Innovations in Transformative Music & Media
April 25 – Khary WAE Frazier was one of 18 individuals and groups honored at the Silent Heroes Night Awards for community service and activism.
“Giving a different meaning to hip-hop, Frazier is using the musical genre to bring attention to issues affecting young people.”
Congratulations, WAE!
Click HERE for more info about the Silent Heroes Night Awards
Outstanding Urban/Funk Artist or Group (Nadir’s Distorted Soul) ~ Outstanding Urban/Funk/Hip Hop Recording (Workin’ For The Man) ~ Outstanding Live Performance (Nadir’s Distorted Soul) ~ Outstanding Urban/Funk Songwriter (Nadir) ~ Outstanding Urban/Funk Musician (Kris Kurzawa) ~ Outstanding Urban/Funk Vocalist (Nadir) ~ Outstanding Record Producer (Nadir)
Outstanding Hip Hop Artist/Group ~ Outstanding Hip Hop MC
Music industry professionals can register and vote at the DMA website: www.detroitmusicawards.com
The Detroit Music Awards Show is Friday, April 17 at The Fillmore. Congratulations to all the nominees!!
Originally published in the Detroit Free Press
One by one, people spoke about the special meaning of Kwanzaa in their lives — how unity is needed to strengthen the African-American community and why faith, purpose and support for one another are valuable.
After they spoke, Khary Frazier of Detroit lit candles representing each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
“We do this so people of all ages can have a better understanding of the universal beliefs,” Frazier says later.
While celebrating Kwanzaa isn’t unique, the ceremony Frazier organized Sunday was.
It was held at a trendy downtown Detroit restaurant — the Woodward — and organized by Frazier, 26, a hip-hop artist and educator, and William Cartwright II, 39, co-owner of the restaurant.
Some observers say Sunday’s program shows how a new generation is taking Kwanzaa — a 42-year-old tradition — and making it their own. [Read more...]
Originally Published in Metro Times
EAPro artist emcee Khary WAE Frazier brings activism to his music, but don’t say he’s just ‘pro-black’
“Working at Excellence” once defined the initials in Khary “WAE” Frazier’s name. He used to tell folks this meaning more often back when he simply called himself “WAE.” And even though this worldview could be called “inspirational,” he admits that, in the world of hip-hop, it can get corny.
Nowadays, he just lives the philosophy. It describes the way Frazier approaches his song lyrics and music. And the acronym, he now says, connotes his tendency to approach his music “eight ways.” Get it? WAE? “Way”?
All puns aside, Frazier — Detroit’s answer to a ’90s-era Ice Cube — is raw enough for the streets but thoughtful enough for fans of substantive hip-hop music. His is a forward-thinking steeze but with a very contemporary feel. It’s not as much pulpit-preachy as it is corner-store concentric. And he does it all by design. [Read more...]