Thursday, March 31, 2011

New Music: King- The Story




I discovered these three ladies Paris, Amber and Anita on Twitter just last night after Erykah Badu better known as fatbellybella was gushing about them. If I had to predict, they probably gained about one thousand followers just off of Badu shouting them out. Other artists like Eric Roberson and Janelle Monae gave them their stamp of approval. King produced and shopped their very own EP all by themselves. My ears haven't been this pleased about indie female vocalists since I discovered Muhsinah 3 years ago to be exact. Please support King and Download their EP Story. I can't wait for the full length album...until then I will just replay this over and over and over. Enjoy!

Monday, March 28, 2011

New Music: Tyga ft Adele- Reminded




















What a smooth groove! YMCMB are busy this quarter. There is no official release date for Tyga's Black Thoughts Vol. 2 mixtape so just enjoy this tune featuring U.K.'s own Adele.

New Video: Dirty Money- I Hate That You Love Me



Every time I turn around there is a new Dirty Money video. Not to mention I love Last Train To Paris and this is one of the baddest tracks on the album. My girl Dawn is getting it in this video. Twerk it!

Pusha T talks about Fear of God Mixtape and Gives 50 His Props



Aint too much to say about Pusha T's mixtape Fear of God, except its one of the hottest mixtapes out right now. Download Here and you be the judge. You heard the man. GO GET IT!

Miquel's Performs Britney Spears's 'Hold It Against Me'



I can't even front on yall...I like Britney Spears' song Hold It Against Me. I'll even admit that I sing along to it while I'm at work. Miquel's version of the pop song is ummmmm... NOT good. LOL The band could've just vibed out and I woulda been happy. Check it out...Tell me what you think.

New Video: Raphael Saadiq- Stone Rollin



Raphael Saadiq just released his video for Stone Rollin which also the name of his new album. Make sure you buy the album when it comes out in May. If you're a concert go-er like me, then seeing him in concert is a MUST. He puts on one hell of a show! This song doesn't wow me but I thoroughly enjoy Saadiq's glasses. They are smoking hot. Check it out!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Shaolin Jazz Listening Party In DC


Have you ever imagined Wu Tang with a jazz twist? Well the time has come. Make sure you go check out this event...seems dope. There will be live art by Aniekan Udofia & complimentary beverages courtesy of Vitamin Water and Heineken (21 & Over). Be on the look out for their mixtape dropping April 11. If you like what you hear you may wanna check out the listening party and its FREE 99.

DJ 2-Tone Jones | High Priestess of Chessboxin | Shaolin Jazz – The 37th Chamber by naoisnow

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Aaries is BACK!



Do you remember the kinky twist dread lock wearing sisters Aaries that used to sing background vocals for Musiq Soulchild when he first came out with Ijuswannasing? Well I've been waiting for the longest for them to drop some musical gems and the WAIT is over. These Philadelphia sistas dropped their EP CoverGirls today covering some the best of oldies but goodies. Download Here  for a measly $5. Check out this Debarge cover and this song they sang with Musiq.




Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Lil Wayne ft RIck Ross-If I Die Today


Frank Ocean-Nostalgia, Ultra Mixtape



Frank Ocean is a member of the indie hip hop group Odd Future and just inked a deal with Island Def Jam. I wonder what will happen with his solo career since L.A. Reid is no longer the president. Hmmmmm. But any who, I've been blasting his mixtape Nostalgia,Ultra for a few weeks now and I can't get enough of it. And of course I want to share it with yall. By the way, make sure you listen to Nature Feels...it's my JOINT! Enjoy! Download Here

Little Dragon Performs on Jimmy Fallon Show

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

New Video: Chris Brown- Beautiful People


Unless you've been living under a rock, you should know that Chris Brown's new album F.A.M.E. (Fans Are My Everything) is in stores today. And by now you've heard that he "allegedly" threw a chair through an ABC studios window after his Good Morning America performance. But I'm not here to glorify that mess. I'm #teambreezy all the way. Check out his new video for Beautiful People which is one of my favorite songs on the album. I dare you not to dance or even bop your head!


Wednesday, March 9, 2011

R.I.P. Notorious BIG (1972-1997)


14 years ago today, one of Brooklyn's finest, Christopher Wallace aka Notorius BIG aka Biggie Smalls was shot and killed. I just wanted to remember his legacy by posting a few of my favorite Biggie songs, collaborations and videos.

And the award for Most Cameos in a video... goes to The Notorius BIG. Here is list of celebrities that appeared in the video: Tyson Beckford, Dabrat, Uncle Luke, Queen Latifah, Total, Changing Faces, Zhane, Heavy D, Dabrat, Faith, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Jermaine Dupri, Patra and Puffy of course. I swear VH-1 could do a "Where Are They Now" show on this video alone. Half of these artists are nonexistent today. Damn shame!









