Tag Archive for 'The Press Project'

FROM THE CMJ RELAY ARCHIVES: OURSTAGE PICKS VOL. 6

Published by Sam C. on August 21, 2009 in Playlists. 0 Comments Tags: ben lee, CMJ Relay, coconut records, De La Soul, Jon Call, lupe fiasco, of montreal, Plain White T's, Rooney, Shins, spoon, The Press Project, tom petty.

Welcome to our sixth installment featuring CMJ’s OurStage Staff Picks from the CMJ Relay Blog. CMJ is well known for their industry leading New Music Report magazine, which contains music reviews, artist news and interviews with the best artists being played on college radio.

Jon Call

“My Ship”
Acoustic Channel
Take a little bit of blues, a little bit of folk, and a little bit of rock, throw in some melodic vocals and soft guitar, call it “My Ship.”
RIYL: Ben Harper, Plain White T’s, Tom Petty
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/joncallmusic

Coconut Records

“West Coast”
Indie Rock Channel
Ex-Phantom Planeteer Jason Schwartzman hits head-on once again with this hit. Jason proves that once a musician, always a musician—this time with a larger sound.
RIYL: Ben Lee, Rooney, Of Montreal
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/coconutrecords

The Press Project

“Get Right”
Hip-Hop Channel
Enjoy the smooth, jazzy beat and buttery flows while you can, before the distorted crunch of the bridge grates your eardrums in all the right ways.
RIYL: Lupe Fiasco, Roots, De La Soul
WEB: http://www.thepressproject.com

Best of hip-hop and R&B 2008

Published by admin on January 7, 2009 in Artist Feature, Hip-Hop and Playlists. 2 Comments Tags: dk aka wayne watts, lockboyz, T-Pain, The Press Project, Tori Alamaze, twank star.

To ring in the new year, we here at OurStage thought it would be a good idea to step back and reflect on some great new artists that emerged on the scene in 2008 and are likely to be the ones to watch in 2009. This is our list of top hip-hop and R&B artists:

The Press Project
This 7 piece group blends the styles of hip hop, soul, funk, and jazz into a sound that is completely their own. Though best compared to acts like The Roots, Soulive, and Jurassic 5 they are more different than they are the same. In 2008 they watched their debut album climb the CMJ music charts eventually breaking into the top 40 and reaching number 12. Along with their album climbing the college radio charts the band had marquee performances playing Bonnaroo and opening for Soulive making 2008 a great year for these guys from Boston.

Twank Star
This Houston rapper kicked off 2008 by releasing his single, Free, in January. He got a distribution deal through Universal in November and was also chosen as the winner of the Step in the Ring with T-Pain contest on OurStage.com. His album “First Impressions” is out now on Wide Boy Music as well as the single “Everybody Else” with T-Pain out on Nappy Boy Digital.

Tori Alamaze
With a sound similar to the soul of the 1960’s Tori Alamaze has added a modern twist to those like Diana Ross and Tina Turner. After having her song “Don’t Cha” swiped and made famous by the Pussy Cat Dolls it has been a long road back to the top for this Atlanta native. Spending most of 2008 working on a new album with Gnarls Barkley’s Cee-lo it’s only a matter of time until Tori Alamaze is as recognized as The Pussy Cat Dolls.

LockBoyz
These five Arkansas natives have a sound similar to Mike Jones. All five members of Lockboyz are pursuing a college degree as well as their musical careers and are having success juggling the two. Their biggest feat in 2008 at was a spot on Little Rock Arkansas’ Juneteenth Festival along side Mike Jones and Lil Mama.

DK aka Wayne Watts
This Baltimore native channels the flow and passion of Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West in his songs. After showcasing at the NACA music conference in March DK released his “About A Girl” mixtape in July. Since the release of his mixtape he has toured the country playing clubs, colleges, festivals and anywhere people will listen.

Daily Dose: Monday, October 20th

Published by internjosh on October 20, 2008 in Artist News. 0 Comments Tags: ac/dc, eminem, from the desk of the press, metallica, metro mix, nightmare of you, the days go by oh so slow, The Press Project, tom waits.

Shot in Chinatown, one of my favorite NYC neighborhoods, its Nightmare of You with “The Days Go By Oh So Slow.”

10 Best Protest Songs Of The 21st Century. My pick: Tom Waits.

So who rocks harder, Metallica or AC/DC? After reading, I can’t say I agree with the final outcome…

The Press Project bring us a hot “From the Desk of the Press.”

For anyone who’s been wondering where the heck Eminem has been lately.

