ILLECT RECORDINGS | partner
Honest 2 goodness SoulFood HipHop
ILLECT RECORDINGS features some of the most globally respected HIPHOP and Holy Culture artists working in the industry. Josh Niemyjski (also known as Plastic) started ILLECT Recordings in April 2003, after his departure from the Uprok Records as the Artist & Repertoire manager. Niemyjski had worked for Uprok from 2001-2003. He is also the founder of the Sphereofhiphop.com and Sphere of Hip Hop Records which was the first label he started in 1999. Since starting ILLECT RECORDINGS the label has grown to encompass a wide array of Underground, Alternative and cross-over mainstream emcees with profound love for God and unparalleled artistry in Christ-centered HipHop.
SHEMSPEED | partner
Indie label producing global music, showcasing diverse artists with positive and unifying messages
Shemspeed is an independent recording label & promotional agency devoted to producing and developing dynamic multi-cultural artists and interactive media. Founded by Erez Safar, an American-Israeli DJ/Producer, Shemspeed promotes dynamic artists representing a wide range of genres including hip-hop, reggae, and rock. Y-Love (revolutionary Jewish hip-hop), Diwon (Yemenite / Sephardic hip-hop, Global beats), DeScribe (soul-awakening dancehall, hip-hop, & soul), and Electro Morocco (Israeli rock, dance music.) Shemspeed artists, collectively showcasing the diversity in world Jewish music, have performed with musicians as varied as Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Idan Raichel and Eminem; they’ve been profiled in Rolling Stone, SPIN, The New York Times and XXL; and they’ve been seen and heard around the world on various TV appearances (Conan O’Brien, CBS and BBC World) and global radio. Shemspeed’s mission is unifying people through culture and education, celebrating diversity and common ground. Our work adds a public Jewish voice to multi-cultural, inter-faith, creative and collaborative bridge-building.
TRINITY BAND | partner
Christian|Ethno-indigenous musical group with roots in South American rhythms and love of Celtic music
Trinity is a band of 4 young talented musicians from the Netherlands. Three of Trinity's members, the Smelt brothers spent their childhood in Peru. Their South American up-tempo musical roots together with their love for Celtic music are the ingredients of Trinity's passionate songs. Their first album, 'Inicio,' was released in October of 2007 and was enthusiastically received by audiences and critics. Trinity continued to develop as a band and in the summer of 2008, won a band battle for the Netherlands’ biggest Christian broadcasting agency, the EO. This formed the onset for their second album ‘Cada Dia’ which they recorded in January 2009. ‘Cada Dia’ mixes the Peruvian roots and Celtic influences with African beats and up-tempo grooves. They have a strong live performance that makes the crowd swing, sing along and dance. In the summer of 2010 Trinity played at the mainstage of the biggest Dutch ‘Xnoizz Flevo festival’. They also played as a support act for ‘NewWorldSon’ (Canada), ‘IONA’ (UK) and ‘Sons of Korah’(Australia). They have recorded 4 albums and sold over 30 000 cd’s. TRINITY are also Ambassadors for http://www.tear.nl/en The band travels back to Central and South America regularly to bring the Good News to those in desperate circumstances with a passion for Faith and the unique message and person of Jesus, and to all who are disenfranchised and destitute.
RIGHTEOUS B | DIRTY VAGABOND MINISTRIES | partner
Vibe Mother Teresa with tattoos and Earrings
Dirty Vagabond Ministries and RIGHTEOUS B; think Mother Teresa with earrings and tattoos.” 'Righteous B' Bob Lesnefsky says “it’s youth ministry to the inner-city church… We come into a city and make a long-term commitment to that city. We place two urban missionaries there that live among the people. The style of ministry they do we call incarnational ministry; they’re not waiting for people to sign up or show up. They’re going out to them, hitting the streets, and really everything happens in the context of that relationship. When me and my wife started doing youth ministry, we ended up at an inner-city parish in New York. I didn’t realize how urban it was. About a year into it, we found ourselves in just a whole mess of problems with police there all the time, violence. We were about to quit and leave but something happened where our hearts were changed and we really fell in love with that kind of kid and we felt this is what we wanted to do with our lives.
AWKWORD | partner
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Rapper/Activist (and Sociologist) AWKWORD is one of the “dope artists” putting New York City Hip Hop back on the map (DOPEMusikBlog.com) -- making “quality music that deserves to be heard” (Chuck D of Public Enemy). AWKWORD is also “the heart and soul” of World View, the first-ever 100% For-Charity Global Hip Hop Album. Hosted/presented by The DJ Booth (DJBooth.net and also sponsored by End of the Weak (EOW) and The Morgan Stanley Foundation, AWKWORD’s “highly anticipated LP World View” is designed to connect us worldwide through Hip Hop music & culture. World View features contributions from every continent, approximately 20 countries and every U.S. region. The album boasts production from Harry Fraud, Domingo and Numonics, and guess emCee appearances from Joell Ortiz, Sean Price, KRS-One, Slug (of Atmosphere) and more.
For AWKWORD this is nothing new. Today he fights for change through music; his activism began in childhood, with the guidance of his mother (RIP). AWKWORD created his high school's first (now annual) Diversity Day with the Anti-Defamation League. While earning his Bachelor’s in Sociology from Vassar he founded the school’s Prison Reform Group, lobbied New York State Congress for the repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws and worked or volunteered at Green Haven maximum-security prison, an alternative-to-incarceration center, a probation office and an at-risk youth center. World View donates all proceeds to Guns 4 Cameras (Aim to Live), a 501c3-registered nonprofit dedicated to eradicating street violence through the Hip Hop-inspired education and empowerment of our at-risk youth. The organization’s founder, Hezues R’ was shot at 22 times at age 22 and survived to re-dedicate his life to saving the streets.
