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B.L.A.C. Detroit Music Blog: D Allie

admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:27:48 +0000

Emcee D’Allie is something of an anomaly in the often individualistic world of hip hop. He has fashioned a career based on a steady stream of compelling collaborations with producers, other artists and fans.

David Allie Strauss, otherwise known as D’Allie, grew up in a household where music was a family affair. He inherited a love for many types of music from his guitar-playing, Jewish father, Gary Strauss—who is featured extensively on his son’s albums—and his mother, Komeh Allie Strauss, who is from Sierra Leone.

“When I was maybe 6 or 7, my dad was playing at bars late night, and then waking up early to go teach,” D’Allie, now 28, remembers. “Occasionally he would bring me out for the first set, around 10 or so.”

Papa Strauss built a small, short-scale guitar for little David, but the instrument fell by the wayside when some older cousins introduced the youngster to “Yo! MTV Raps.” D’Allie began writing rhymes at age 7.

Fast forward about two decades, his hip hop duo Progress Report released the full-length album, “Eddie Logix and D’Allie Are Progress Report,” last month.

Detroit Producers Rule

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:12:30 +0000

For decades, Detroit has maintained arguably the most influential music scene in the country. Yes, awesome musicians, incomparable vocalists and mesmerizing performers learned everything they knew here. But this city’s influence on music is attributable not only to the iconic singers whose names we all know.

The D is also musically influential because of the people you don’t see. Detroit has contributed some of the most innovative and gifted music producers on the planet.

From early Motown staff producers like Smokey Robinson and Norman Whitfield, to funk maestro transplant George Clinton, to techno pioneers Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, to rock legend Don Was, to hip hop genius J Dilla—these and other local producers have set the global standard for quality, creativity, musicality and innovation.

Whether or not lovers of soul, gospel, R&B, hip hop, jazz or electronica know it, producers from Detroit consistently reshape and reinvent music. Year after year, they are leaders in the development of new sounds that resonate with music fans around the world.

Because the nature of record production is behind the scenes, producers tend to be unsung heroes. They are often more responsible for the sound of a hit song than the artist whose voice is on the record, but their contributions may go unrecognized by the general public.

Nadir Nominated for Two Detroit Music Awards

admin — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:02:17 +0000

Voting is underway for the 20th Annual Detroit Music Awards. Nadir earned two nominations in 2011 – for Outstanding Urban/Funk Songwriter and Outstanding Urban/Funk Group for Nadir and Distorted Soul. He will also receive recognition as a Special Honoree in the Urban/Funk Vocalist category after winning that DMA three years in a row, from 2008 to 2010.

The awards show will be held Friday, April 15 at The Fillmore Theatre Detroit, 2115 Woodward Avenue. Cast your vote Today at DetroitMusicAwards.net.

On Thursday, April 14, join Nadir and fellow nominee Eliza Neals for at celebratory toast a Detroit’s Hard Rock Cafe. Nadir kicks of the night with a solo funk set that you won’t want to miss.

Thursday, April 14, 2011 – 8pm
Pre-DMA Rock & Soul Showcase with Eliza Neals & Nadir
Hard Rock Cafe Detroit
45 Monroe Street, Detroit, Michigan
For more info visit HardRockCafe.com

IAYAALIS – I Am You Are And Love IS…!

admin — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:02:50 +0000

IAYAALIS is a creatrix – a female creator and multi-talent whose critically-acclaimed rhymes, singing voice, spoken word, poetry, prose, and visual art, have earned respect from free-thinking, progressive audiences internationally.

Now with the 2011 release of her long-awaited musical debut, I Am You Are And Love IS…!, IAYAALIS rouses the senses, painting contagious melodies and enlightened lyrics on a canvas of scintillating rhythms and speaker-knocking bass. Eclectic, esoteric and engaging, I Am You Are And Love IS…! offers an aural collage of hip hop, soul and spoken word that elevates the spirit while it heats up the dance floor.

Nashville-based Donalda Antonia Chandler, whose acronymic name, I.A.Y.A.A.L.IS stands for I Am You Are And Love IS (pronounced “i-yall-EE”), emerged from the Middle Tennessee arts community as an award-winning emcee, singer, poet, visual and performance artist. According to The Nashville Scene, IAYAALIS’ lyrical style merges “sensual physicality with deep spiritual insights and a distinctly feminine point of view”. The music infuses a cross-section of hip-hop and soul sounds with occasional flashes of African percussion, dancehall and other worldly vibrations.

