An unprecedented collection of exquisite works by Pierre Auguste Renoir, his great-grandson Alexandre Renoir, French Impressionists Camille Pissaro, Edouard Manet and Paul Cezanne to be exhibited and offered for acquisition in Jacksonville, Florida
Louis Valtat, 1904
Boca Raton, Florida August 9, 2010: Jacksonville, Florida will be the graced city on October 2nd & 3rd, as the highly-regarded RRoberts Gallery hosts the exhibition and art acquisition “Renoir & The Impressionists”. The gallery’s presentation is a rare collection of paintings, drawings, etchings and lithographs by the world’s finest masters of Impressionism.
For the past 18 months, RRoberts has been working to create this rare collecting opportunity in Jacksonville through an expert team who has been intimately working through Christies and Sotheby’s, among other important sources, to cultivate these authentic drawings, etchings and paintings by the true Impressionist school just for our Florida and Georgia art collectors.
Important works by Camille Pissarro, Edouard Manet and Paul Cezanne round out this dream curatorial presentation in Jacksonville.
Manet, Cezanne, Pissarro…as well as the featured extraordinary works of Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), and his great-grandson Alexandre Renoir. All are available for acquisition.
Alexandre Renoir, great-grandson of French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), grandson of Claude Renoir (1901-1969), and son of Paul Renoir (1925-2005) will make a special appearance at the well-known gallery on Saturday, October 2nd and Sunday, October 3rd. This is a rare opportunity to meet this extraordinary artist and to view his magnificent artwork. His works currently reside in quite important private collections throughout North America, Asia, Europe and the United Arab Emirates.
Meet The Artist Receptions: Saturday, October 2nd – 6pm – 9 pm
Sunday, October 3rd 1pm – 3pm
RSVP: 904.388.1188 Admission is Complimentary
Renoir and the Impressionists is an exhibition not to be missed. It is, simply, THE art event of the year in Jacksonville, and hosted by one of Florida’s most prominent purveyors of fine art. For over twenty years, the R. Roberts Gallery in Historic Avondale has been known as the most highly-regarded and superior art dealers not only in Florida, but in the country. Owner Jennifer Jones, Fine Art Consultant “Bracken” Johnson, and Donald Dusinberre bring an unparalled level of cultural, art history, and art handling experience to the table. It is an experience that delights all who they have the privilege of guiding and working with. “Our goal is to create relationships with people from all walks of life who appreciate fine art”, says Jennifer Jones.
The Legacy lives On. Alexandre Renoir and The Impressionists. Previews begin September 24th, 2010 with an uncrating event from 6pm – 8pm, and will give patrons an opportunity to view the collection and mix and mingle with celebrities and gallery experts.
For more information, call the gallery directly at 904.388.1188. RSVP’s for all events are also taken @ 904.388.1188. The gallery is located in the Shoppes of Historic Avondale, 3606 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida. http://www.rrobertsgallery.com
“We struggle for the dollar just to gain a sense of power, but the power’s in the knowledge so you gots to be a scholar.” –“Off Top” from Revolution Revalationz, The Prolegend Movement
The success of artists like T.I., Outkast, and Goodie Mob has proven that the Dirty South can hold its own in the hip-hop nation. Rap is no longer strictly in the domain of the East or West Coast, but has had to open its arms and embrace the South and its gritty, crunk sound. The Prolegend Movement, a foursome straight from the streets of Jacksonville, FL, is looking to be the next big break-out group from the region and to put our city-not necessarily known for its music, on the map. Lankdizzim, J.Co, Laf Legend, and Mass Pro have joined forces to create a unique blend of hip-hop, funk, and soul that has set the underground scene on fire. Founding members Mass Pro and Laf Legend started out producing beats and music together. After seeing Outkast perform at a concert, they were inspired to begin rapping also. When I asked how they came up with their names, Mass Pro replied that his name stands for “Weapons of Mass Production…musically, I was like a Sadaam Hussein. I got all the weapons.” Laf Legend’s goal was to pay homage to past artists. “I wanted to put a legend in every rhyme,” he explained. Mass Pro’s brother suggested combining their names to form The Prolegend Movement. The duo soon became a trio when Laf Legend’s younger brother, Langston joined them. He became Lankdizzim during an impromptu moment in a studio session. He brought along his childhood friend Jacorie-who would become J.Co, to round out the group. 2003 saw the release of their first studio effort, Revolution Revalationz. The mixtape was inspired by the music of Bob Marley, who spoke of revolutions and revelations. Revolution Revalationz is a hard-hitting, no holds barred commentary on the world as seen by Prolegend. They took inspiration from issues as varied as 9/11, the Enron scandal, and the upcoming Superbowl in Jacksonville, which led to what some viewed as police harassment in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium in an effort to clean up the streets. The raw lyrics also took shots at then President Bush and the Iraq invasion.
