Lupe Fiasco Gets Acquainted Live At New Orleans Jazz Fest 2011

Lupe played the prestigious New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival yesterday Friday May 6th. Video up above features Lupe and his band mates performing "Hip Hop Saved My Life." Read the concert recap below.

As reported by Doug MacCash at The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2011 Congo Square fans were swept up Friday afternoon by Lupe Fiasco's brand of hand-made hip hop.
But before going on, I want to thank the friendly Fiasco fans who helped me out with the song titles and other facts during the fast-paced show. At this stage of life, I prefer covering acts that I've never seen before over the old standbys. Trouble is, I don't always know the details.

Not that you had to know much to be charmed by Fiasco's generally upbeat musings, carefully wrought tunes and frenetic stage antics. For the first 15 minutes of the show, the lithe singer was in constant motion, seemingly being propelled around the stage by the sonic waves of his highly skilled band.



My Congo Square colleagues agreed that the stylish keyboards, slashing guitar, theatrical drumming and melodic vocals of Fiasco's backing band was more musical than many rap acts. There was no DJ, no thundering bass line. In songs such as "Superstar" (view video performance above) and "The Show Goes On," the refrains were almost as slinky as something from The Commodores.



One of my favorite segments of the performance was when Fiasco issued the string of tongue-twisting staccato syllables in tribute to his hometown Chicago: "I'm-from-a-city-in-the Midwest-the-best-city-in-the-whole-wide-world." In another song, I loved his pantomime of skateboarding to the refrain: "kick, push, coast." (view video performance above) And near the end of the show, he comically pretended to play a little bee bop trumpet (using his voice to imitate the horn), just to prove that rappers really can play instruments.



Read the full story HERE

Photo links:
Film Magic
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Flickr (courtesy of Chris Schwegler)

(video courtesy of makaksaleOpa and 12barbershop)

Diddy Dirty Money Live Concert In NYC

Lloyd, Tyga, Ashanti, Ja Rule and even Faith Evans came out to perform at Hammerstein Ballroom with Diddy Dirty Money on Friday, April 22nd.

Rolling Stone concert review:
Diddy Brings Nostalgia Back to New York

Photo Links:
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Diddy Dirty Money Coming Home tour dates:
Tue 04/26/11 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
Thu 04/28/11 - Jacksonville, FL - Plush
Fri 04/29/11 - Melbourne, FL - Levelz
Sat 04/30/11 - Saint Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
Sun 05/01/11 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues
Fri 05/06/11 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
Sat 05/07/11 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Sun 05/08/11 - Anaheim, CA - City National Grove Of Anaheim
Tue 05/10/11 - Chandler, AZ Wild Horse Pass Casino
Thu 05/12/11 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
Sat 05/14/11 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland By AMC
Sun 05/15/11 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant

(video courtesy of TheMeeshSquad, AndyvsDDAC and MrKiidArmani )

Alicia Keys: Beyonce, Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz Add Highlights To Madison Square Garden Concert

via Billboard

Alicia Keys stopped at New York City's Madison Square Garden last night (Wednesday, March 17) during her "Freedom Tour" and gave her hometown fans a special treat with surprise performances from Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz.

Keys first performed new and old tracks like "Love Is Blind," "If I Can't Have You" and a stunning duet with former back-up singer Jermaine Paul -- who also served as an opening act along with Melanie Fiona and Robin Thicke -- for "Diary." But it was when the drums to her single "Put It In A Love Song" blared through the speakers that the crowd got most fired up. After performing her verse Keys introduced Beyoncé, who descended from the top of a staircase located towards the back of the stage and joined Keys for the remainder of the song. Ending in a dance routine, the performance marked the first time the two artists ever shared a stage.



With Beyoncé making a surprise appearance onstage, it was only fitting that her husband would do the same at the self-proclaimed "House that Hovie built." As Keys momentarily stopped playing the piano, her alleged boyfriend, producer/rapper Beatz, took the stage to his own collaboration with Jay-Z "On To The Next One," before Jay-Z himself came out for a performance of "Empire State of Mind." Scenes of Times Square and the city skyline appeared on the jumbo screens behind, setting the perfect backdrop for the Big Apple anthem as the masses sang in unison and waved their hands in the air.