Tuesday, March 8, 2011

What The Flocka Is This?


Rapper Waka Flocka teamed up with PETA for their Ink Not Mink Campaign. Lord knows I can't stand him but I had to post this atrocity. Ocho Cinco and Tariji P. Henson are some of the celebrities that have also posed nude for this campaign...might I add they have nice bodies so why on God's earth would they let dumb dumb be apart of this? I have no clue. Comment if you will, while I throw up my dinner.

New Video: Nelly ft Kelly Rowland- Gone


Nelly and Kelly team up again for music video for Gone. Too bad Nelly is Ashanti's man, because him and Kelly make a cute couple. Watch the video.



Nelly - Gone (Feat. Kelly Rowland) from Shop Boyz on Vimeo.

Exclusive Aaron Camper Interview




















Recently I sat down with singer Aaron Camper when he was in Baltimore to perform at Select Lounge. He talked about his mixtape, going toe to toe with Guy Torry and touring with Chris Brown. Check out this video and then read the interview. Click Here to download his mixtape Welcome To My World.

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Chanel Laren: You started out singing  with gospel singer Tye Tribett & G.A. What made you go the solo route and pursue secular music?

Aaron Camper: I didn't... it chose me. Everybody knows I started with Tye and then from there it just went a different direction. He had a different direction he wanted to go in, therefore the group went a different way. From there my phone never stopped ringing from good people like Jill Scott. People that were rocking with me even before I started working with Tye. I was working with Eric Roberson, Mike Posner, Diddy and Chris Brown. I never stopped working

CL: You performed with Chris Brown on Saturday Night Live a couple weeks ago, how was that experience?

AC: It was cool. I love Chris, he's a homie. And he can dance his butt off. Good talented dude with a great heart.

CL: On your mixtape Welcome to My World you have a song entitled Second Thought featuring my favorite singer Brandy. How did that happen?

AC: Brandy is the singer's singer. Every singer and musician loves Brandy. She's phenomenal...who wouldn't want to work with her. She did a song called Second Thought that I didn't think got enough attention so I recorded it. A lot of people love the song. I'm just happy to have my name beside hers.

CL:How long did it take for you to record the mixtape?

AC: It's a long story. Honestly I didn't want to release a mixtape because I believe my songs are a lot bigger but than mixtape status. I like to make BIG records. I said it in my intro “my songs are bigger than the club and the weekend”. Some songs I've had for awhile and some songs are very close to me like Hold You Close (one of my faves) . I didn't want to put that song on there because I just knew it was a great song. It's a couple others, I put some fumbles on there too. I didn't want to do it but I had to to get everybody's attention. It's not a game.

CL: When can we expect a full length album from you?

AC: Sooner than later, I'm talking to a couple major labels right now. I'm trying to see who has the right vision that I lines up with mine. Once that goes down, you'll have it in Walmart and it won't be free anymore.

CL: But you do want to go with the majors though? I've talked to Eric Roberson and he said that he's completely happy as an independent artist. He's had the best of both worlds.

AC: Eric Roberson is a mentor of mine. He's like the “iron man” of independent music. He had a deal and now he's doing better without one. It's all about the personal goal that you have for yourself. Personally, I want the necessary vehicle to push me to get my music in certain arenas. I love my hardcore fan base but I need some people that may not be able to get a hold of my music or my website to know who I am.

CL: I ran across some footage of you and Guy Torry busting each other's chops backstage at the Jill Scott/Maxwell tour. Are you a comedian on the side?

AC: Guy is my homie and he opened up for Jill on the tour. The rule of thumb is you never go up against a comedian ever. If they cant tell no jokes they will chop you up. That's easy for them...they learn that at the lunch table.



CL: You held you're own though.

AC: See I'm no slouch. Coming from Tye & G.A that's all we did...crack jokes on the tour bus. We would get on the bus for 3 and 4 hours and just go at it. We would get to the gig like “oh we gotta sing now” because we forgot. We just like to have a good time. Guy is one of those dudes. The cameras were on so I couldn't go down. And they weren't going to put me on youtube talking about Guy killed you. I didn't want none of the homies around the way to say that about me.

CL: What other instruments besides the drums do you play?

AC: The guitar and I can play the keys a little bit just to get my ideas out. I'm not going to sing you a song or John Legend you or anything.

CL: What's your recording process like? Do you right the lyrics after you hear the melody or vice versa?

AC: It depends, being that I like and understand a lot of music. I probably love all of the genres. It depends on what the music is saying. I can get in a room with a band and write 3 or 4 songs in a 2 hours if it feels good. A producer can send me a beat and I'll try to connect to what the track is saying to me. With that sometimes the melody will come first and I'll just hum the whole track and come back later and form words out of it. Sometimes I will have an issue or a story I want to tell.

CL: Are the majority of your lyrics personal or you draw from other people?