According to Laf Legend, the group “felt like struggles in the street, being a black man, it’s like you in a battle. We felt like we were soldiers reporting on the front line.” Revolution Revalationz wasn’t all grim, however. “Revelationz was like we saw the hope for the future,” said Mass Pro. “The struggle to make your dreams come true is like being in a battle, like being a revolution,” Laf Legend added. The group plans to re-release the album with updated material reflecting current events, a move that I think would be widely welcomed by old and new fans alike. Revolution Revalationz is an underground sleeper hit with conscious lyrics that are a breath of refreshing air after inhaling the stale bars of some artists today. The Prolegend Movement’s most recent release was their mixtape Black Diamonds, which dropped online on Christmas Day 2009. With Black Diamonds, the group had come into their own, finding a comfortable groove that all of the members could work with. Landizzim noted that “we’re a lot more polished now. (On Revolution) we were more concerned about getting our point across.” “Black diamonds are rare…they’re stronger than regular diamonds,” added Mass Pro. With Black Diamonds, the group continued with their gritty lyrics, but ventured out into new territory as well, bringing in a reggae artist, Mosiah, on one track, “Oh Yes” and including something for the ladies with songs such as “One Too Many (Take Me Home)”, and “Ladies’ Choice”. Black Diamonds has become a hit online and in the club scene and the group was named as a Black Planet Featured Artist for 2009. Prolegend has remained a united team throughout their successes as well as their struggles. J.Co explained that when he first joined up with them, he was headstrong and “I didn’t understand what they were trying to build.” He went on to add that he has found his niche in the group and is determined for them to stick together. “I know it’s a lot of dedication, blood, sweat, and tears that went into this project. I don’t want to see this fail, I want to see all of us succeed.” “I want us to be a unit, a team, not a bunch of individuals,” he stated. The group has dealt with their share of obstacles in their journey towards success. The hip-hop genre is a challenging one to break into, especially in Jacksonville, which has not really seen a major artist emerge since 69 Boys in the early 90’s. They are well aware of this fact, according to Lankdizzim, who noted that they must overcome “people’s preconceived notions about what they expect to be coming out of the region we’re in….we pretty much know what we’re up against, and we’re optimistic about getting into the game.” For him, and also for the other members, it’s about “unity, us staying together, keeping ourselves together, running ourselves like a business…it’s almost more about being a business man than being an artist sometimes. Thus far, we’re doing very good for where we’re at.”
The Lyricist Hour’s Season 2 is set to premiere, May 3rd, 2010 at 7 pm EST on www.thenerdysouth.com
Jacksonville, FL – April 12, 2010 – The creators of The Lyricist Hour have once again teamed up with The Nerdy South.com to broadcast the Southeast’s groundbreaking Hip-Hop webcast, whose mission is to bring independent and underground Hip-Hop culture back to the forefront and to also provide a bridge that connects the Hip Hop communities in the Southeast and beyond.
