Artist Spotlight

The In Crowd Unsigned Artist SpotLight

It's time to meet TASH… Never before have four letters embodied everything that the music industry's been missing. In the ever growing arena where dissimilarity is uncommon and distinction underachieved, this 21 year-old song-star has finally ascended, determined to remain outside of your box & do it her way. Returning again for the very first time, Pay close attention, TASH is about to take her throne. A singer, dancer & model, TASH emerges as one of few who authentically serve up the undeniable talent you've been longing for. Fulfilling the destinies of her aspiring model mother & R&B vocalist father, "I've always wanted to be an entertainer," she admits. "Whether I was dancing, singing, modeling, acting, or just being goofy, I knew it was in my blood." Already sought after by some of the favorite names in the game Including: Kwame, The Corna Boyz & Rich Harrison, Tash has been able to tap into and perfect a one of a kind brand of "Couture & B" where Jersey Girl Charm and Uptown Fashionista collide, to create a sound that's sure to excite your senses. Her Lyrics speak the words & experiences on the minds of today's young urban modernists. And when her melodic voice flows like water over the Corna Boyz track, "Read My Mind", she effortlessly states what some girls wish for. Even on the Pop side Kwame delivers a hit called "Dumb Dumb Dumb". This radio single is sure to warn all men of a woman's intuition. Don't mistake arrogance for confidence, instead delight in the sexiness of a young Donna with enough swagger for both him & her. Currently working with multi-platinum hit maker Kwamé, Tash is now in the process of recording her first full-length CD, also collaborating with new and upcoming songwriters such as Atozzio Towns and producers Oak (Chris Brown, Joe, Mario) and Eric Hudson (Omarion, John Legend, Ne-yo) Though she credits Stevie Wonder, Dianna Ross, Kelis & Brandy as notable influences to her artistry, she exclaims that "they already exist, so I'm gonna be the first ME!" Original determination like that can never be faulted. Rock on young princess, we've been waiting for you.

FUNK THIS

CHRISETTE MICHELLE SAYS “FUNK THIS”

Y’all better respect Chrisette Michelle

I heard there was a music showcase for Seagram’s a few days a go and Chrisette Michelle, the Def Jam, got up and sang like 3/4 of a song. But, it seems like the crowd wasn’t giving her the proper attention and a rep got up and scolded the crowd for not being attentive. I heard Chrisette was so upset she left in a huff and had to come back after the venue was cleared to record the performance. She also had to get some pics with the sponsors. Poor Chrisette. She really is a dope singer so I am going to chide the crowd from my computer! “Don’t let that happen again, crowd – or else!”

MJG: This Might Be The Day

By La'Juanda Knight

When you hear legendary Hip-Hop artists 8 Ball & you should immediately think of a few things. There is the chronicling of their “Space Age Pimpin’” lifestyles, their badge of putting Memphis, TN Hip-Hop on the map or their steadyfast resolve at only delivering their brand of raw Hip-Hop music despite watered down rap selling more.

Now, MJG is releasing a third solo album, This Might Be The Day, on July 1 on MJG Music/404 Music. No longer signed to Bad Boy Records, the rap veteran also has plans to take his writing to another level by penning R&B songs along with Jazze Pha. Fifteen years since his debut on Comin’ Out Hard, Marlon Jermaine Goodwin is still keeping it pimpin’.


AllHipHop.com: You’re new album is called This Might Be The Day. As far as it being a solo project, did you approach this differently?

MJG: I approached it like the MJG and 8Ball stuff, but only some of the stuff…I have a couple of radio friendly joints, a couple of crunk joints but a lot of it I go to the left.

AllHipHop.com: What do you consider to the left?

MJG: A couple of songs that you wouldn’t expect. I still have the 8 Ball and MJG style but some of it is different.

AllHipHop.com: Why are you doing this solo project?

MJG: I’m always focusing on the 8 Ball and MJG projects but at the same time, I’m like a studio rat. I’m always working on beats. I always got a lot of solo stuff. It is a good time in the game now. I just felt like it was good timing to come back with another solo.

AllHipHop.com: Are you with 404 Music? Are you no longer on Bad Boy?

MJG: It’s 404 and it’s MJG Music.

AllHipHop.com: Was there a reason why you left Bad Boy?