Her Nashville Music Award nomination for Best Unsigned Artist sparked frenzied courtships by major labels, but ultimately IAYAALIS refused to compromise her artistry and independence. Finally IAYAALIS partnered with longtime friend and collaborator Nadir Omowale and his Detroit-based indie label, EAPro Inc., to release an album that displays the full range of her artistry.

I Am You Are And Love IS…! showcases the talents of several producers including Salle Vation, J Mink, Nadir Omowale, and Beat Kang Reavis Mitchell, III – co-creator of the Beat Thang music production system. The collection also contains posthumous releases of productions by late Afrikan Dreamland founder Aashid Himons and late Nashville hip-hop pioneer Bruce Dungee.

“For me, I Am You Are And Love IS…! is my expression of who I am and some of the things I’m about,” IAYAALIS says. “This album represents years of hard work, life experiences and hopefully an opportunity to inspire and cause people to think.”

I Am You Are And Love IS…! is available for purchase at IAYAALIS.com, EAPro.net, iTunes, Amazon.com, and other select retailers.

Please visit www.iayaalis.com for more information and updates.

M’s Gathering Place Offers a Fresh Take on Dining and Live Music in SE Michigan

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:27:43 +0000

Delicious, homemade food, and farm fresh ingredients share the spotlight with the best live musicians in Detroit at M’s Gathering Place.

Located at 32293 Ford Road (between Venoy and Merriman) in Garden City, Michigan, M’s Gathering Place delivers a unique menu highlighting tasty, family recipes, made with the freshest fixings at surprisingly affordable prices. “I felt the community needed a place where we could come and listen to great music, and enjoy a good meal in a nice, clean, family atmosphere,” says owner Mary Hauk, a lifelong Michigander.

The Hauk family has been farming in Southeastern Michigan for four generations starting back when Garden City was Nankin Township. M’s is located less than a half-mile from where the old family homestead once stood.

Mary has owned and operated Mary’s Farm Market and Farm in nearby Canton, Michigan since 1993. The selections at M’s Gathering Place feature fresh seasonal produce straight from Mary’s farm, or purchased from her network of local Michigan farmers whenever possible. “Whatever we don’t grow on our family farms, we’re able to bring in from other Michigan farms when it’s in season,” Hauk says. “That makes a world of difference when it comes to flavor.”

The “always fresh” aesthetic applies to the restaurant’s meats and seafood as well. The best cuts of beef and pork are prepared daily in house to ensure top quality. Whitefish, salmon and farm-raised catfish are flown in, and filleted right in the spacious kitchen. Homemade breads, sauces, salad dressings and pizza dough are also prepared at the restaurant. Many of the items on the menu like the mouth-watering beef stroganoff, and the juicy London Broil are adapted from family recipes.

On weekends, the main course at M’s is the stellar live music. Detroit is home to some of the most talented musicians in the world, and M’s Gathering Place features the best soul, R&B, jazz and blues players the Motor City has to offer. The entertainment lineup includes many recipients and nominees of the prestigious Detroit Music Awards. Local and international favorites like Detroit blues princess Thornetta Davis, Big Will (formerly of The Sun Messengers) and his hot new band 360 Degrees, soul legend Dave Hamilton, acoustic guitar virtuosos Wayne Gerard and Sean Blackman, world music phenoms Zap Toro, Detroit funkateer Nadir and soul songstress L’Renee are just a few of the amazing artists who grace the stage at M’s.

“I don’t think there is another place on Detroit’s Westside that offers the quality music that we feature here at M’s,” Hauk sings. Live music is featured on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Other amenities at M’s include online ordering, 14 large screen televisions for Detroit’s sports lovers, a fine variety of craft and commercial beers, wines and spirits, and free wi-fi. Dine-in and carry out are available.

M’s Gathering Place opened for business Thursday, July 22, 2010. A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1 with live music all day both days.

Nadir Earns 2010 DMA for Outstanding Urban Funk Vocals

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:07:23 +0000

A very special thanks to the members of Detroit’s music community for voting Nadir Outstanding Urban Funk Vocalist at the 2010 Detroit Music Awards on April 16. The singer songwriter has earned the Outstanding Funk Vocal prize four of the last five years, and the last three in a row. This is his tenth DMA award.