As founder and host of the weekly webcast, veteran Duval emcee, Mas Appealcreated The Lyricist Hour as an avenue to showcase Hip-Hop artists, regardless of whether they’re independent, underground or mainstream, the only prerequisite being that they had to make dope music. And Mas Appeal knows quite a bit about making dope music. As a solo artist and one half of Hip-Hop supergroup, Simple Complexity, the Miami native has been a fixture on the Duval County Hip-Hop scene since 2002 and is respected and revered for his talent and showmanship. He began The Lyricist Hour in 2006 with original co-host, Triclops I by distributing CD’s with a recorded show that highlighted local and national artists. As the show grew in popularity, it was moved to podcast format, becoming the first Hip-Hop podcast in Jacksonville. At its peak, The Lyricist Hour was receiving more than 1000 downloads per week with listeners throughout the Southeast, the US and Europe and featured interviews with Evidence of Dilated Peoples fame, DJ Spinna, Kev Brown and Salt-n-Pepa’s DJ, Spindarella.
After a brief hiatus, The Lyricist Hour returned in February of 2010 as a weekly webcast on www.thenerdysouth.com . Always on the cutting edge of technology and trends, Mas understood the need to adjust the medium in which The Lyricist Hour was broadcasted, so he teamed up with Rawkus recording artist, Willie Evans Jr. and his website, The Nerdy South.com, to make the show more widely available to fans of the show, old and new. A legendary emcee and member of The Alias Brothers (formerly known as Asamov), Willie Evans Jr, created The Nerdy South.com as a vehicle to not only showcase his own creative endeavors, but to also connect the various Hip-Hop communities in the Southeast to demonstrate a unified front in which everyone could reap the benefits of exposure and success. Willie Evans Jr serves as technician/co-host to The Lyricist Hour and is a welcome and entertaining addition. Also new to The Lyricist Hour is Mal aka Malecule, a native New Yorker who was raised in New Jersey, Jacksonville and is deeply rooted in the East coast and Southeast Hip Hop community. Mas’s onscreen co-host is a former member of the East Unit and is a Hip-Hop powerhouse, having been active on the Duval scene since 1992. Mal has collaborated and worked with some of the Southeast most talented individuals like Tough Junkie, Dialectable Beats and DJ Therapy aka Paten Locke, and is currently working on his solo project. As a member of The Lyricist Hour cast, Mal has an all-inclusive attitude and aims to provide promotion for independent and underground artists, with the hopes that everyone can enjoy prosperity and affluence.
The first season on the new The Lyricist Hour was a success as Mas, Mal and Willie played videos, discussed Hip-Hop and communicated with the growing audience via the sites chat bar function, phone and email, while holding contests for prizes and giveaways. In addition to playing videos by independent and national artists, they showed footage of Duval Hip-Hop shows and acts, conducted interviews and did dedication shows to DJ Premier and the late J. Dilla.Season Two will see The Lyricist Hour expanded with shows that focus on everything from independent clothing designers and entrepreneurs, the four elements of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop technology and more. The Lyricist Hour cast will still provide interviews, videos and commentary on underground, independent and mainstream artists, but aims to provide the viewer with a broader scope of the Hip-Hop community in hopes of educating and entertaining the audience with dope beats, dope lyrics and dope content. Tune into the all new The Lyricist Hour every Monday, starting May 3rd, 2010 at 7 pm EST at www.thenerdysouth.com.
For more information on The Lyricist Hour, or to schedule an interview with the cast, please contact Mas Appeal at 904/923-8230 or e-mail Mas at lyricisthour@gmail.com.
Be sure to check out The Lyricist Hour at these other websites to:
THE ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS “#1 MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – GREASE is getting a new generation excited about the theatre again. But, you don’t have to be an impressionable 13-year-old to get a kick out of Kathleen Marshall’s exuberant and winning new revival – IT’S THE ONE THAT I WANT.” – Richard Zoglin, TIME Magazine
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The new Broadway production of the Tony Award nominated musical GREASE™, opens in Jacksonville at Times Union Center’s Moran Theater on April 27 – May 2, 2010 for eight performances only.
Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel
After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko’s world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n’ roll celebration of growin’ up, cruisin’ with friends and goin’ steady.
The new production of GREASE™ features songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture for the first time ever in a Broadway production including “Sandy,” the Academy Award nominated song “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease” and “You’re the One That I Want” – both of which were #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list. These songs will be heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production including “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”
Platinum-selling recording artist and “American Idol” winner, Taylor Hicks, stars in the production as “Teen Angel.” Hicks made his Broadway debut in the role of “Teen Angel” and has been on the road with GREASE™ since the tour began on December 2, 2008.
“I had such a great experience performing on Broadway,” says Hicks. “This is a great opportunity to visit old fans and new fans across the country while bringing them a great Broadway show!”
Taylor Hicks achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition “American Idol.” On May 24, 2006, Hicks was named the winner of the fifth season of “Idol” with over 63.4 million votes in total, during the live finale which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers. On March 10, 2009, Taylor Hicks released his much anticipated new studio album The Distance, featuring the single “What’s Right is Right.”
GREASE™ originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. GREASE™ was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances. In 1978, GREASE™ became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles.
GREASE™, which opened on Broadway on Sunday, August 19, 2007, was born out of NBC’s landmark talent competition TV series, “Grease: You’re The One That I Want.” The weekly talent competition drew 90 million viewers, and allowed America to vote for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of “Sandy” and “Danny” on Broadway. Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), GREASE™ features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.
GREASE™ features scenic design by Tony Award nominee Derek McLane (The Pajama Game), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me Kate), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Wicked) and sound design by Brian Ronan (Spring Awakening, Curtains).
GREASE™ is produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.
GREASE! STARRING TAYLOR HICKS AS TEEN ANGEL will be performed at the TIMES UNION CENTER’S MORAN THEATER April 27 – May 2, 2010 for eight performances only. Tickets range in price from $26.50 – $69.50. Discounts are available for groups of 10+ or 40+ by calling (904) 632-3228.
To order by phone with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover call The Artist Series Box Office at (904) 632-3373 (toll-free outside of Jacksonville 1-888-860-BWAY.)
Tickets are also available online with Instant Seat Selection by visiting the The Artist Series’ website, www.artistseriesjax.org.
The Artist Series is recognized by the State of Florida as a Major Sponsor/Presenter Cultural Institution and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey rocks legendary hits from iconic 80’s band while pioneering a new decade of musical homage to perform at the Freebird LIVE in Jacksonville, FL on January 15th, 2010.
Frontiers–A Tribute to Journey, the world’s premiere tribute to the 80’s rock legends that has been selling out clubs and theatres across the country, will be performing at the Freebird LIVE in Jacksonville, FL on Friday, January 15th, 2010. Journey has sold over 75 million records including some of rock’s most venerable anthems such as “Faithfully,” “Any Way You Want It,” and “Open Arms.” Journey’s biggest hit, “Don’t Stop Believing’” continues to be an integral force in rock n’ roll and currently stands as one of the top selling catalog tracks in iTunes history with more than two million downloads.
Hailing from Roanoke, VA, Frontiers—A Tribute to Journey consistently exceeds crowd expectations with a shockingly precise emulation of a live Journey show. Lead singer Jeremey Hunsicker is noted by audiences to present an uncanny sound parallel to Journey vocalist, Steve Perry. So much in fact, Journey founding guitarist, Neal Schon was quoted in a June 2008 interview saying, “Jeremey Hunsicker…He was very good… but he was a bit scary because he was almost too much like Perry. He was almost like a duplicate, probably the closest of anyone out there.”
In the summer of 2007, Journey co-founder, Neal Schon and keyboardist, Jonathan Cain scouted Frontiers’ Jeremey Hunsicker for Journey’s lead vocal position. After attending a Frontiers performance in Charlotte, NC, Schon and Cain invited Hunsicker to a Northern California compound to rehearse and write tracks for their upcoming Journey release.
