50 Cent San Francisco Concert Review

As reported by Carla Selvin / SF Weekly

50 Cent
@The Warfield
June 3, 2010

Better than: Any sideshow in the Bay Area

Hanging behind the stage at 50 Cent's show last night at the Warfield was a monstrous self-portrait of 50 emerging from a cityscape, with lava pouring out of his mouth and eyes. This apocalyptic stage setup mirrored the testosterone-fueled music that 50 Cent is all about.

But before the scrim was raised, a silhouette of the 34-year-old holding a laser-pointing gun stood center stage for a while, which caused the audience to fall to pieces, screaming.

The hot-rod rapper finally appeared last night in excellent form, smiling from ear to ear. "I have one question for you," 50 asked the exuberant audience: "Where the ladies at?"

50 ran through his massive list of hits slowly over the course of the evening, saving favorites such as "Candy Shop" and "Magic Stick" until the bitter end. This left the audience in screaming shambles.

At one point, the hulking rapper flashed a knowing grin. "I know you all love 50," he said, "but I know you all love 40!" All of a sudden, the Bay Area's own E-40 stepped onstage and busted out a version of "Tell Me When To Go" that probably would've made Mac Dre turn over in his grave. The audience sang along and couldn't have been more enthusiastic.

Later on in his set, 50 showed off another special guest. Too Short sprung out from the curtains and gave a whirlwind performance of his hit "Blow the Whistle" that sent everyone for a loop. Then the Oakland rapper disappeared almost as suddenly as he arrived.

50 Cent changed outfits a handful of times during his set, and each time he came out wearing something new he threw at least one article of clothing into the crowd. In turn, women in the audience started throwing lingerie and brassieres onstage, which 50 put in the back pocket of his jeans.

The shared respect and love between 50 cent and the audience was astounding. To a lot of fans, 50 Cent is a godlike figure, having overcome a rough adolescence on the streets of Queens to become a multimillionaire and celebrity. Some kids in front even brought copies of 50's new self-help book The 50th Law, hoping they could score his signature.

The good vibes in the Warfield last night were infectious, with star-struck fans singing along to every word coming out of the rapper's mouth. But it was clear to everyone who was having the most fun -- 50 himself.

Photo links:
Getty Images
Film Magic

50 Cent The Invitation Tour dates:

6/6 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl Concert Theater at The Palms
6/7 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theater
6/10 – Kansas City, KS @ Midland Theatre
6/11 – Dallas, TX @ Music Hall at Fair Park
6/12 – Houston, TX @ Arena Theater
6/15 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
6/17 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
6/18 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
6/22 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
6/23 – Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theater
6/24 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
6/25 – Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues

Moe Green: Bay Area MC Announces 'Rocky Maivia' Debut Album Release

via the press release

(May 26, 2010 - Brooklyn, NY) Burgeoning MC Moe Green, hailing from Vallejo, California, looks to be a beacon of hope for a town in search of a hero. One of California's fast rising talents, Moe Green is preparing the release of his debut album, Rocky Maivia, this summer on Interdependent Media.

The current economic crisis caught more than just individuals in the financial crossfire. Entire American towns went bankrupt, the largest of which is Vallejo, California, home to a once thriving and profitable music scene where artists like E-40, Mac Dre, and Celly Cell carved out a niche. Aware of the times, and the history of his hometown, Moe Green's music eschews the gangster trappings of the city's hip-hop pioneers. Green chooses, instead, a more earnest approach to his music, earning the emcee comparisons with today's rising stars credited with offering an alternative to a genre that has long relied on, often fabricated, street credibility for success. "It's a documentation of your everyday dreamer trying to make his dreams reality," says Green about his debut and his musical direction.

Recently being announced as a part of KMEL's 2010 Bay Area Freshmen 10 class, the 22-year old rapper has been garnering both local and national attention. The nod of approval was generated with the help of interest in a handful of leaked material, including the chillingly narrative "Hometown" and the debut leak from Rocky Maivia "Non-Title Match." Leading into the summer, as Green prepares the release of Rocky Maivia, fans can look forward to of a slew of singles, videos, and media content from the project, including the newly released video for "Ride," directed by Chris Kiker, and shot in Moe Green's hometown of Vallejo.

To eagle-eyed professional wrestling fans, the title for Green's debut single and the album itself will ring bells. An avid wrestling fan himself, Moe Green named his album after superstar wrestler/actor The Rock - Rocky Maivia served as The Rock's moniker when he first debuted in the ring. Green sees his debut album as the Rocky Maivia phase in his own career. "It's a metaphor for the newcomer with great potential entering the professional leagues," says Green.

Murs Performs 'Can It Be' Live In San Francisco

Murs live at the Fillmore in SF Thursday, April 29.

