Archive for August 2009
DJ AM – March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009
(Image Source: Yahoo! News)
There has been so much death this year. This is tragic…
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NEW YORK – DJ AM, the celebrity disc jockey who publicly acknowledged his history of drug addiction and had filmed a reality show in which he offered to help other addicts, was found dead in his apartment. He was 36.
Police found a crack pipe and prescription pills in the Manhattan apartment, said a law enforcement official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Paramedics had to break down the door before they found him, shirtless and wearing sweatpants, in his bed around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, the official said.
A friend had called police to say he was unable to get into the home in the trendy SoHo neighborhood. There was no evidence of foul play, and a medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
Last year, he was badly hurt in a South Carolina plane crash that killed four people and seriously injured rock musician Travis Barker.
DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had openly discussed past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs, addictions so bad he once tried to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head — but the gun jammed. However, he claimed he had been drug-free for years, even swearing off cigarettes.
His spokeswoman, Jenni Weinman, said the circumstances surrounding his death were unclear. She pleaded for privacy for his family.
In October, MTV was to debut his reality show, “Gone Too Far,” in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers. In a recent AP interview, he talked about holding a crack pipe for the first time in years for the show and said he felt as though he had an angel on his shoulder for surviving so much turmoil.
“There’s no better way to remember what it was like when I was at my bottom than to see someone at their bottom,” he told the AP.
MTV did not have an immediate comment on whether Goldstein’s show would air, but said in a statement that it “was honored to support him as he helped young people battle their own addictions.”
Goldstein was a deejay for hire who performed at Hollywood‘s most exclusive parties and was admired by music aficionados. He also was famous for relationships with reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie, and with actress-singer Mandy Moore.
Goldstein was critically injured last September when a Learjet crashed on takeoff in Columbia, S.C. The plane was transporting Goldstein and Barker, a drummer for the pop punk band Blink-182, after a performance; the pair had formed the duo TRVSDJ-AM.
Barker and Goldstein were burned, though Barker was injured more severely. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery, but about a month later he was performing again, joining Jay-Z on stage.
At the time, he told People magazine he was grateful to survive.
“I can’t believe I made it,” he said. “I’ve prayed every night for the past 10 years. There’s a lot more to thank God for now. … I was saved for a reason. Maybe I’m going to help someone else. I don’t question it. All I know is I’m thankful to be here.”
Goldstein rose to fame several years ago as highly sought-after DJ whose beats kept the dance floor packed and clubgoers hypnotized. He was known for his deft mashups, a blend of at least two songs, and performed not only in clubs but on grand stages, appearing earlier this year at the Coachella music festival in Indio, Calif.
He was to be one of the playable characters in Activision‘s “DJ Hero,” a rhythm video game from the makers of “Guitar Hero” that uses a turntable-shaped controller. The game is set for release Oct. 27.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM,” said Tim Riley, vice president of music affairs for Activision. “We hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent.”
Representatives for Moore and Barker didn’t immediately return telephone messages seeking comment on the DJ’s death, but other celebrities and fans instantly shared their reactions on Twitter, where “RIP DJ AM” was the No. 1 topic Friday.
“I’m stunned. Rest in peace Adam,” singer-songwriter Josh Groban posted.
“I’m sorry to loved ones,” musician and video director Pete Wentz wrote. “So unexpected.”
Singer John Mayer wrote: “We’re supposed to lose our friends to time, at an age when we’re ready to agree to the terms of having lived a long life. Not now.”
Goldstein was on Twitter just three days ago. He said he had just wrapped filming of the MTV series in Connecticut and was on his way to Atlantic City, N.J., to DJ. He also posted a lyric from the hip-hop legends Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five: “New York, New York. Big city of dreams, but everything in New York ain’t always what it seems.”
Media and onlookers flocked to his apartment, creating a frenzied scene; flowers had been placed outside the entrance.
Fellow DJ Scott Schroer, known as Scotty Boy, said he went to the apartment after he heard the news to check for himself. He said he had known Goldstein for 10 years and had worked the turntables with him last week at the Palm in Las Vegas.
“He was the first to really be eclectic in the mashup scene,” Schroer said. “He mixed rock and roll with hip-hop. He was a pioneer.”
Schroer said Goldstein had been sober since he met him. When asked about the prescription pills, he said: “If you were just in a plane crash a year ago, I’m sure you would have prescription pills, too.”