"Thank you so much New York City! Thank you for welcoming me home!" Keys said nostalgically before exiting the stage. "I encourage you to continue to find your freedom, continue to find your way. God Bless you, my hometown. We love you!"

Photos:
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Rex Features 1
Rex Features 2
Star Traks Photo 1
Star Traks Photo 2
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WENN Photo

more fan shot footage below.







Alicia Keys 2010 Element of Freedom Tour Dates:

3/19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Centre
3/20 - Atlantic City, NJ - Mark Etess Arena
3/22 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
3/24 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
3/25 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
3/27 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
3/28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times-Forum
3/30 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
4/2 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
4/3 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
4/6 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
4/7 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
4/9 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
4/10 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Coliseum
4/29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Pavilhao Atlantico
5/1 - Ischgl, Austria - Ski Resort
5/2 - Verona, Italy - Arena
5/4 - Marseille, France - Le Dome
5/8 - Arnhem, Netherlands - Gelredome
5/9 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle - Messe Frankfurt
5/12 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
5/13 - Oberhausen, Germany - Konig - Pilsener Arena
5/15 - Merksem, Belgium - Sportpaleis Antwerpen
5/17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion Zurich
5/19 - Birmingham, UK - The NIA
5/21 - Dublin, Ireland - The O2 Dublin
5/23 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
5/25 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/26 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/29 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Evening News Arena
5/31 - Paris, France - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
6/2 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
6/4 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier

(video courtesy of joleystar & Billboard)

Alicia Keys Is Evermore Elegant & Mature In Toronto On 'Freedom' Tour Concert Recap

As reported by Jane Stevenson at Canoe / QMI Agency

TORONTO - I know why the Caged Bird sings.

Or in the case of neo-soul star Alicia Keys, who initially appeared inside a silver cage at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night (March 10), singing Caged Bird, why she sings: Because she sounds so good.

Keys brought her biggest production to date for the occasion: a dazzling gigantic video screen that broke into many smaller screens, a large gleaming silver staircase, a nine-piece band, and three dancers.

Touring in support of her fourth album, The Element Of Freedom, the 29-year-old New York singer-songwriter-pianist also made a good glamazon, appearing in silver sequined pants, a black shirt, a blood red blazer, and high heels, with her hair in soft curls.

Her first hit, Fallin', prompted major applause, as she stood at the front of stage playing a tiny white piano - and the song ended with the words, "Rise Up" on the enormous video screen above her.

But she delivered a more dramatic performance with her Bond theme (a collaboration with Jack White), Another Way To Die, losing the blazer and seductively prowling the staircase and her large stage with her dancers.

For her next song, Karma, Keys added some of the lyrics of Talking Heads' Once In A Lifetime, but it was her own, I Need You, that proved to be a stronger follow-up tune.

And when she sat down to play Prayer For Forgiveness, her piano flashed the words: "Play Me," and then, "Thank You," before it began rotating during, Diary, which prompted a crowd singalong and some mighty high notes from her male back up singer.

"We're excited to be here in Toronto," said Keys, who hit a few big notes of her own during Like You'll Never See Me Again. "God bless you."

After a brief band interlude, Keys re-appeared lying on top of the piano, now moving from the back of the stage to the front, for another uplifting number, Wait Til You See My Smile.

But the mid-show highlight proved to be the uber-soulful and funky Go Ahead featuring Keys playing a portable keyboard strapped around her neck, while her guitar player traded licks alongside her.

Finally elegant in a floor length white gown for Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart, the first single from The Element Of Freedom, there simply was no stopping Keys in the last half-hour of her 90-minute show.

Hit after hit followed: the female empowerment anthem, Superwoman; the heart-on-her-sleeve songs, If I Ain't Got You and No One; and the crowd-pleasing encore number, Empire State Of Mind Part II (Broken Down).

Earlier in the show, the bouncy Put It In A Love Song, Keys' collaboration with Beyonce, and the R&B ballad, Un-thinkable (I'm Ready), her duet with Drake, came across too calculated for the more mature Keys, who has always been an amazing songwriter and singer but is only now hitting her stride as a live performer.