Murs & 9th Wonder ForNever on SMC Recordings available now!

video courtesy of Always Hustle

DaVinci 'The Day The Turf Stood Still' Album Download Available Now + Hometown Paper Feature

via S.F. Weekly

The song "What You Finna Do?," released earlier this month by Fillmore District rapper DaVinci, opens with a vocal sample from the 2001 PBS documentary The Fillmore. It condenses the gentrification process the area underwent from the 1960s into one slogan, lamenting, "Basically, after the urban renewal, it was basically Negro removal." As the gloomy beat kicks in, DaVinci starts to rap, eventually coining his update on the situation: "Down the corner of the street used to be the spot/Till they replaced all the liquor stores with coffee shops." The rest of his debut album, The Day the Turf Stood Still, released in both free download (alternate link - here) and retail versions this week, repeats the motif. It's no surprise, considering the changes he witnessed on his block.

"My grandmother came to San Francisco from Texas in the 1950s," he says. "She bought her home, a three-apartment unit, for $15,000 and paid it off before she passed away in 1996." Around this time, he started to see the reshaping of his 'hood. The usual signifiers of impending gentrification were all in play. Drugs and crime were up. Property values were down. The Fillmore's proximity to downtown made for potentially high rents. Then came the wrecking balls, turning housing projects to rubble and providing a very physical cue for an exodus of black residents. As he recalls, "The newer people offered those who were living there the opportunity to sell their houses, move out, and make a profit. It didn't sound like such a bad idea — by that point, half the neighborhood had already moved." But his family stayed, retaining the title to their home and bolstering their roots in the area.

Today, the 27-year-old DaVinci makes music shot through with local pride. He's been releasing mixtapes since 2002, plus 2007's "street" album, Butter and Gunz, executive-produced by San Quinn. He sees his debut album as a fitting contribution to the Fillmore's rich musical heritage. In the 1960s, jazz greats Count Basie, Etta James, and Duke Ellington used the area's clubs as their musical playground. During the rapper's own coming of age, it saw the formation of a hip-hop scene boosted by its insularity. The sound of the block was king. As DaVinci recalls: "You couldn't tell me anything about who the best rapper in the mainstream was — we'd listen to cats like San Quinn, JT the Bigga Figga, and D-Moe the Youngsta. Together, they were like the Roc-A-Fella [musical empire] of the Fillmore at the time. Looking at them, I saw that hip-hop could come out of Fillmore and be respected."

Being engulfed by this wave of self-sufficient rappers helped shape DaVinci's outlook. San Quinn, who lived two blocks away, could sometimes be found hustling with DaVinci's pops. JT released records on his own Get Low label at 18; his independent moves fostered DaVinci's expectations of the music industry. He's adamant that running after major labels "isn't even in the picture." And, true to his independence, DaVinci's album eschews the gangsta sheen of his elders in favor of relaying street parables over rugged, melancholy beats. It's a blend that suits his breathy timbre well and ensures the album rewards listeners who prefer carefully wrought lyrics over a quick hook.

It isn't a commercial sound, but DaVinci is confident he has wide appeal. Last month, he journeyed to New York City on a mission to boost his profile by meeting with online media outlets. Back home, he's looking at the positive side of the Fillmore's metamorphosis — caffeine-connoisseur neighbors included. "When we'd perform shows, it used to be all family who'd come, but now it's college students," he explains, before joking, "That's good, 'cause you can charge them more!"

Then he adds, "I think the new mix of ethnicities is the best thing that's happened to the Fillmore. Now it's not just a place where only black people know about the music that's coming out of here. That's a good change."

Download DaVinci's The Day The Turf Stood Still here:
DaVinci's The Day The Turf Stood Still
DaVinci's The Day The Turf Stood Still (alt.link)

Ya Boy: Bay Area MC Finds Label Home With Akon's Kon Live

via the press release

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 1, 2010) – With over 45 million Myspace views, 37 million plays, dominating Southern California radio stations Power 106, KIIS FM, AMP with over 3,000 spins of hit single "We Run LA", opening up for artists such as Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Sean Kingston and more serve as a brief rap-sheet for newly signed Kon-Live artist, Ya Boy. The record label is lead by internationally acclaimed artist and entrepreneur Akon. Ya Boy joins label mates Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Colby O'Donis, Kardinal Official and dynamic duo Rock City as the first artist from the west coast signed to Kon-Live. "Ya Boy is one of the hardest workers today…He's an amazing artist that never got a chance to shine. He never gave up and now he has a chance to shine not only on the West Coast but internationally," says Akon.

