Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration Entertainment Hall
Enjoy various R&B and Hip-Hop artists including: Eric Benet, SWV, Alex Bugnon, the Original Hip-Hop Tour featuring Wonder Mike and Master Gee of the Original Sugarhill Gang, Doug E. Fresh, Whoodini, and more!
Seats will be limited to the first 4,000 then it’s standing room only.
Time: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tentative Performance Schedule:
2:30 p.m. – Alex Bugnon
3:30 p.m. – Eric Benet
4:30 p.m. – Diva Dee and the DJ Battle
5:30 p.m. – SWV
6:30 p.m. – The Old School Hip Hop Tour
Cost: Included with exhibition hall admission
Location: Indiana Convention Center Hall A
Doug E. Fresh still dope
By JESSICA WILLIAMS-GIBSON
Growing up during the beginnings of hip-hop, many artists caught my eye, but none like Doug E. Fresh. His style, New York accent, silky smooth voice and his dance moves were oh so dope.
Self proclaimed as the world’s greatest entertainer, many feel it’s Doug E. Fresh’s beat boxing abilities that attract record crowds to his shows. Hanging with other rap legends such as MC Ricky D, better known as Slick Rick, isn’t so bad either.
Doug E. Fresh began his rap career at age 13 and was an instant success internationally. He’s best known for the multi-platinum hits “The Show” and “La Di Da Di,” and was the first rapper to play Africa and the Caribbean, catapulting hip-hop into global popularity.
Along his journey, Doug E. Fresh has been a mentor to other rap greats such as Biz Markie and Diddy. During his 20 plus years in the music industry, he’s also collaborated with a wide variety of artists such as Tupac, Notorious B.I.G, Beenie Man, Chaka Kahn, and Bobbie McFerrin among others.
He’s appeared in films like Brown Sugar, wrote songs for others and is a hip-hop activist fighting ills such as racism, illiteracy, police brutality and racism.
“My career has been a hell of a ride and there’s so much more to come,” Fresh said recently. “People can look to me as a teacher, but I consider myself a student of hip-hop. I’m forever learning and that’s why I’m always able to create new styles and new dimensions of hip-hop.”
Check out Doug. E. Fresh at this year’s Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration Entertainment Hall scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Indiana Convention Center Hall A.
For more information, visit WWW.DOUGEFRESH.COM.
SWV reunites again
By ADRIAN KENDRICK
Sisters With Voices better known as SWV will be combining their voices once again, Saturday, July 18, at the Indiana Convention Center as a part of Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration Entertainment Hall event at 5:30 p.m.
The trio consists of Cheryl “Coko” Gamble-Clemons, Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons. The R&B group met while attending the same high school in New York. SWV was mostly popular in the 1990’s dominating the R&B charts with hits from their various albums. Their first album was released in 1992 entitled “It’s About Time.” The album went double platinum within its first year.
Critics claim SWV’s single entitled “I’m So Into You” caused them to become a commercial force in the urban industry. Following the single “I’m So Into You” were the biggest hit of their career, the sultry yet classy song entitled “Weak” and the soul awakening song “Right Here/Human Nature.”
“Weak” became the groups only single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles while “Right Here/Human Nature peaked at No. 2.
SWV returned with another album in 1996 titled, “New Beginning” and had another R&B hit with the song “You’re the One.” Their third album released in 1997 was entitled “Release Some Tension” which featured songs “Someone” and “Rain.”
The trio disbanded in 1998, but still continued in the spotlight. Taj is married to former Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titians football player Eddie George, and has a son named Eriq Michael George. The couple appeared in the television show “I Married A Baller.”
Meanwhile Lelee is living happily single. Whereas Coko is now a gospel singer and released her second album, July 14 with Light Records entitled “The Winner In Me.” Many feel it is a great mix of classic, traditional gospel and her essential R&B sound. The CD features collaborations with Kelly Price, Israel Houghton and Canton Jones.
Although SWV is no longer making sweet melodies, devoted fans have not forgotten their hits such as “Anything,” “Downtown,” and “Use Your Heart.” Those fans that are truly committed should not miss out on the upcoming reunion at Summer Celebration.
Sugar Hill Gang: Pioneers in hip-hop
By SAMANTHA POUNDS
“I said a hip-hop, the hippy to the hippy, to the hip hip-hop and you don’t stop…” is the catchy hook to the song, “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugar Hill Gang, who had ample success with the song in 1979.
The famous 15-minute song was just the beginning for the group.
“The world had never heard of rap music. Connecticut, New Jersey and New York had, of course, but not the world. And when ‘Rapper’s Delight’ was released, it took off like a California brushfire,” said group member Michael Wright (Wonder Mike) in a recent statement.
Fans can expect to see Sugar Hill Gang perform live at the Indiana Black Expo (IBE) Summer Celebration, during a live concert, July 18 at 7 p.m. in Entertainment Hall A of the Indiana Convention Center.
The group’s exceptional talent has led them to break barriers in the music business, by having the first music single in the hip-hop industry to sell more than 8 million copies in 1979.
Group members admit they never realized they were creating history in the midst of their early recordings.
Sugar Hill Gang is widely known for its party records that inspired many listeners to dance.
According to member Guy O’Brien (Master Gee), break dancing was a tradition during the 70’s. He also said the group wrote and produced a song titled “Troy,” which is about a gang member, who through break dancing, was working to get out of the ghetto.