MJG: Well, MJG and 8 Ball are always trying to do something different. I think at this point in our career, we don’t need to be with a label for a long time because it don’t really make sense. So, it’s like anything that we do as far as a project is to grow.

AllHipHop.com: You have been doing music for years. What do you think it is that allowed you to stay prevalent in Hip-Hop for so long?

MJG: Working hard and keeping it genuine. You got to have the genuine love for it. We are trying to stay in tune with what’s going on. Outside of regular hard work; patience. Keep pushing for it when other cats probably aren’t going to keep pushing for it.

AllHipHop.com: As far as Hip-Hop today, what would you say you bring to the table? This is in comparison to some of the newer cats.

MJG: I can’t put that in words.

AllHipHop.com: Say what you feel.

MJG: I think we bring reality, humbleness. We make it seem like anybody can make it. The regular guy, the underdog can appreciate and identify with us.

AllHipHop.com: Do you think that some of the newer rappers to the game aren’t bringing that humbleness and reality?

MJG: I think a lot of them are, but I think that it takes certain experiences and stuff to humble you. A lot of them just haven’t been through those experiences yet.

AllHipHop.com: Do you feel that you get the respect due as a veteran in the game?

MJG: I feel like the ones that respect us give us pub. Sometimes you got to come down off yourself to appreciate someone else. A lot of cat’s egos are too big to appreciate someone else.

AllHipHop.com: What producers did you work with on this project? As well as features?

MJG: Me and my team, Space Age Pimpin. I got 8 Ball, Gucci Mane, and Slim from 112.

AllHipHop.com: What is your opinion about the status of Hip-Hop right now?

MJG: For me it’s like a 360. We came in the game at a weird time.

AllHipHop.com: Why do you say you came in at a weird time?

MJG: Well because we’re from Memphis, Tennessee. When we came in the game there was no eyes on Memphis or even the south. The game is slipping. Now everybody record sales is down. It is just a weird time to come into the game. You have to up the anty. But, it’s cool for us because that is how we came in the game.

AllHipHop.com: What do you feel kept you guys together?

MJG: We were friends. We been friends since the 7th grade. We were already friends for a while before we dropped our first record. Real friendship.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have any plans to get involved with anything besides Hip-Hop at this point in your career?

MJG: Anything that I would be included in, I would incorporate Hip-Hop into it. From commercials to jingles. I want it to deal with Hip-Hop. I’m also going to be doing some writing for some people.

AllHipHop.com: Tell me about that.

MJG: I am going to be writing a lot of R&B and Hip-Hop songs and hooks. I’m working with Jazze Pha. He from Memphis also.

AllHipHop.com: Have you done some ghostwriting in the past?

MJG: Nah. This is mostly hooks. I did a few hooks for some singers who sang on our stuff. He knows how I get down in the studio. He is a known and established producer. He already got things on the table. I’m just going to join his team and work with him. It will be like write this for such and such and that is what I will be there for.

AllHipHop.com: Are you just writing hooks or are you writing the whole joint for the person?

MJG: I’m a writing motherF**cker. Hooks, whole songs, all of that. I’m a cold motherf**cker. It ain’t me playing around with singing or trying to. This is something I do. I write.

AllHipHop.com: People may be surprised by you writing an R&B song.

MJG: A lot of the people don’t check the credits. I wouldn’t even expect for them to know it is me. The only thing I care about is whether they like the song. I let the music speak for itself. You wouldn’t know if I wrote the song. It would just sound like an R&B song. I don’t leave a clue. I get into what I’m writing.

AllHipHop.com: Is there a certain place that you have to go to mentally to write an R&B track as opposed to a Hip-Hop track?

MJG: Yep. To me, it really is all the same. I just know how to make it work. R&B is less words. Hip-Hop is more words. I have to write a lot more. R&B is slowed down Hip-Hop. I understand my melody.

AllHipHop.com: How would you describe the album?

MJG: The beats are hard. Very lyrical. If you want music that sounds good, but I’m saying something and I’m not boring like I’m trying to teach a class then that’s it. It is fun, gangsta, with a message to it at the same time.

AllHipHop.com: Anything else you want to add?

MJG: Much love to everyone who has been riding with 8 Ball & MJG all of this time and we are gonna bring you a lot of heat.