SHI 360 | partner
The New Strong; "No Haters" HipHop
Recognized as one of the first ground-breaking Israeli hip hop artists, Haifa born, Montreal raised, SHI 360 (born Shai Haddad) debuted as a conscious MC in the late 90′s, drawing both underground and commercial appeal. Starting off as an independent artist, his first album “Chapters” set him apart as a unique voice in the Montreal hip hop scene. Seminal on Israel’s hip hop scene, Shai released Israel’s first mixtape, leading the DJ hip hop scene and co-hosting Tel Aviv Radio’s Hip Hop Show “The Lab.” Following Sophomore and Junior album collaborations, his popularity led to selling platinum records and hit singles including “Kabel,” “Break the Silence,” “Home,” “Rak Benadam” and many more. SHI 360 quickly became a household name, launching his own record label while producing and managing several artists. 360 Music released hits including “Lo Ba Stam,” “Ani Ve At,” and “Baby” among others. Spreading unity and awareness through his music and tours worldwide, Shai has set himself apart as a compelling voice unafraid to challenge the mainstream media’s oftentimes distorted messages. Many of his songs emphasize a bold social and political message. Going by the credo “Don’t be afraid to think,” SHI 360 combines deft rhymes and fresh, genre-shifting beats. His diverse sounds stem from childhood exposure to diverse music genres by various artists.
EPRHYME | partner
Renaissance Rap's Resurgence
Eprhyme (pronounced E-prime) is a Renaissance Rapper, representing a profound resurgence of depth and dope within an all too often formulaic, uninspired and commercialized art form. Through his collage-like and kaleidoscopic approach to Culture and Consciousness, Eprhyme is constantly and creatively crossing boundaries of substance, sound and style. After spending nearly a decade in the trenches of D.I.Y. Heartland and Underground Mecca, Olympia, WA, where he independently released 4 ground-breaking albums with the 'Saints of Everyday Failures' while working tirelessly as an Artist, Educator, Promoter and Community Organizer, Eprhyme made the move to Brooklyn, NY where he now works and plays with some of the most exciting contemporary ethno-indiginous Jewish, World, Hip Hop, Jazz and Indie musicians.
JE'KOB | partner
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Rapper, singer, and record producer, Je’kob Washington was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 16th, 1981. His father was a 20-year army veteran and auto-mechanic working hard most of the time, making sure the family had everything they needed. He was a sort of hustler by trait but he never seemed to miss one basketball game or school function. Je'Kob's mother took care of the kids making sure they were raised by their parents instead of the many emerging and available media outlets.
In 1999 Je’kob’s part-time family music group “Souljahz” got a chance to go overseas to Aachen Germany and record their first full length album with a young producer who they met through a family friend. As soon as they returned to the states their father took the finished album to the ASCAP offices. After a couple meetings they found themselves in the offices of Jimmy Iovine, the CEO of Interscope Records. The group received offers from several powerhouse labels including Interscope, Warner Bros. & Atlantic Records. In 2000, after lengthy negotiations, they ended up inking a deal with Warner Bros. There have been many glorious moments as there have been trials but Je'kob sums up his experience best in Dreams: "What you fight for is what you die for, and what you try for is what you cry for, but if you really want it, you will try more."
WASHINGTON PROJECTS | partner
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In 2006, the group Souljahz re-emerged independently as The Washington Projects. They have released two albums, “Commanders Of The Resistance” in 2007, and “Light Up The Dark” in 2010, both of which garnered critical acclaim and rave reviews. Between 2006 and 2010 they toured nationally and internationally, traveling twice to war zones in Iraq to entertain the troops, as well as headlining a tour to Italy alongside The Nappy Roots. Recently, Je’kob signed with Seattle-based Save the City Records to release new material and make new appearances.
JUSthoughtZ | partner
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First off, I'm terrible at bios. In short, I'm an artist out of Atlanta. I write music under the moniker "JusThoughtZ". I began writing because at one point in my life it was the easiest way to accurately and effectively communicate how it was I was feeling and thinking at the time. In addition to writing music, I paint, draw, shoot photography and short films. I'm not at all sure what it is I expect out of my life aside from the Lord to get glory out of me however He sees fit. This blog is my primary source of communication (and means of releasing new art). This is my way of starting over.
RHEMASOUL | partner
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Rhema Soul is innovative to the core. Internationally acclaimed for fusing hip hop, soul, and pop, Rhema Soul offers blending substance and pop sensibility, originality and persistence. These qualities have allowed Rhema Soul to create their own path, never waiting on an “industry” to dictate or steer their vision. Their intense conviction and desire to offer art with a message are proof positive and an inspiration to many. Fingerprints, Rhema Soul’s genre-defying third album released in March of 2010, took them all over positioning the group to wider audiences and ensuring their place on today’s music scene. Rhema Soul’s fourth album, RED, is currently available through Good City Music/220 Entertainment Group/Universal. RED features production from Dove Award winning producer Andy Anderson (Group One Crew, Toby Mac) and South Florida affiliates Rey King and A.D. (Heart Official). RED proves to be Rhema Soul’s strongest and most commercially accessible album to date. It features the vocal stylings of Ryan Stevenson, Shonlock, Jai, Benjah, and Thi’sl, respectively. As individuals and a group Rhema Soul’s evolution inspires people, with passion as their vehicle to reach out, Rhema Soul continues to offer music that’s fuel for both heart and soul.
Tristan Dewey|Tai Jordan (tooco) | partner
globally inspired soundscapes