Author Archives: UnRated Magazine

MC Pavy Explores Middle Class Ignorance

Progressive, ambitious and vigorous are just some of the words used to describe MC and self-proclaimed prophet, Pavy (Progressive Ambitious Vigorous Youngin’). Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Pavy began writing and rhyming at 14 and has grown into what will be known as “The Prophet”.

His passion and love for music isn’t hard to grasp when listening to his songs. What started out as a hobby for this young man became the one thing that others define as his “calling”. Two years ago he linked up with local label Straight Up Hustlin’ Entertainment to release his first project Jackin’ For Beats Vol.1. that spawned over 6,000 internet downloads. His main goal is to make music for the kindred souls who are orient of realness.

His latest album, Middle Class Ignorance, features  appearances from Capital K, Vic Spencer, The Boy Illinois, D2G, JDP, Ashley Laschelle and Ca$hflow Ellis. “This project was crafted over a period of two years,” explains Pavy. “I was 18 when I started and when I finished I was what I am now, 20. So the idea of Middle Class Ignorance has changed as my mind frame has also changed. I feel ignorance – or the sense of obliviousness – is very important in life, because if I logically looked at the odds I would never attempt to succeed in music. I feel like this is the beginning of life for me and hopefully you guys like the music enough to tag along for the ride.” 

For more information on Pavy, check out www.pavyworld.com  and to listen to Middle Class Ignorance, visit http://pavy.bandcamp.com/

AT&T Brings Back 28 Days Speaker Series Featuring Common, Holly Robinson Peete, Kevin Powell and More

AT&T is bringing back the AT&T 28 Days speaker series to motivate consumers to have a voice, share their vision and move into action this Black History Month and throughout the new year.

The AT&T 28 Days campaign has always been centered around reflecting on the past and creating your own history and this year is no different. Now in its fourth year, the AT&T 28 Days campaign is giving consumers, especially youth, a new campaign sound to listen to that will empower them to achieve their dreams beyond February,” said Jennifer Jones, vice president of diverse markets, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

The AT&T 28 Days speaker series features some of today’s influential and respected leaders offering their own unique perspectives to inspire consumers to use their voices, creative visions and actions to shape their own future.

In 2012, four new cities will be added to the AT&T 28 Days speaker series tour: Dallas, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Detroit, Mich. AT&T 28 Days kicked off in Dallas, Texas at the House of Blues on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 16. Other stops on the seven-city AT&T 28 Days speaker series tour include: 

• Scottish Rite Center; Wednesday, Feb. 1 in Oakland, Calif.

• Fletcher Opera Theater; Wednesday, Feb. 8 in Raleigh, N.C.

• Howard University-Cramton Auditorium; Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C.

• Ohio Theatre; Monday, Feb. 20 in Cleveland, Ohio

• Park West Theatre; Thursday, Feb. 23 in Chicago, Ill.

• Shriners Silver Garden Events Center; Wednesday, Feb. 29 in Detroit, Mich.

The speaker series events are free and open to the general public and tickets are available at att.com/28days on a first come first serve basis. In addition, three of the speaker series events will be streamed live at facebook.com/att28days and the streaming schedule will be announced at a future date. This year’s speakers include: Kevin Powell, Jeff Johnson, Holly Robinson Peete, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Desiree RogersPast AT&T 28 Days speaker series lineups have included celebrities and thought leaders such as health fitness champion Laila Ali, and hip-hop media mogul and philanthropist Russell Simmons.

 With a new campaign rhythm, AT&T has included an interactive sweepstakes on att.com/28days that will interface with Facebook and Twitter, for consumers to share inspirational comments and photos in relation to the song. When consumers post comments and photos, they will be entered for a chance to win technology prizes and autographed merchandise. Prizes will be drawn weekly and consumers will be allowed one entry per person. For more information about AT&T 28 Days and AT&T’s Black History Month programs, visit att.com/28days.


Photo and video courtesy AT&T

De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present ‘First Serve’ Album

The last we heard of First Serve it was 3AM in a Parisian suburb at an out of control house party with ‘The Goon Time Mixtape’ blasting into the night.  That was just a taste of things to come from De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 present ‘First Serve’; a dynamic hip-hop group, an album, a concept, the soundtrack to a movie that has yet to be made and a fable for our times.