Friday Afternoon: The Press Project Performs

Published by ejquinn on June 13, 2008 in Artist News. 0 Comments Tags: Bonnaroo, The Press Project.

Hot off the presses here at Bonnaroo – OurStage.com’s ‘The Press Project’ played a killer set on the Sonic Stage Friday evening @ 4:30. Their smooth beats and soulful hip hop jams impressed the crowd and got ‘the booties a-shakin.’ Their performance was so good that one of the Bonnaroo staff members actually ran from his post to inquire about the band and stood anxiously back stage just waiting to shake their hands when they came off!! Check out their live performance (above) of their OurStage hit, ‘Get Right’ – a #1 hit on the OurStage Alt. HipHop charts.

Here’s a pic of the group performing.

OurStage Semi-Finals Interview: SLiM PiCKENS

Published by ejquinn on March 29, 2008 in Artist Feature and Artist News. 1 Comment Tags: B-Millz, Bsykes, Buttaspry, C.A.M.IL, E.B.B. and Flow, interview, Izwon, Miztasand, Ourstage.com, OurStage@, problemaddicts, Quinn Strassel, Rick Foy, SLiM PiCKENS, Subzero617, The Press Project.

If you don’t know SLiM PiCKENS, then it’s time for you to bone up on your OurStage Hip-Hop knowledge. To get started, check out his song Redemption, which landed in Semi-Finals, making this the 7th(!) time he’s landed in the top ten on OurStage. I caught up with the OurStage superstar to get his thoughts on Finals Week, the Boston hip-hop scene, and how he uses music to give back to the community.

Quinn: Today you landed in Semi-Finals (again!) for Alternative Rap. Do you offer an alternative to mainstream hip-hop?

SLiM: First I wanna thank everybody who has supported me, I appreciate you all. Yes, my songs on ourstage are more geared tothe Underground Hip Hop movement. I do my best to create a sound and songs that are not the same recycled formula as most mainstream Rap music. More socially conscious, painting pictures of everyday struggles as I see them. You know? What is considered underground now used to be mainstream.

Q: You’re a seven time top ten artist on OurStage. Why do the fans love you so much?

S: I dont know man. Maybe because I truly am SLiM PiCKENS(pickings) lol. I hope they love me because I give real feeling in my music, something people can connect with on a personal level. Life lessons.

Q: Any advice for new artists on OurStage?

S: Yeah man, PROMO-PROMO-PROMO, thats what I do. I would tell them to find forums where people respect your craft and go hard with the promotion. Get on ya grind!!!

Q: For people in other parts of the country, what do you wish they knew about the Boston hip-hop scene?

S: The Boston Hip Hop scene has gotta lot of talent, many different styles and ranges of sound. We need people to recognize that we do have a Hip Hop scene(as small as it is). Its becoming greater day by day the more we unite. Check out Boston Hip Hop. We got next!!!

Q: If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be and why?

S: Wow, just 1 because there are so many. Man, how bout my top five (lol)? I would say Nas. He’s vivid with the story telling. Really descriptive. The Rza, he’s gotta real precision cut scientific type spit (say that 5 times fast lol). Common for his lyricism and finesse. KRS-1, pretty self explanatory. Rakim(Hip Hop GOD), Black Thought, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys lol the list goes on ya know.

Q: Any other artists on OurStage that people should know about?

S: Definitely, my homie Buttaraspy, he got flava for days. Also:

Izwon-raw raps

Subzero617-multi-talented artist

Problemaddicts-ill Hip Hop crew

C.A.M.IL-he’s nice with the mic

Miztasand-anotha multi-talented artist

Bsykes-gets the club hoppin

Rick Foy- ill with the video

B-Millz-Mr. Philly himself, kid got skills

E.B.B. and Flow-Good music for ya listening pleasure

The Press Project-DOPE

There is so much talent on Ourstage!!!

Q: In your song Hip Hop you say “f**k the radio.” Is radio dead?

S: Its dying. DJs don’t break records like they used to. I listen to satellite radio, but FM forget about it (once in a blue moon). All u hear is the same trash over and over and over again. I think thats the reason people like it. They hypnotize you into liking it (lol).

Q: What do you do when you’re not rhyming?

S: Spend time with my family, my wife and 2 kids. I volunteer with Citizen Schools as a Citizen teacher for the Boston Hip Hop Shop apprenticeship. We teach the kids History of Hip Hop and how it is evolving. Its music, history, social studies, art, entertainment all rolled up in to one class, once a week with my co-teacher D. Brown from Jam’n 94.5. Other than that I relax, but Hip Hop is my life. Its how I survive.

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