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Associated Press writers Virginia Byrne in New York and Michael Cidoni in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
TRV$ x DJ-AM – Fix Your Face, Vol. 1 & 2 Mixtape
Amerie – What Cha Know About Amerie Mixtape
Now that you’ve read Amerie’s interview, click on the image to download her new mixtape, What Cha Know About Amerie
Peace…
Nu-Soul Magazine | Amerie Interview
Amerie Interview
By Norman Mayers
Most people know Amerie as the voice behind the megahit “1 Thing” but there is so much more to this beautiful and talented singer/songwriter. Now at her new home Def Jam, Amerie has created her own entertainment company, Feenix Rising, and is set to release her fourth album Love & War. If the first single “Why R U” is any indication we’ll be treated to another release full of catchy grooves, progressive beats, and Amerie’s sweet yet gritty vocal style. Working with a plethora of talented producers Amerie is ready to make her Def Jam debut something to talk about. Nu-Soul Magazine managed to catch up with the busy songstress to discuss her new album and her place in the industry.
Nu-Soul: Tell me about the new album. What is the vibe you were going for with this new record?
Amerie: The new album is a fusion of hip-hop, soul and rock and it pretty much covers the growing pains, the tumultuous times, the not so perfect times in relationships.
Nu-Soul: So who did you get to work with on the album?
A: I worked with Teddy Riley, Brian Michael-Cox, Dre & Vidal, the Buchanans, Eric Hudson. I also worked with Fabolous as well as Trey Songz. And I did a great remix with Nas, Jadakiss, and Rick Ross.
Nu-Soul: So you are a Def Jam now. What has your experience at Def Jam been like so far?
A: It’s been really good. So far so good. I’ve been excited and the team is great. LA [Reid] is awesome.
Nu-Soul: So what happened with the US release of your third album and did that ultimate lead to you parting ways with Sony?
A: No actually the reason we didn’t release the US version of Because I Love It was because I just wanted to leave. We released it overseas. The track listing for the US version was going to be completely different. There were songs that people didn’t really get to hear because the track listing was more for a US audience but it didn’t ever get to that. Just because of changes that were happening at the company at an executive level. The album wasn’t really going to get the attention that it should have. So after thinking, for a couple of years actually, about it I decided to go ahead and leave. At the time I had been talking to LA Reid, as I had been for years, and decided I wanted to make a move. I think it was the right decision.
Nu-Soul: Your company Feenix Rising. What is concept behind your new company and what are some of your goals you hope to accomplish with it?
A: My business partner Len Nicholson came up with the company and we called it Feenix Rising because the phoenix is our favorite mythical creature. It never dies and just continues to rise out of its own ashes. We also felt that way about music, art and creativity in general. It continues to grow and lives on. We really want to nurture artists that we believe in and help them become the best artists that they can be. That is kind of the whole idea behind the company.
Nu-Soul: Let’s get a little backgrounder on you for those who may not know. You are African-American and Korean and your father was in in the military?
A: Yes my dad was in the military so I grew up moving around a lot.
Nu-Soul: So where do you consider home?
A: There are a lot of places that are special to me. Washington, DC is one of them. After being out on my own I spent some time in New York and that’s definitely a place I consider to be home. As well as Los Angeles.
Nu-Soul:Who are some of the people you admire musically as well as some people in the industry that you hope to emulate?
A: My favorites would be Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Marvin Gaye, I just loved how he arranged songs. And Michael, his approach was very strong and full of finesse. I just love everything that they left us.
Nu-Soul: Do you feel you are a bit of an underdog in the industry or a bit underrated?
A: That’s so funny because everyone always asks me that. It’s hard to answer that. I know how I feel through my fans. I feel really appreciated. My fans just love what I do and how it makes them feel. I definitely would love for more people to hear what I do. It all comes to label push and that’s why I think it’s really important to have a really strong label behind you that believes in your music. I feel like I have that now. But when I meet people like Teddy Riley or Questlove from the Roots and they totally get me that is enough for me. Or I can go to other countries and people tell me how much they love my music, places like France, or South Africa, or Nigeria, that is amazing. I love going overseas. I love going to Korea, the UK. I love getting to travel the world doing what I love.
Nu-Soul: So for you it doesn’t really feel like you are any sort of underdog because you are getting to do what you love regardless.
A: Yeah just living. It’s amazing to get to make a living and do what you love to do. It’s fantastic.
Nu-Soul: I wanted to ask you about the mixtape What Cha Know About Amerie with DJ Ruckus. Was that a calculated thing?
A: Yes that was something we wanted to do just so people could here things that I had done if they hadn’t already heard them. Just to give them a flavor of where I’ve been, what I’ve been doing the past few years. The other mixtapes I don’t know about. I appreciate the support but I would like it if it wasn’t leaked material.