‘First Serve’ is many things, but at its heart it is the story of two young boys from Queens, New York with big dreams and larger rhymes. Two friends, Deen Whitter (aka Plug 2 / Dave) and Jacob ‘Pop Life’ Barrow (aka Plug 1/ Pos), friends from seventh grade, are by their own admission, “different, but the differences seem to complement everything we do.” Their name ‘First Serve’ comes from their motto, “First come, First Serve, get what you deserve.”

We get a glimpse into their world in the form of the ‘Mrs. Whitter’ skit where we see the duo during the early days in Deen’s mother’s basement, the location of years of laying down demos and mixtapes on the hustle in the hip-hop game.  With Deen’s mother Eleanor giving them endless flack, the duo don’t get much peace and quiet to sip on a 40oz beer and smoke a joint in their hyper-colour, animated world.

Due to hit the streets in April 2012, the ‘First Serve’ album tells the story of two dreamers in a basement struggling to start their musical career, the battles they face, through to the point that they eventually release their debut single, ‘make it big’ and their hard work and persistence finally pays off. As we know that is rarely where the story ends and the story of ‘First Serve’ is no different. Taking place in an animated world that could have been imagined by Hawley Pratt on Magic Mushrooms, the high spirited and often hilarious journey is pure old school hip-hop; skits, disco, beats, funk, quips, burns and hustlin’ all included.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele Come to Comedy Central With New Series Key & Peele

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele make their mark on Comedy Central with the new half-hour sketch comedy show “Key & Peele,” debuting on Tuesday, January 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, following the fourth season premiere of “Tosh.0.”  Key and Peele are best known for their impressive ability to do improv, conjure up original characters and celebrity impressions.

In this new series, these fresh, relevant comedic actor-writers, used to being on the outside looking in, will examine life in a provocative and irreverent way, through a combination of filmed sketches and live stage segments.  Whether it’s satirizing the President, spoofing Nazis, or ordering up some soul food, “Key & Peele” will showcase their chemistry, camaraderie and unique point of view, born from their shared background and experiences growing up biracial in a not quite post-racial world.

The premiere episode features Key and Peele as two browbeaten husbands who lie to each other in a game of one-upmanship, which leads into shorts that parody Lil’ Wayne rapping from jail about how he’s the baddest motherf*&ker around, but is constantly getting stabbed by the other much tougher inmates; an Obama sketch where Peele impersonates the President and Key plays his “anger translator” to show that Obama does lose his cool at times; and “Gideon’s Kitchen” a reality cooking competition where the head chef is impossible to read.

Keegan-Michael Key was a member of Second City Detroit’s main stage cast as well as the Second City Chicago the e.t.c. theatre, where he wrote and performed shows “Holy War,” “Batman!” and “Curious George Goes to War“ for which he won several Joseph Jefferson Awards (which honor excellence in Chicago theater). While still in Chicago, Keegan was hired as a regular on Fox’s “MADtv,” which he starred in for six seasons.  He dazzled the audience with original characters including Coach Hines, Eugene Struthers and Jovan Muskatelle; and his celebrity impressions including Dennis Rodman and Snoop Dogg.  Additionally, Keegan recurred as the ‘Theoretical Criminal’ on Comedy Central’s “RENO 911!” and was a series regular on CBS’s “Gary Unmarried” playing Jay Mohr’s best friend ‘Curtis.’  His guest star credits include NBC’s “ER“ and “Love Bites,” Adult Swim’s “Children’s Hospital,” and FX’s “The League.”

A former “MADtv” alum, Jordan Peele was a series regular for five seasons.  There he impressed the audience with original characters including Dontel LaMontrose, Noodles the Krumper and Melvin Dufrane; and celebrity impressions including Montel Williams, Forest Whittaker, President Obama and Morgan Freeman.  In 2008, Jordan received an Emmy® nomination for his music video “Sad Fitty Cent.”  Jordan presently recurs as ‘Dr. Brian’ on Adult Swim’s “Children’s Hospital” and has appeared on Comedy Central’s “RENO 911!” and “Chocolate News,” and NBC’s “Love Bites.”

 

Key & Peele January 2012
Sneak Peek – Phone Call
www.comedycentral.com
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TV Land Picks Up New Series “Have Faith” Starring Cedric The Entertainer

TV Land has picked up its fifth original sitcom, “Have Faith,” starring Cedric “The Entertainer,” it was announced today at the TCA Winter Press Tour by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. The network has ordered 12 episodes for the first season, which is set to premiere in June of this year.