Nadir thanks the fantastic musicians who have made him sound so good over the past few years: Joe Abrams, James “Jamalot Indeed” Anderson, Yaminah Brock, Alesha Brown, Phred Brown, Derek Buford, Chef, LaMont Davis, Duane Dawkins, Dan Eichinger, Jason Gaddies, GT, The Reverend Dr. Brandon Holland, Kamau Inaede, Tammy Jones, Kris Kurzawa, Niko Marks, Topher Mohr, Earl Orr, Jr., Chris Sego, Freeman Spells, Jr., Ping Spells, Joey Spina, Chris Spooner, Mia Treadwell, and Rudy Washington.

Special thanks to publicist Nancy J. Phares and Spark Art Marketing, manager Cornelius Harris and Alter Ego Management, Michele Bateman of Decent Exposure, Hubert Moser of Miracle Dread Productions, Corbin Dooley of Bikiniwax Records, DJ Butterface, Reavis Mitchell, Neal Cappellino, Daniel Lee, Michael Bohannon, and all the other talented producers who have contributed to Nadir’s albums, Emily Rogers for being (as Yorg says) “the Tawny Kitaen” of Nadir videos, Ryan Myers, Jason Schultz, Landmine Design, Zeina by Design, Lisa Luevanos, Ron Harper, Bob Davis & Soul-Patrol.com, Chris Rizik & SoulTracks.com, Pierre Dumas, the 1440 Collective, Change::The Music, the EAPro Family, Mom, Kevin, all other family and friends, and most importantly, the Queen of Sheba, Akanke Rashad-Omowale. All praise be to the One Most High.

Video: Nadir – Workin’ For The Man (LIVE)

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:00:56 +0000

Check out this live performance video of “Workin’ For The Man” by Nadir from the 2010 St. Michael’s We Care Telethon in Monroe, Michigan. The video was produced by WUPW – Fox Toledo.

St. Michael’s We Care offers monetary and other assistance to individuals residing in Monroe County, Michigan with a life-threatening illness to be paid after the use of insurance (if any), other organizations, and/or money derived from other sources is exhausted.

This performance happened at the height of the US health care reform debate. We felt it was important to do this benefit in support of a great organization that offers aid to families and individuals in their time of greatest need.

The band is Alesha Brown (keyboards & vocals), Mia Treadwell (drums & vocals), Chris Spooner (bass & vocals), Nadir Omowale (vocals, guitar). “Workin’ For The Man” was written by Daniel Lee (aka The Invisible Kid) and Nadir Omowale. It’s the title track of the Workin’ For The Man album.

Covering the Sound of BLAC Detroit

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:08:45 +0000

EAPro’s Nadir Omowale is a featured music columnist for BLAC Detroit magazine (formerly African American Family). Since January 2009 he has written about some of the Motor City’s most notable veterans and its most promising up and comers. He’s also penned features about the unsung heroes of Motown and Grammy winner John Legend.

Click below for a sampling of Nadir’s writings (in PDF format).

FEBRUARY 2010 Cover Story:
John Legend – “Star Light”

JANUARY 2010 SOUND:
David Blair – “Blairing Urban Folk”

SEPTEMBER 2009 SOUND:
Lola Morales – “The Melange of Lola Morales”

OCTOBER 2009 SOUND:
Pathe Jassi – “Son of Senegal”

Nadir Made in Michigan

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:18:01 +0000

Nadir on CW50’s Made in Michigan

Nadir is an award winning Funk and Soul musician with one heck of a live show.

He’s a champion for the entertainment industry, and the best part is, he calls Detroit home. Learn more in CW50Detroit.com’s Q&A with Nadir.

Click HERE to Read the Interview

Evolution Is Revolution – Black Mastery Features Music by EAPro

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:47:56 +0000

“Evolution Is Revolution”, a dramatic track created by EAPro’s Nadir and Iayaalis, is featured in the new trailer for TheBlackPaper.com and The Black Mastery Success Program both by success coach Veronica Conway.

Veronica is a successful entrepreneur and founder of three coaching companies, including the Black Professional Coaches Alliance, the only coaching organization dedicated to the transformation of people of African descent. She is also the co-founder of Phenom Consulting International, a company that provides life and media strategy for the entertainment and athletic industries. She has coached everyone from truck drivers to CEO’s, athletes, artists and celebrities.

Black Mastery Is The Master Blend Of Success Strategies and It Is Your GIANT First Step Toward A Better Tomorrow.

Do you want to live in joy and abundance?
Do you want to face challenges with more confidence and poise?
How wonderful would it be for you to experience life – without limits?
Can you imagine beginning to heal, – and creating a new legacy?

The evolution will NOT be televised. The (r)evolution is internal.

Begin your (r)evolution at TheBlackPaper.com today.