JaggLife looking the life on the both sides of the streets

From Detroit, MI comes a hip hop group that does not build cars, but rocks the stages. Members Dyna'mic, H3, Joey Styles, Vnmz Atu and, The One and Owney have made their name in Motown, and they are looking to expand their success further. Grown in a tight community, these men have taken the family business to the whole new level and built up something to talk about. The boys would like to collaborate with Rick Rubin and Timberlan one day, which would be the natural extension of the list they have performed with.  

Me: Tell me about JaggLife. How did you guys get together and what motivated you into the music? What does Jagg Life stand for?

JaggLife: JaggLife - Jagg - Jamming Automatic Grove.  We added the extra G to keep it G.  Years later we decided that the group had evolved and deserved a new name. Life was added to represent a unique way of life that we would embody in our music. We all consist of family! There are 2 brothers, Joey Styles and H3, then a cousin, Dyna'mic and, a neighbor from from the down street, The One and Owney and, Vnmz Atu.

Me: Tell me about your past history in music. What have you done so far and who have you been performing with? 

JaggLife: Most of the members Jagglife started rapping in high school.  Battle rapping, going to studios, performing at talent shows, etc. Jagglife has released countless underground singles leading up to an official first LP release titled "Balancing Act".  We have performed with Eminem before he blew-up, D12, King Gordy, Slum Village, and other artists.  

Me: Who is your inspiration in music? And why?

JaggLife: Eminem, because he is one of the best lyricist ever, 50 cent, because of his whole art form which stood above most during his prime, Biggie Small - because of the image barriers he broke down by being so successful and arguably one of the best MC's to rock the mic, Run DMC - because of the doors that they opened in the industry for hip hop. 

Me: How do you see the music now a days? What has hip hop culture to offer for people and to you as a group? 

JaggLife: Hip Hop is widely accepted and infused into pop, rock, jazz, and other genres.  Hip Hop embodies real life; whether the most darkest places of the world, or the most lavish places of the world, and everything in between.  For Jagglife, this means we has a "pass" to talk about urban "feel good" topics, and "street" influences. 

Me: What is your message as a performing group? How would you like your work to touch people? 

JaggLife: Keep a balance in life. The journey we call life is a rocky path littered with jewels and bear traps.

Me: What are your goals/ambititions in music?

JaggLife: Continue to grow lyrically, and find ways to increase our entertainment value by producing better live show, music, and albums.

Me: What would you say to the young starting artists about the music industry? If you could give one advise, what would that be?

JaggLife: Find your own sound....never try to immolate.

Me: Would you tell me a little bit about your release history and do you have any new material coming out 

JaggLife:Balancing Act is our proud first and only release.  We are currently considering releasing a compilation of our underground singles on a album.

Me: where can people reach you? Any performances coming up? 

JaggLife: www.facebook.com/jagglife, Sound Cloud, www.twitter.com/jagglife

Underground with the old school vibe

Illy Illz is taking over the stages in Hollywood

Everybody loves hip hop now, it has grown from the minor subculture to the massive movement taking over every corner in the world. Some rappers make it all the way to the big stage, and I believe I have met one of those rappers. Young man with dedication and serious message is rapping about good and bad, new mixtape released 'Hell until heaven arrives' is available to download. Hollywood Florida is showing to the world again why are they one of the music meccas of the world.

Me: Who are you and where do you come from?

Illy: I go by the name Illy-Illz, but I was born as Serge Pierre Dumas JR. I am from Hollywood Florida, spent some time in New York City, which has had also a big influence on my music along with the south. 

Me: What gives you the inspiration to your music?

Illy: My kids inspire me the most. I am doing music, so my children can be proud of me and they have a young dad. I also try to show to youth that there is another way, you don't always have to be in the streets and there are other options in your life. You can become something as long as you work hard and stay focused because the game is just so lacking right now! 

Me: How long have you been in music scene and how did you start? 

Illy: Officially ive been in the music scene for 2 years with videos and music out, but i started rapping at 17 just never took it seriously because I was hustling and more focused on money and material things. I thought being on is impossible and a dream, until i started doing it myself and found out differently and started moving with it more. It all started wit my homeboy Metafore; he had just got a deal and a video on Comcast on demand. i was about 18 and his manager at the time linked me with Lorren Reynolds, the first dude to ever really believe in me and tell me its possible. He even invested in me. We linked up he hit the streets with me and my producer and close friend Chad Bazel. We worked, he had me battle anyone who was so called good locally to keep building my skills. 


Me:  What are your thoughts of the music industry today?

Illy:  My thoughts on the game today is that it became more about money than the music these days. Everybody sounds the same or sounds horrible and if you're good, you go unnoticed or people in the game just bite your shit and claims it as their own. I feel we need to get back to the music cause if you notice, music sales were high when niggas actually had good music. We need to fix that because what these kids bout to grow up on is not fair to them and there bullshit!

Me: Your project Hell until heaven arrives talks about good and bad, what made you to choose that subject? 

Illy: Actually the title was basically saying I'm gonna give you rap niggas hell until shit changes and the good and bad concept was to tell you all the good sides of my life and the rap game and all the bad sides of my life and the music game. I chose to talk about that because I feel the good is expressed only too much and for people to learn, really all of it must be discussed!


Me: Future projects you got going on? 


Illy: I have a new project soon, still working on it. It's untitled at the moment and a group cd feat me and all my dudes also untitled but it's coming soon. I'm also on my dude Nick Strange's new EP 'Weapons of Mass Fame' that's coming soon also!


Me: Where can people get your music? 

A:people can get my music from soundcloud.com/illz954
hotnewhiphop, youtube, reverbnation and datpiff. Soon I will be in iTunes but all the others are free downloads just type ILLY-ILLZ in the search engines or google, it's very easy to find!  