With the birth of his first child only months away, Hunsicker reluctantly withdrew his name from consideration to focus on spending time with his new family. However, his time spent with the band had not been in vain as Journey’s lead single, “Never Walk Away” co-written by Hunsicker, was featured in their platinum selling CD/DVD set entitled “Revelation”.
Due to Hunsicker’s sudden fame within the Journey community, Frontiers now routinely plays to sold-out crowds. The band is quickly building a reputation and substantial following in some of the nation’s largest markets and remains one of the top touring tribute bands in the world.
For more information on Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey show times & locations, please check out the band’s website at http://www.journeytributeband.com. To schedule a booking with On That Note Entertainment, contact Dan Balassone at 973-486-0867 or dan@onthatnote.net.
Frederick, MD December 18, 2009 — PublishAmerica is proud to announce that KnightKrawler’s book The Rules of Poetry is being submitted to the Oprah Winfrey Show for consideration for her famous book club.
“We are very excited to announce that this exceptional book is being considered for Oprah Winfrey’s book club,” said PublishAmerica’s Public Relations Director Shawn Street. “We look forward to the day when the queen of daytime television will introduce this talented author’s work to her millions of fans.”
KnightKrawler has accumulated an extensive performance background and his second book, The Rules of Poetry, is designed to inspire, teach, and educate emerging artists about the benefits and vices of speaking in front of a live audience. He says, “Performing live is a different atmosphere and encompasses more than just stepping on stage. There are many benefits as well as pitfalls.” His second book is designed to serve as a guide on how to deliver your message without sacrificing your integrity. “Hopefully these rules will be as much of an inspiration to you as they have been to me.”
PublishAmerica is the home of 40,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties, makes its books available in both the United States and Europe through all bookstores. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.
NOVA will be playing in JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA at JACK RABBITS on NOVEMBER 4 at 8:00 PM… don’t miss the show !!!
added Bonus …
Interview with Gabriel McGahee, lead singer of NOVA
How did you come up with the name NOVA?
-When we first starting playing together, all of us had come from different local bands in the bay area. We really felt like we were on the brink of something new, and the sounds we were coming up with were very expansive, NOVA just seemed fitting for the birth of a new band.
Who are your major influences?
-Collectively we all have pretty diverse influences, but I really think it’s the eclectic tastes within the band that allow us to come together and create something different and new
When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
-That band as a concept has been around since 2005, it’s just taken us a little while to get the lineup right. We’ve all been friends and have played together in different bands for a while. Making NOVA the priority just fell together naturally about a year and a half ago.
What is your favorite song to perform?
-Personally I really enjoy playing some of the newer songs we’ve been writing, the songs off our first record “Nepenthe” are still really fun to sing, but there is just something exciting about performing a song you just wrote and seeing how people react who have never heard it.
Who writes your songs? What are the main topics of your songs?
-Aaron and I are the main songwriters in the band. We start with an acoustic guitar and a vocal, kind of seeing what sticks and sounds good stripped down. It will usually translate well once we orchestrate it a little more with the rest of the band. We write about stuff we know and have experienced, mostly about the human condition, things everyone has felt and can relate to.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band?
-Finding ways to eat healthy on tour!
What’s your ultimate direction for your band?
-If I could write one song that people listen to 20 years from now and remember that first moment in their lives when I heard it, I would consider that a success.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
-Don’t do it unless you really believe that you have something to say. Being in a band isn’t about your hair or having a super trendy MySpace. If it is, do us all a favor and stick to topping your high score at guitar hero.
Frederick, MD October 6, 2009 — PublishAmerica is proud to present The Rules of Poetry by Jacksonville, Florida’s KnightKrawler.
KnightKrawler has accumulated an extensive performance background and his second book, The Rules of Poetry, is designed to inspire, teach, and educate emerging artists about the benefits and vices of speaking in front of a live audience. He says, “Performing live is a different atmosphere and encompasses more than just ‘stepping on stage.’ There are many benefits as well as pitfalls.” His second book is designed to serve as a guide on how to deliver your message without sacrificing your integrity. “Hopefully these rules will be as much of an inspiration to you as they have been to me.” KnightKrawler, a native Floridian and graduate of Jacksonville University, has an extensive live performance background in the spoken word arena.
