through absolutely free music training away from the dangers of drugs and gang life. ASAS-LA also offers comprehensive hip-hop dance programs, which enable students to learn dance techniques and choreograph routines that help them express their feelings in an artistic way.

"Being involved with the kids in the After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles programs brings things full circle," says DJ Skee. "Hip-hop originates from the communities that these students come from. Hip-hop is a big part of their culture…and to teach them the positive aspects of the industry; that actual careers exist within the industry; that lead industry figures are devoted to giving back to the community…it gives them the type of exposure needed to take the hip-hop culture on a positive path. These kids are the future of hip-hop."

Also founder of Skee.TV; a unique production, marketing, and content distribution company specializing in creative visual productions alongside new media marketing to virally spread content which is viewed by millions of fans around the world, DJ Skee will celebrate the launch of Skeetox next week Friday March April 2nd, 2010.

The innovative new live stage show event will feature a seven piece live band remixing and creating live music underneath vocals backed with a full LED light wall and visual stage show to match. To be held at the Vanguard in Hollywood, located at 6021 Hollywood Boulevard, the performance also features special appearances from several artists including Cisco Adler, Ya Boy (performing "We Run LA"), and several other A-list hip-hop artists have also been confirmed for the line-up.

A portion of the evening's proceeds benefit After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles hip-hop programs.