FCN 05/22/2002
Alicia Keys gives back
Alicia
Keys recently participated in The Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy�s
Grammy Mentor Session. The 5 time Grammy winner was in town for a special
performance for WJYX Power 92 that was hosted by Doug Banks.
Ms. Keys had a candid question and answer session with the youth and they were even allowed to stay and watch her sound check, which was held at the Isaac Hayes restaurant. The mentor sessions were designed so that artists can make themselves available to young people who may desire to one day work in the music/recording industry. Some other notable artists who have participated in the mentor sessions include: Natalie Cole, Collective Soul, Celia Cruz and Wynton Marsalis.
Lauryn
Get�s No Love
Lauryn Hill has received some negative coverage recently from the mainstream media as a result of her newly released second solo effort, MTV: Unplugged No. 2.0. Could it be that the CD�s lyrics are too deep for the White rock critics at The New York Daily News and Chicago Sun-Times to understand and get into? Could it be that some people expected her to stay the same and not grow and change personally and artistically?
Lauryn�s scope and depth on this album is phenomenal. In the five years that Hill has been away, she has gone through a lot emotionally and has emerged a different person. She discusses a range of topics�the sometimes-shady music industry, motherhood, her relationship with companion Rowan Marley, God and social injustices. This is an unprecedented step for an artist to allow fans an intensely-personal look into their lives.
Smokin� Grooves is back!
After a three-year hiatus, the groundbreaking hip-hop tour Smokin� Grooves will return this summer armed with a lineup that includes Outkast, Lauryn Hill and The Roots.
Smokin� Grooves was launched in 1996 as hip-hop�s answer to Lollapalooza. The very popular show has had many heavy hitters to perform such as Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes, Cypress Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras, Canibus, Gang Starr, Mya, Black Eyed Peas, The Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, Pharcyde and the Brand New Heavies.
The tour, which will also feature Jurassic 5, is scheduled to kick off July 18 near San Francisco and hit 15 major markets before wrapping up August 7 in Atlanta. Other acts scheduled to perform are Jaguar Wright, Cee-Lo, Damien Marley and the Ghetto Youth and other surprise performers. This is guaranteed to be the biggest show of the summer. You don�t want to miss it!
�Michelle Muhammad