PublishAmerica is the home of 35,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties, makes its books available in both the United States and Europe through all bookstores, and never charges any fees for its services. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.
After spending more than a decade creating and spinning tunes for Jacksonville’s modest hip-hop scene, the emergence of Mr. Al Pete [the Hip-Hip Artist], has definitely managed to give his fan base something to talk about.The much anticipated Talk About It is Mr. Al Pete’s very first release to-date. The CD is a diverse collection cleverly delivered lyrics backed by classic hip-hop baselines, samples & skits.
I caught up with Mr. Al Pete and spoke with him briefly about his latest accomplishment, the current state of hip-hop and the new CD.
Ambitionn: Let’s talk about it! *laughs* Tell me a little about yourself. I mean, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a DJ Al Pete Party/Event, but who is Mr. AL Pete the hip-hop artist?
Mr. Al Pete: Mr. Al Pete is the emperor of Fresh! *laughs*!! Naw seriously…just a regular mellow dude from the Northside of thangs (Jacksonville)…tryin’ to get my music out there so it can liberate the masses…on the flip side…make sure folks have a good time by entertainin’ them with various tunes. I’m an independent hip hop artist and a DJ to be clear. I have a company called GrownFolk Entertainment that I run with Shirl Dee Capital…that provides DJin’ services and promotional services as well.
Ambitionn: How did you get into music? And describe your style as an artist.
Mr. Al Pete: I saw my uncle Tre (aka Tru.ski) rhymin’ with his friend and as a solo artist…and he’s the real emperor of Fresh *laughs* He made it seem cool to do…so…I tried it when I was ’bout 8 or 9. My parents use to play music ’round me and my brother all the time so that’s an addition. The more I studied Tru.ski and hip hop as a whole, the more I got into it.
Ambitionn: [You’ve] finally dropped the much anticipated CD! How long have you been working on it, and what let you know that it was finally “complete”?
Mr. Al Pete: The recordin’ process took a little over a year. I’ve been tryin’ to “complete” the CD my whole life. The last song I recorded was “Summertime”…after that came out good, that sealed it.
Ambitionn: So how does it actually feel to have finally completed a project that has taken so long to create?
Mr. Al Pete: It feels GREAT!! This was a long-term goal I had…and it feels really good to have accomplished it. The road don’t stop here though…
Ambitionn: I’d hope not. The hip-hop culture needs artists like you who align themselves with longevity in the game. How do you feel about the current state or progression of Hip-Hop?
Mr. Al Pete: Of course it isn’t the same as when I was growin’ up…but…change is good (for the most part). There’s plenty of pros and cons we could discuss but to sum it up, it’s okay…not the best…but okay. I say okay ’cause from a DJ’s perspective, I can respect some of the tunes played. I say not the best…’cause some of tunes sound the same. Everyone is doin’ the same thing…sayin’ the same thing…bein’ the same thing…where’s the fun at?? That’s what makes it borin’, folks lose interest, and so on and so on. Me bein’ in that culture for years, my loyalty with Hip Hop remains…and I see hope…’cause I know plenty of folks that are on the frontline to save it. So that’s why it’s okay…not the best…but okay.
Ambitionn: Let’s say that those on the frontline break through this current state of hip-hop and begin to infiltrate our media, our homes, the minds of the youth, and are actually successful at putting a massive positive spin on the hip-hop movement, what path would you see yourself on as an artist as well as an entrepreneur?
Mr. Al Pete: I’ll play both roles…bein’ a follower and a leader. If…and when the frontline breaks through, it’ll be unity and understandin’ and trust…and with that, we’ll all be our respected bosses, at the same time, we can drop rank to encourage the weak (within’ the movement). Now which aspect I would be effective in? All of ’em basically. Mostly with the verbal and writin’ aspect. I feel that’s my strong point…my diction and my delivery. I can speak for the unspoken.