Legendary hip-hop rappers and groups including Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaata and other established rappers have looked to the Sugar Hill Gang as inspiration and view the group as role models.
Not only did the group help set the standard for the world of hip-hop, they also introduced the world to a new kind of sound with music, by having words rhyme with each other.
“We were the first rappers that the world had ever seen,” said O’Brien, “Then for us to be able to go to all of the different countries and mingle with all of these people made a major impact on our lives and who we are as people.”
Alex Bugnon goes beyond
By ADRIAN KENDRICK
Contemporary jazz pianist, Alex Bugnon continues to develop the most familiar styles in today’s music. His genre includes a mixture of jazz, funk and R&B with a little hint of gospel. No wonder some say he reaches beyond his core audience.
“With the success of artists like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys, its clear to me that, like myself, people are tired of overproduced, heavy machine-oriented music that excited them in the past,” said Bugnon in a previous interview. “These are complicated times we live in, and it’s inspiring to see a trend towards making life simpler and focusing on the more important things.”
Bugnon will visit Indianapolis during the Indiana Black Expo as one of the many Entertainment Hall performances. Bugnon will perform at 2:30 p.m. in Hall A at the Indiana Convention Center.
Bugnon a native of Montreux, Switzerland, started playing the classical piano at six years old. Guided by his father, a jazz guitarist and classical opera singer, the young musician began to develop a love for a variety of music from ragtime pianist, Scott Joplin to jazz pianist, McCoy Tyner. He has studied at the Paris Conservatory and the famous Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Austria.
At 19, Bugnon moved to the U.S. to attend the Berklee College of Music. Ever since his move to America he has been making his heavenly music. His first CD produced in 1989 was entitled “Love Season” which reached the Top 40 on R&B charts as did his 1990s recording “Head over Heels.” One of his most popular records entitled “Soul Purpose” remained on the Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart for 23 weeks.
His last album entitled “Southern Living” was recorded with some of the greatest musicians in Atlanta. Some of the melodies include “The Most Beautiful Women In The World” and “Lonely Nights.”
“This time around, I had a lot of music in my head, but to make it the best it could be, I felt it would need the touch of a musician born, raised and living in Atlanta – Phil Davis, with whom I had worked before,” Bugnon said. “So, I packed my bags, a few keyboards and my running shoes, drove down from my home in N.Y., and stayed there until we finished this project. Together we made sophisticated music that’s smooth and funky, melodic and romantic with, above all…peace and soul…Southern Living!”
Whodini shines
By SAMANTHA POUNDS
Coming out of the prolific 80’s New York music scene, hip-hop crooners Whodini were among the first hip-hop groups to help cultivate a national following for hip-hop music, and helped establish inroads on urban radio.
The band that consists of Drew Carter (Grandmaster Dee), Jalil Hutchins and John Fletcher (Ecstasy) are most known for their chart-topping singles, “Freaks Come Out At Night,” “Friends,” “Big Mouth,” and “Escape (I need a break).” The three combined their talents, and incorporated something different to their music style than most bands and artists during that era.
With funky electronic drum patterns and synthesizers, Whodini used their music to lead fans to increase their skills in break dancing – youth today are continuing the pattern.
The group was honored at last year’s VH1 Hip-Hop Honors. Carter was more than confident the group would finally get their chance to shine in the spotlight once again, and take home one of hip-hop’s most prestigious award.
“It seems like they’re forgetting about us but I don’t worry about that because God has blessed us; when it comes, it comes,” said Carter in a recent statement.
Although the group has taken a hiatus, they are still a part of hip-hop and are truly legendary. Former manager, and Def Jam co-founder, Russell Simmons has described the group as pioneers without doubt.
For fans that simply can’t get enough of Whodini, see the group perform as part of the Old School Hip-Hop Tour at the Indiana Convention Center in Entertainment Hall A, July 18 at 7 p.m.
For more information about Whodini, visit www.whodini.org.
Eric Benet at his best
By JESSICA WILLIAMS-GIBSON
When Eric Benet sings, he sings like his life depends on it. His melodies are full of life and passion and every note he belts out, he means it.
Benet has always had music in his soul. With influences such as the Beatles, Steely Dan, Donnie Hathaway among others, he is truly living his life’s calling.
“Because I grew up listening to rock, jazz, fusion, gospel, classical, I have more colors to paint the same picture. It’s a bit more vibrant and complex,” said Benet.
Although this singer makes music to share with others, for his newest album, “Life and Love,” he states he wanted to pay homage to R&B, go back to its roots. To accomplish this feat, he went back to his roots.
He traveled to Milwaukee, Wis. working with friends and family to create an album that touches many points in soul history. When Benet approaches a song, he does so with emotion, vulnerability and honesty as opposed to putting lines together that rhyme and sound sexy.
The songwriter believes with “Love and Life,” he’s at his best, professionally.
Benet is very grateful for his fans continued support and welcomes newer, younger audiences to his craft. Audiences of all ages will be able to experience Benet live at 3:30 p.m. at the Indiana Convention Center Hall A.
“Good music will always have an audience. It may not fill a stadium or get ring tones, first week sales of 100,000 units, but it will always have a home and audience,” said Benet.
For more information, visit www.twitter.com/ebenet or www. trueebfans.com.