Me: How do you think you are different from the current artists? 

Illy: I think I'm different from current artist because I focus more on what I'm saying and how I'm saying it, and how I entertain the listener with my wordplay and lines. I'm giving off while still having them in a catchy vibe but not going so far as to every track. I'm talking about money, cars, clothes and women all the time, even though I can do that to I also want to leave a good impression on your mind after you're done hearing something. I do so you can be like damn there's still good music around. I feel other artist could care less with the exception of a handful.

Q:9. What is your message to your fans? 

A:my message to my fans is I love you all and with out you there would be no me. Always stay true to yourself no matter who tells you it's not normal or right cause who's to say what's normal or right? No human can, so always do you and know my music will be here with you every step of the way!

Me: If anything, what advise would you give to the artists who start today? 

Illy: The best advice I can give is if you don't love it, don't attempt to do it. This is not an easy game or way out, only those who stick with it no matter what and 100% will succeed and never let no one tell you cant.

To see more of Illy, make sure to Youtube him! To download the whole mixtape, just click the link! 

http://www.datpiff.com/ILLY-ILLZ-Hell-Until-Heaven-Arrives-mixtape.355238.html

Belvedere vodka throws a biggest party in Cannes

Reverend Run to support a good cause

Belvedere Vodka threw a party in Cannes for it's on going campaign to fight against AIDS/HIV virus. The earlier performers for the cause have included the icons Mary J Blidge, Cindy Lauper, Debbie Harry and Duran Duran, just to mention the few.

This years performer Reverend Run is joining to the legendary cast to support the cause and he performed his biggest old school hits in the party for the celebrity audience in the VIP ROOM nightclub. In the interview he stated:

"Right now, they are doing legend series. They had Cindy Lauper, they had Duran Duran few years ago, so I'm honored. When anybody wants to honor some music that I've made, I'm thankful." 

His set was supported by DJ Ruckus spinning vinyl. 

The other guests at the party included Solange Knowles, who is following the big sisters foot steps in music. 

Liam Hemsworth ( Hunger Games), Chloe Norgaard ( Model ), Ahna O'Reilly (The Help ), Rebecca Da Costa (Motel ), Diplo (DJ), Rick Yune (The Fast and Furious ) and more were all seen dancing on the lyrics of 'King of Rock' rapper. 

Baby tour

Kim Kardashian planning to take baby to tour with daddy

Kanye is going to be a new daddy when he is scheduled to start his international tour, mummy Kim is not going to let this to get on the way of raising the new born together. She is reportedly planning to take the baby West on the tour with baby daddy. The touring company has been given the instructions to provide the cribs and sound proof walls in every hotel they are staying in whilst in the tour. 

Allegedly Kim has been upset as she has been thinking of the busy working schedules and how to combine them together with raising a child together with two parents. 

Whilst Kim has been busy of thinking about baby's needs, Kanye pushed out a new single in the way only Kanye does. He premiered his single 'New slaves' in 10 cities world wide, projecting the visuals on the walls of 66 buildings. We will see a different Kanye, tackling on issues that many will find uncomfortable. Despite the statement Kanye has made few days ago for not to appear in Saturday Night Live season 38 finale, it seems that the show is still going ahead as it is still being advertised.

Family news

Jay Z and Beyonce pregnant again?

Multiple sources around the musics power couple say that they are expecting their second child. Beyonce cancelled her concert in Belgium, Antwerp due to exhaustion and dehydration. 

Neither Beyonce or Jay Z have confirmed the pregnancy. The news would not be a surprise as Beyonce has said she would like to have more children. She revealed in Good Morning America this week :" I think my daughter needs company. I definitely love being a big sister." 

Beyonce is currently travelling around the world with her Mrs. Carter Tour. 

Inspiration and education

Dr. Dre fulfilling dreams

Dr. Dre is taking the community very seriously. Having finished his education without a degree, him and Jimmy Iovine have teamed up with University of Southern California by donating $70 million to create a program that allows to achieve a degree. The degree brings together business, marketing, product development, design and liberal arts. The education is targeting for talented students, of whom the pair hope to be working for them, even if not in music then in other areas. 

" I feel like this is the biggest, most exciting and probably the most important thing that I've done in my career. If the next start-up that becomes Facebook happens to be one of our kids, that's what we are looking for. " 

Whilst he is helping to others to achieve, he is also returning to his own original love, which is to make music. 

"I'm more inspired to go back into the studio now, beats is rolling, this (USC) thing is happening and it's incredible. Now I'm ready to go back to my first love. I'm going back to the studio. Not for any specific reason, but just to record because I love to record music. I'm going back in and hopefully the next Kendrick Lamar or the next Eminem walks in the door and I can work with that artist. I'm going to record forever. " 

Life is good for Dr. Dre, his time in the N.W.A is being made to be a feature movie as Universal has got a script for it and it looks like a project is going ahead. 

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

Adam MCA Yauch to receive special tribute

The announcement was made today in the official festival account that The Beastie Boys co-founder Adam MCA Yauch will receive a special tribute during the festival. The event is scheduled to run from July 8th to July 13th and will be holding a various of venues in different locations around Brooklyn New York. Launched at 2005, the festival has hosted many names from Hip Hop royalty. 

The producers of the festival simply state: " We couldn't go another year without taking time out to honor what MCA did to our culture and our music."

Adam Yauch passed away to a cancer at the age of 47 and he was a known musician, film director and human rights activist. After his passing Brooklyn showed the respect to one of their own by naming a park after him, where he learned how to ride a bike. 

The tickets for the event vary from $20 to $75 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.com