New Music: Dephonic ft. Sock The Rapper "Gotta Go"

Dephonic ft. Sock the Rapper - Gotta Go by drew_ish

YouTube Diaries.

Who doesn't have a YouTube channel or who does not frequently visit it for every reason imaginable? Watching videos for all sorts of thing's all over the world. Once you upload a video to YouTube doing what ever you are doing the World now has access to see what you do. With the recent success of artist Justin Bieber, and  Dondria I find myself listening and searching for new talent on YouTube. One of my Twitter friends sent me this link of her BF singing Trey Songz "Gotta Go"



Hopefully he will only go up from here! To see more  of Reggie's music click here

If You Got Soul Let The World Know!

When I Think of Philadelphia one of the first things that come to mind is not the Philly Cheesesteak, not the liberty bell, not Rittenhouse Square, South Street, or The Philadelphia Museum of Art. I think of the sound. Yes, Philadelphia Soul Music, nothing is better. The sound of Philadelphia can be traced back to the colonial days, but nothing has stuck like the sound created by Philadelphia International Records. Founded by legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in the early 1970's Philadelphia soul music took and has yet to slow down. With artist from the late great Teddy Pendergrass and Phyllis Hyman, Patti Labelle to, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan and most recent upcoming soul singer taragirl.

Growing up in northern New Jersey, with the encouragement of her father taragirl began singing at the age of six. After four years at New York University she made her way to Philadelphia and has been blowing down local Philly spots every since. Influenced by our forefathers and mothers of soul music Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Dinah Washington, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Lauryn Hill. Taragirl is the voice and the pen, singing and songwriting. In my opinion she can easily be compared to a young Teena Marie or Joss Stone.


Addikted2Fame: For our readers that aren't familiar wit your music explain your sound in 5 words?

Taragirl: Fresh, soulful, sassy, emotional, melodic

Addikted2Fame: I see you write your own music, where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what's your favorite part about the process?

Taragirl: Songwriting is a great outlet for all of the really great and really messed up things that happen to you. My emotions usually build up to the point of release and whatever the issue, it'll come out in the song. I was writing lyrics before I even considered myself a songwriter; in the beginning I didn't think I had what it takes, but its all just storytelling, in the end. Relationships, break-ups, grief, hope, frustration, my feelings, towards Philly- I've used all of these for songs at one point or another. I think my favorite part is arranging.  I like when the bulk of the piece is written and now you play with where to put what when and cool vocal transitions, harmonies, etc... That stuff is fun to me.

Addikted2Fame: Everyone talks about the ups of the beginning in the industry , what do you find are some of the hardships of the music industry?

Taragirl: There's a new song that I've yet to record called "Shoutin at the Wall" and that, to me summarizes my feelings towards the music industry right now. I feel like I have so much to offer and I'm putting it down on stage working on my records my promotion etc...basically jumping up and down saying "hey world! Check me out! Listen to What I Gotta Say!" and as far as the industry is concerned nobody really cares. Now don't get me, I know my fans care - a lot. And each and every listener I gain cares. But, I'm the type of artist that really wants to take this thing to a higher level, expand my audience and the industry isn't really in tune with good, quality artist anymore. They're signing 3 acts every year and that's it. And most of what they put out is crap. Straight up crap.


Addikted2Fame: What do you want your listeners to get from your music?

Taragirl: To me connecting with music fans is the whole point to music as an art form. Music is the closest thing we have to a universal language. All of my songs are from an autobiographical standpoint and I always hope that my listeners can relate to the situations and feelings that I've experienced through lyrics and the emotion in my voice. I also like to concentrate on material that is uplifting or has a positive vibe to it. I have some songs that talk honestly about the end of a relationship like "Voicemail" but in general I like to keep my message hopeful.


Addikted2Fame: If you could work with or go open up for any artist on tour right now who would it be?

Taragirl: I would love to open up for Jazmine Sullivan or Katy Perry. Even though they're both different types of artist, I think I hit like this cross section of their audiences and they would really  dif some taragirl. I think Pink would be a pretty awesome person to collaborate with on a record and there's this artist/producer Novel who I would love to work with. Holla!Lol :)

-Shaquane D.

The Next Big Thing: Laura Izibor!

She's  the epitome of the New American Mainstream even though she's the Irish RnB Singer that everyone is talking about. Funny thing is that Laura Izibor's race seems to keep coming up when she's in the states.

“It’s funny, the fact I’m black always, always comes up in the US,” she says. “It nearly helps win them over. But I have to acknowledge it, otherwise, it’s kind of hanging there. I recently did a gig at BB King’s in New York. It attracts a very mainstream audience. And they were all like, ‘what the hell? Black and Irish?’ So I acknowledged it and then they were like, ‘oh well, at least she said it’. They walk away thinking — hey, maybe there are black people in France, too? And in England’. They think the only black people are Africans or African-Americans. They way I see it, I’m educating them.”

Laura Izibor is another one of my favorite artist of 2009. She is great if you haven't heard of her you should look her up NOW!

Click here to read entire article. 

No Struggle, No Progress: Sock the Rapper

“You could never say Sock ain’t the truth raised the people’s eyebrows the way he rock in the booth”.

              Oakland California born, Largo, Maryland raised, came to Philadelphia by way of Temple University. Sock had been telling his peers for years that he had skills on the microphone but it wasn’t until he enrolled in college back in 2006 that he began to prove himself. By hooking up with fellow classmate another upcoming rapper Maurice “Em-Ce” Williams who had some recording equipment, he stepped in the booth and there emerged “Sock the Rapper”. Growing up in Largo, Maryland he was given the nickname Sock by his older brother who at the time was too young to pronounce his entire name.

    

         He has said to been compared to a young Nas, or Lupe Fiasco. With a smooth laid back flow and a message in every song I can see the comparison.  He is a well know name throughout the Temple University campus you can catch him dreads hanging, jeans Japanese and Korean kicks on his feet, performing at small showcases including PhilaLive and The Made to Order party with Willie North Pole. Sock’s biggest show to date is when he had a chance to open up for fellow DMV area native Wale.

“I had a chance to meet him and he seemed pretty cool,” says Sock. 

He lets you know that Barack Obama, Wale, and Tabi Bonney aren’t all the nations capital has to offer. Heavily influenced by the Washington DC ‘s Go-Go music, he also cites hip-hop greats such as Jay-Z, Three Six Mafia, and Bone Thugs & Harmony as influences. 

             

As many other new and upcoming artists he finds it difficult to get someone to take interest in his music especially when it isn’t considered the current trend. Although he gives props to all the artist out there doing their style of hip-hop he acknowledges that his music is different and excepts the fact that by staying true to himself and his music he will have to work harder, one track at a time. He a big fan of Gnarls Barkley and one day hopes he has a chance to work with producer Danger Mouse. He hopes for his listeners to see his music as relatable, therapy, and insight.

“I want people to except me all over as an artist. I want to make timeless music”. 

Sock and Philly's own The One performing "Come Thru" Live at Fresh Melt Water

You can download Sock current mixtape "U Still Rap" www.tinyurl.com/ustillrap

www.socktherapper.blogspot.com