Photos:
Toronto Sun Newspaper
Getty Images
Wire Image

Alicia Keys 'Freedom' Tour Toronto Air Canada Centre - Wednesday, March 10th set list:

Caged Bird
Love Is Blind
You Don't Know My Name
Fallin'
Another Way To Die
Karma
Like the Sea
I Need You
Pray for Forgiveness
Diary
Like You'll Never See Me Again

Band interlude

Wait Til You See My Smile
Go Ahead
Put It in a Love Song
Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)
Feeling Good (performed by the band)
Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
Superwoman
If I Ain't Got You
No One

ENCORE

Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

Alicia Keys 2010 Element of Freedom Tour Dates:

3/11 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone
3/13 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Casino
3/14 - Mashantucket, CT - Foxwoods Casino
3/17 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
3/19 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Centre
3/20 - Atlantic City, NJ - Mark Etess Arena
3/22 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
3/24 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
3/25 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
3/27 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
3/28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times-Forum
3/30 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
4/2 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater (Grand Prairie)
4/3 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
4/6 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
4/7 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
4/9 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay
4/10 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Coliseum
4/29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Pavilhao Atlantico
5/1 - Ischgl, Austria - Ski Resort
5/2 - Verona, Italy - Arena
5/4 - Marseille, France - Le Dome
5/8 - Arnhem, Netherlands - Gelredome
5/9 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle - Messe Frankfurt
5/12 - Hamburg, Germany - Color Line Arena
5/13 - Oberhausen, Germany - Konig - Pilsener Arena
5/15 - Merksem, Belgium - Sportpaleis Antwerpen
5/17 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion Zurich
5/19 - Birmingham, UK - The NIA
5/21 - Dublin, Ireland - The O2 Dublin
5/23 - Glasgow, UK - S.E.C.C.
5/25 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/26 - London, UK - The O2 - London
5/29 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Evening News Arena
5/31 - Paris, France - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
6/2 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
6/4 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier

(video courtesy of Canal de Vídeos do oitoronto)

Collie Buddz: Dancehall Reggae Artist Live In NYC

via Vibe

Without dropping an official album in almost three years, Collie Buddz has kept his name buzzing in the dancehall scene with a multitude of mixtape buzz singles and riddims. His latest record "Phone call" has been heating up across the country and throughout the islands, giving fans a small indication of what he has in store for 2010. The Bermudian singer has a new project in the works, and is gearing up for the release with a number of shows currently scheduled throughout the East Coast. Collie Buddz was invited to rock the stage at Santos Party House in Downtown Manhattan.

Rick Ross Performs @ Haiti 'Starfest' Concert

via Rap Godfathers

Miami’s Rick Ross was integral part this year at the Haiti stop of the annual Starfest Multi-Cultural Music Festival (Dec. 4th & 5th), which drew an estimated 500,000 fans.

The star-studded event was founded to enthrall Caribbean and other international music fans with music sets featuring the best artists in the realms of Zouk, Compa, Reggae, Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hop.

Adding to the music are parties, art exhibits, talents shows, food, and cultural awareness events. Also, Starfest brings an additional educational element by illuminating the issues of the Caribbean community.

According to festival founder and president DJ Louis, Ross received a huge reception for his performance despite being the only big name Hip-Hop act on the bill, which featured international stars such as Black Dada, Shabba Dkakout, Chale Republik, and RockFam.

“This was truly for a great cause which made it even more beautiful, but it also speaks as a global movement that is more than just about the music,” Louis explained in a prepared statement. “Along with Ross, we visited hospitals, several boys and girls group homes, and showed love to the men in duty in Haiti. It is a true blessing for the Starfest team to see the results in motion. Again, it wasn’t just about the great music, thank you to everyone that supports our movement including Rick Ross. I cannot stop thanking God for what just happened: it was not a walk in the park in any way. The work is still not done, but with the help of God, all things are possible. We have 15 more countries still to go.”

PHOTOS:
Ozone Magazine