AC: I'll draw from anything-personal, friends and people I know. Stuff I saw my parents,friends and people I know go through and even my experiences. If its too personal, I'll throw a name on it like Julia.

CL: Do you want the focus to be on you this album or do you have some heavy hitters featured on the album?

AC: We got a couple but I'm not telling no names.*serious face*

CL: Any hints.

AC: Grammy award winners, actors, movie stars...if I told you everything you wouldn't buy it.

CL: What can your fans expect you to bring to your live set?

AC: Everything. You're going to feel what love feels like, have a good time, party, cry ,you might sit awhile in think ,you might want to get a drink and hold t as high as you can til you spill on yourself. You're going to have a good time.

CL: What's up next for you? Are you going to be doing spot dates?

AC: This month Chris is doing a run in Australia, I'll be apart of that. After that, I think I'm going to do crash a bunch of colleges and HBCU's in the spring or fall. I might just come to your school set up in the cafeteria and start singing with you.

Love Nightclub Hires a New Chef

Love Nightclub hosted a cooking competition last Friday in D.C. called  Love The Chef to determine who will be awarded their next executive chef.. The club's new management have been on a hunt for a few months now and they finally narrowed down their search to three contestants. The contestants were required to prepare three course tapas judged by a panel of D.C.'s most respected food connoisseurs and nightlife socialites.

The crowd was nice and mature..which is quite refreshing in this day and age. There seemed to be a lot of  young black professionals in the building. When I walked into the nightclub, I was handed a small business card where I was supposed to rate the chefs on taste-ability and plate-ability. I was also given a sheet of paper with a list of questions to help me network while I was there enjoying open bar for 2 hours and free food. Seems like a great Friday night right? You betcha!


Chef Mckinnis prepared a margarita bread pudding. It was quite fluffy, sweet, and cinnamony. Now, I'm no fan of bread pudding, but this here was something to write about. Sort of reminded me of french toast minus the powered sugar with the consistency of apple pie. Oddly enough, I tasted a hint of smoke the deeper I dug my fork into it. Unfortunately, it stuck to my teeth towards the last forkfuls. It didn't have the prettiest presentation but goodness gracias was it yummy. Margarita bread pudding ranked high on taste-ability and low on plate-ability.



Chef Jackson prepared bourbon banana bread pudding. It had the appearance of a casserole with crisscrossed chocolate drizzle on top garnished with sliced strawberries. But inside looked like somebody upchucked raisins, bananas, and bread. I apologize for the visual. The placement of food and design on this plate was very pleasing to the eye but not my taste buds. Aesthetically they would've won in my book, only if I hadn't tasted mush in my mouth.


You're probably wondering about the 3rd contestant. Well, I didn't get a chance to sample his dishes due to the lack of announcements. Nobody announced when the food was brought out so you had to have the hawk eye in order to sample everything. Every time I tried to get a taste or glimpse of the "real" food there were only crumbs left.

They also had a wine station, sampling 3 different types of wine. A company called Pretty Penny Wine Tasting was on hand to do the honors. I'm a white wine drinker so my favorite was the White House Riesling. It had a little bubbly on the tongue with a hint of sweetness. Not as sweet as my  favorite wine choice, Moscato, but I enjoyed it. And a bottle of White House Riesling won't set you back either, it's rather affordable. Make sure you google Pretty Penny Wine Tastings. It's a black owned business and boy do we need to support our own.


All culinary photos taken by Kaptuer.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Rahsaan Patterson Can Sing Me to Heaven



This man has been one of my favorites since he appeared on BET's Planet Groove with Rachel back in the 90s. Rashaan can sing me to heaven *serious face* if he wanted to. Him and Bilal can do no wrong in my book. I've been trying to see him live for years but it's always bad timing when he's in town. But to no avail, I'm seeing him perform and getting a chance to interview him in just one day away...If only you could see my cheesy grin. Priceless. Enjoy this performance.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

New Music: Kelly Rowland ft Lil Wayne-Motivation


Kelly Rowland just dropped her new single Motivation featuring Weezy. This is quite a switch from the dance/techno songs she's been producing lately. Either way I like what I hear. I just hope when she finally drops her third solo album, it's well worth the wait. People slept on her second album Ms. Kelly and it didn't get the attention I felt it deserved. Listen to this track and tell me what you think.


Kelly Rowland - Motivation feat. Lil Wayne by SoleFood_U

Exclusive Rye Rye Interview



Some of you may or may not know that I am 1/3 of  E.N.T. radio show in Baltimore. We got an opportunity to catch up with M.I.A's protege and Baltimore's own, Rye Rye to talk about her album  Go! Bang! Pop!, raising her one year old and her musical influences. Make sure you check our her mixtape and  Download Here. Check out the interview.


WOLB 1010 AM ENT Radio Exclusive w/ Rye Rye by chanellaren