Ambitionn: What do you think your listeners are going to “talk about” once they’ve listened to your CD?
Mr. Al Pete: I would like for them to see the Hip Hop artist side of me. Most folks only know me for bein’ a DJ and that cool dude…but I’m heavily into music. I also want them to enjoy the tunes and continue the journey with me.
Ambitionn: If you could be anything else other than an artist, but you still possessed the talent for diction and delivery… what/who would you be?
Mr. Al Pete: Ah man I’ll play both sides…the follower and the leader. We all have to foe both sides to be effective in the movement…I can lead by example and help the weak, on the flip, drop down some notches and support others who are ahead of me…if it’s all for a good cause. Now what aspect would I fall in…I’ll be on the verbal and writin’ side more so. I feel like that’s a positive attribute with me…the diction and the delivery. Folks don’t realize that speakin’ for yourself and others is powerful and influential.
Ambitionn: Hypothetically then, as a motivational speaker, what would be the most pressing issues you would focus on and to what demographic would you cater to most?
Mr. Al Pete: I would stress unity more than anythin’…especially if I’m speakin’ in regards to the entertainment scene. I see little to none of that in the entertainment side and outside of that. I see little to no unity in families, schools, communities…nothin’…and it’s like folks don’t even see how much effect that has on each other…so yeah…I’ll stress the fact that we need more unions…whether it’s in the music scene or daily livin’. Cross the board. I could go on all day ’bout this *laughs*.
Ambitionn: Why do you think that is?? I mean.. as far as no unity.. what do you feel is the main contributor to that problem?
Mr. Al Pete: Folks not realizin’ it…folks so stuck on themselves and don’t want to lend that extra hand to the unfortunate and/or to people with no knowledge. Instead of enhancin’ one’s knowledge and supportin’ and encouragin’ and upliftin’…all that…they rather do it alone and watch innocent people fall victim when they are the asset that would make an unfortunate person’s situation better. Like I stated…I’m not a saint by far but if you know better, do better. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you…as I progress, these cliches become more clear…and is relative to me speakin’ or promotin’ unity.
Ambitionn: While putting together this CD, were there any topics that you deliberately tried to stay away from? Why?
Mr. Al Pete: Yeah it was. I didn’t want to speak much on the state of the economy…it’s already bein’ spoken on by other artists and it’s all over the media. It’s bad enough we wake up and see it on the news, hear it on the radio, read it on the internet and in the newspapers/magazine. I just wanted to make some good tunes so folks can take their mind off that. When doin’ this album, Obama was runnin’ for presidency, gas was extremely high (which paused the recordin’ process a couple of times), foreclosures, etc. That’s enough to deal with…then have to pop in Talk About It and hear it all over…?
Ambitionn: What is your most meaningful track on Talk About It and why?
Mr. Al Pete: Definitely “Summertime”. I stated in the song that this was my intervention…I felt the need to state what I felt at the time. It’s some things I stated whatt occurred in the past what haunted and effected my present so…I released it and felt better about it. Honorable mention: “Rockin’ Me”. That’s my dedication to all local/independent artists in Jacksonville and ’round the globe.
Ambitionn: How did you come up with the title Talk About It?
Mr. Al Pete: I wanted to keep it simple. Plus…that’s what most artists do…speak on themselves and various situations/events/people/etc. No philosophy behind it…just “Talk About It”. It’s just a collection of good tunes where in certain songs, I speak on the subject at hand…but overall, it’s a CD full of Hip Hop.
Ambitionn: I see you grabbed a few samples from other artists. Tell me about some of your influences and inspirations.
Mr. Al Pete: The more I started recordin’ this CD, the more I got in tuned w/ myself…life in general inspires and influences me. Artist wise…Outkast, Common, Nas, Ice Cube…just to name a few.
Ambitionn: Describe your listener/ fan.