Nu-Soul: Do you have any tour plans in support of the new new album?
A: I definitely want to go on tour. But we’re doing a lot of promo first then some shows. But as far as a tour and something that is not just one-offs that hasn’t been set up yet.
Nu-Soul: So what else is in the future for you?
A: Well Feenix Rising has a film division as well. It’s too early to talk about yet but that is something we are working on. Also in the process of getting my website together. Trying to do something special so we’re building that now. And I’m in rehearsal now for the shows with the band and and the dancers. So it’s a really exciting time now.
View the original article here, Nu-Soul Magazine
Baby Girl: The Best of Aaliyah Mixtape
Enjoy!
Fight For Your Right To Bare Breasts!
(Image Source: WWTDD.com)
I didn’t know this was a major issue for women. I suppose on the flip-side, men can damn near walk shirtless wherever they go. And why shouldn’t women be able to do that too? That’s right, women of the world. [E]lemental KC supports YOU and your BREASTS
Check out the article below from the New York Daily News
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Some were shocked. Others disgusted. But for some, it was the breast day ever!
Dozens of semi-nude women gave the city a Double-D eyeful Sunday when they bared their boobs in Central Park and then marched through the streets.
The daring display was part of “National Go-Topless Day” – indeed, there is such a thing – and stunned jaded New Yorkers and wide-eyed tourists alike.
“This is unbelievable – and super,” said Dalvin Jan, 21, who rents bicycles for a living on Central Park South. “I’m going to tell my wife to join in.”
With Chaka Khan‘s “I’m Every Woman” blaring from speakers and chants of “free your breasts, free your mind,” the troupe of bare-breasted women – and their enthusiastic male supporters – paraded their way along Central Park South.
“We’re all here for the same reason – to allow women to be free in the park like men,” organizer Sylvie Chabot, 54, of Montreal, told the crowd at a midday rally at Columbus Circle.
Motorists honked their horns in support while bemused tourists took photos from passing tour buses.
“I’m pretty surprised,” said Carolyn Meierjurgen, 49, of New Jersey, who was taking a horse carriage ride in the park. “If they want to do it, let them do it. I couldn’t,” she admitted.
Several unhappy onlookers complained to cops who were powerless to intervene.
New York is the only state in the country where women can be topless legally, after a 1992 ruling in the state’s highest court. That means any woman can walk around the city at any time with no shirt on.
Among the speakers was Ramona Santorelli, of upstate Rochester, who was the plaintiff in the 1992 case.
“It’s not about baring your breasts,” she said. “But the true meaning is to normalize women’s bodies.”
Yesterday’s protesters noted that is not always the case.
Artist Jill Coccaro, who goes by the name Phoenix Feeley, tested the New York law in 2005 after cops arrested her for exposing her breasts on Delancey St. She cited the 1992 ruling when cops grabbed her, but was held for 12 hours. She sued. The city later settled for $29,000.
Topless events took place across the country, from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio.
Organizers gathered signatures for a petition asking Congress to relax nudity laws, which they plan to hand over on Go-Topless Day next year.
Most passersby were amused by the sight of scores of half-naked people.
“It’s nice for them,” said unfazed Swedish tourist Birgitta Asplin, 58. “It’s the human body – nothing more!”
But others said it was all a very bad idea.
“This is extreme liberalism and why America‘s in decline,” shouted one woman, who said she was a doctor but declined to give her name. “It’s degrading to women to tell them to expose their breasts publicly.”
“I’m not shocked – we’re in New York City,” said Lindsay Hall, 28, of Maryland. “But speaking from a woman’s perspective, I disagree with them. There’s something to be said for modesty,” she added.
More From Courtney Loveless…
Here’s some more art from the talented Courtney Loveless. There are print available of all the following pieces. Search through [E]lemental KC and check out some more of her I posted before.
Enjoy!
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Mama’s Boy by Courtney Loveless
First Things First by Courtney Loveless
Ethnic Ropes by Courtney Loveless
America The Beautiful – Homeless
(Image Source: Facebook)
I’ve been wanting to do a series of “something”, whether it was movie shorts, prose, or photography of the “beautiful” things in America. I think I’ll start with the picture above. The series is suppose to make you laugh without being offensive. It’s hopefully going to make you think, “Only in America will something like this happen.”
Enjoy!
FWMJ’s Rappers I Know x Funkadelic Freestyles Volume 1: The Off Season Mixtape
Some new to listen to on your way to your 9 to 5.
Peace.
Jamie Foxx – Digital Girl Feat. Drake, The-Dream & Kanye West
This looks like Hype Williams directed it. Check it out!