Catchy punch lines, versatility, eyebrow raising topics, witty wordplay combined with his no-color lines policy have helped garner Ya Boy aka YB The Rock Star widespread appeal. In 2002, he further gained notoriety from his song "100 Bars of Crack" where he rapped a 100 bars over Dr. Dre's "Nuthin' But a "G" Thang" also featured on The Black Wall Street Journal Vol. 1. In the summer of 2005 Ya Boy released his first solo mixtape, "Future of the Franchise" followed by the 2006 release of his debut album "Rookie of the Year ." The album featured collaborations with his Bay Area rap neighbors E-40, Turf Talk, Clyde Carson of The Team, San Quinn and more. The album's first single, "Step Ya Game Up", was produced by musical architect, Rick Rock. That same year, Ya Boy wrote and appeared on the Kevin Federline's rap album Playing With Fire allowing him to expand his horizon.

Seamlessly pounding the music industry's pavement YB The Rock Star secured his position on the West Coast in 2008, when he released the single "Holla at Ya Boy" produced by Cool & Dre. Successfully saturating the web with viral videos and music on hundreds if not thousands of multi-media stations across the globe.

Meanwhile, The Source Magazine featured him in the Unsigned Hype section, BET's Rap City awarded Ya Boy the mixtape of the week title, while XXL Magazine, Ozone and Hip Hop Weekly all co-signed him as the "Next To Blow." In 2009 Ya Boy released hit single "We Run LA" feat. Dr. Hollywood, the song is currently spinning on multiple radio stations throughout Los Angeles. "Ya Boy truly deserves this moment…We felt there's no one on an international level bigger than Akon. We're excited and happy to join the Kon-Live family," says Manager Mike G, Nitevision Management.

With multiple Ya Boy videos and mixtapes saturating the web, a total seven years of paying dues, Ya Boy will finally reap the benefits of his labor. Now that his path has been paved and recognized "It will impact music with a breath of fresh air," says Ya Boy.

Exile Live On The Akai MPC And Decks In S.F.

Last Thursday (January 28) for Left Fest at the Mezzanine, Exile took the stage before Crown Royal and The Souls of Mischief to bless the crowd with another dope MPC/DJ performance.

(video courtesy of jaydot & Always Hustle)

Snoop, Too Short & Mistah F.A.B. 'Blow The Whistle' & 'Life Of The Party' At S.F. Show

On the 'How The West Was One' tour stop at the Warfield in San Fransico, CA on Saturday, November 21.

Related:
Snoop Dogg 'How The West Was One' Anaheim, CA Concert Recap

(video courtesy of 24CAIN)

Crown City Rockers announce new album "The Day After Forever"

Crown City Rockers "The Day After Forever" out September 29th on Gold Dust Media

(via press release)
Bay Area true school hip-hop soldiers Crown City Rockers have linked with Brooklyn based Gold Dust to release their upcoming album, The Day After Forever. The first album since 2004's Earth Tones, the album represents the culmination of years thrilling fans on the road, fine tuning their sound, and collaborating with like minded hip-hop artists.

Crown City Rockers have built a reputation for their driving sound derived from live instruments fused with traditional hip-hop production, which makes their live shows particularly dynamic. Emcee Rashaan Ahmad commands the crowd in the tradition of the block party greats, with a tight backing group infusing funk energy into the bouncy hip-hop sound.

Though the group has remained intact, the album represents a reunion of sorts, as many of the contributors have been focusing on solo projects recently. Rashaan Ahamad's solo album Push (2008) furthered his reputation as a party rocker par excellence, which he supported through tours with People Under The Stairs, Common Market, and others. Bassist/producer Headnodic recently helmed the boards for last year's Mighty Underdogs project on Definitive Jux with emcees Gift of Gab and Lateef from the Quannum camp, and keyboardist Kat recently completed a solo project and is currently working with People Under The Stairs' Thes One.

The Day After Forever will be followed by an extensive US tour.

Crown City Rockers "The Day After Forever" tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Break
3. Soul
4. Kiss
5. Go On
6. Astroshocks
7. Go Away
8. Crusin'
9. Let's Love
10. Clap Your Hands
11. Make It Hotter
12. That's Life
13. The Forever Song

http://www.myspace.com/crowncity

San Francisco WILD 94.9 radio concert recap with Rick Ross Ice Cube and others

With the Summer session in full swing, we can always count on some great radio sponsored concerts taking place in the good ol' USA. This time we have San Francisco's WILD 94.9 The BOMB concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountian View California Friday June 26 which featured Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Pitbull, Baby Bash, Sean Paul, Dorrough, Gorilla Zoe, Soulja Boy and LMFAO.

Here are some highlights from the show.

















Check out the photos from the show:
Getty Images
Film Magic