Mr. Al Pete: The fans/listeners are typical working’ folks, mothers, teenagers, lovers, street folks…I’m gettin’ an all around crowd…which is great.
The new CD, Talk About It, is available at The Royal Treatment Record Store, DJ’s Record Store, and soon to be Two and Fro Boutique Store. You also can purchase it online at www.cdbaby.com, iTunes, and www.amazon.com.
It’s raining outside for Madoria Strange.
She wants to pick flowers
but the weather won’t change.
Instead, she paints by numbers.
The sun turns into moonlight when the
flowers begin to die.
She just can’t see the stars
and so she’s painted out the sky.
Her mother said she “is a little confused.”
She ran to the garden when she was abused.
Lies from her father began to sink in.
Destroying her virtue and tainting her skin.
Running through flowers when she was a child.
Her beautiful soul would soon be defiled.
A stranger to love in the strangest of ways.
Madoria weeping alone in the rain.
Her saddening grows with her mother away.
Too far to fall, but the razor is sharp.
Her movements were staggered.
Too close to the heart.
They found her remains in the garden in may.
Her shadow still remains…
Editorial Reviews- Cocaine Cactus Dollars Hidden in the Morphine Script is a collection of poems from 1992- 2003 by Collin C. McSheehy. Inspired and fueled by chaos and turmoil, this omnibus of American literature is a reflection of the author’s subconscious and echos his experiences through prodigious metaphor.
Two years now.
Well,
Almost.
Homeless?
Not really.
A tent in the woods.
Just residentially challenged.
The apartment
Gone.
Clothes,
Books,
Shoes,
China,
Crystal,
All gone.
All the objects
I perceived
That made me
‘ME’
Gone.
A house
Stripped bare
Not desolate
Not in ruins
Reconstructing the self
The window trappings gone
Peer into my mind
I’ve seen houses
Expensive
Inexpensive
Under construction
The building techniques identical
Why is the one
Worth more than the other?
A label?
A connotation?
Isn’t the structure more important?
What do the furnishings
Exterior
Really matter?
Mere trappings
When the mind is as clear
As still
As a mountain lake
As clear
As brilliant
As a diamond
When the body is a sacred temple
What window dressings are necessary?
you can find more of Vajrasattva Saraswatiputra on Facebook
Section 8 Jax is an ever-growing media dynasty bringing area, national, and global art and information to the masses. Section 8 Jaxprovides the vehicle, in the form of underground independent media, for the voiceless and unheard to speak out,in essence helping individuals and communities become active and involved.Section 8 Jax will inform, entertain, and educate. Section 8 Jax will not fall off! Section 8 Jax will not sell out! Section 8 Jax will continue to provide area, national, and global arts and information for active and involved communities. Section 8 Jax is and will continue to be the voice of the people.
Section 8 Jax is published every eight weeks. A DIY (Do It Yourself) style, 44+ page, digest-sized print “zine” produced primarily for artists, intellectuals, students, and the general population of the Jacksonville Duval County area, including Northeast Florida. All art forms, including poetry, music, fiction, non-fiction, performance art, theater, and visual art is covered, as well as news/public opinion on domestic and global issues.
Section 8 Jaxis an open forum, community responsive zine publishing submitted works from persons of all walks of life, education, and persuasion. Everything within the pages of a Section 8 Jax issue is sent in by the community for the community.
After a brief hiatus, The Lyricist Hour returned in February of 2010 as a weekly webcast on 
Frontiers – A Tribute to Journey rocks legendary hits from iconic 80’s band while pioneering a new decade of musical homage to perform at the Freebird LIVE in Jacksonville, FL on January 15th, 2010.
After spending more than a decade creating and spinning tunes for Jacksonville’s modest hip-hop scene, the emergence of Mr. Al Pete [the Hip-Hip Artist], has definitely managed to give his fan base something to talk about.The much anticipated Talk About It is Mr. Al Pete’s very first release to-date. The CD is a diverse collection cleverly delivered lyrics backed by classic hip-hop baselines, samples & skits.