The sitcom, which was created by Cedric and “Hot in Cleveland” creator Suzanne Martin, revolves around Cedric’s character, Reverend Boyce “The Voice” Ballentine, an R&B superstar-turned-minister who takes over as preacher of his father’s church. Niecy Nash (“Reno 911”) also stars as the reverend’s wife, Lolli. The pilot also features John Beasley (“Everwood”) as his father, Wesley Jonathan (“What I Like About You”) as his younger brother, and Jazz Raycole (“My Wife and Kids”) as his daughter. The character of Reverend Boyce originated on a second season episode of “Hot in Cleveland” in which Cedric guest-starred.

“The show that Cedric and Suzanne have created is a fantastic family sitcom that you just don’t see as much on TV today,” said Jones. “That’s just one of the reasons we’re so thrilled to welcome him to the TV Land family. From the moment he appeared on ‘Hot in Cleveland,’ we knew we wanted to work with him in a greater capacity.”

Gym Class Heroes, B.o.B and More to Perform at Vh1’s Pepsi Superbowl Fan Jam

VH1, Pepsi and the NFL are bridging the gap between football and music with another year of VH1’s “Pepsi Superbowl Fan Jam.” Taking place at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds, this year’s sold-out concert extravaganza will pay tribute to the All-American sport of football and its 46th Super Bowl, with performances by Gym Class Heroes, B.o.B and The All-American Rejects, among other special guest appearances and performances. Carrie Keagan and Jason Dundas from VH1’s “Big Morning Buzz Live” will host the night’s festivities, which will not only include spectacular live performances but will feature candid interviews and appearances from many of the NFL’s biggest players. VH1’s “Pepsi Superbowl Fan Jam” will air live on VH1 on Thursday, February 2 at 9 PM.*

Gym Class Heroes, with frontman Travie McCoy , kick off the night as they perform some of their biggest hits and songs from their new album “The Papercut Chronicles II,” including a guest performance by Adam Levine on the hit song “Stereo Hearts.” Neon Hitch will join the group on their current single “Ass Back Home.”

Fresh off of five Grammy nominations for his debut album, and preparing to launch the follow-up album “Strange Clouds” this Spring, B.o.B will also take the stage, as will The All-American Rejects, who, after selling more than 4 million albums and 16 million singles worldwide, are set to release their fourth studio album, “Kids In The Street” which will also be released Spring 2012.

All of the performances from VH1’s “Pepsi Superbowl Fan Jam” will be available online at fanjam.vh1.com following the on-air premiere on February 2.

Film Review: The Grey

By Sommer Thornton

Liam Neeson (Taken) comes out the gate in 2012 in director Joe Carnahan’s new survival drama, “The Grey.” Liam Neeson stars as John, a brawny member of an Alaska oil drilling team, who is so plagued by his wife’s death he’s near suicide. But John and his crew soon meet immeasurable disaster when their plane crashes in the arctic. The survivors soon learn that in no man’s land, they are governed only by the laws of the wild, and John emerges as the “alpha”. The men must seek shelter, hunt, and evade multiple packs of wolves, whose territory they’ve invaded.

It wasn’t just the dense Alaskan landscape, but the compelling point of view shots of the plane crash and of the survivors in their most perilous moments that puts the viewer in the axis of terror. For some reason, John is never a pretentious hero. Yet he risks his life to save as many of his comrades as he can- probably because he understood that in the wild, there is survival in numbers. As the numbers of his crew dwindle John goes from survival to hero, to cursing God- and begging to be saved.

Liam Neeson is the usual valiant character with a heart, as he was in many of his earlier films. What makes this film worth seeing isn’t the “happy ending”. It’s truly the work of the editor, sound designer, and the cinematographer that make this movie great. At every moment the reverberating growl of the menacing wolves atop the sound of John and the men’s feet crunching backward in the snow mixed with the crackle of the fire immerses the viewer in the wild arctic tundra. I say, go see this movie and think happy thoughts after. The Grey comes out nationwide in theaters January 27, 2012.

Get to know New Artist Luke James

The highly anticipated debut solo work from one of today’s most talked about artists who has yet to release an album is sure not to disappoint fans and critics alike. Luke’s FREE pre-album release of #LUKE will be followed by the full-length release of Luke James’ debut solo album, Made to Love, in 2012.

Packed with interesting breaks and tempo shifts, lead single, “I Want You,” beautifully showcases Luke James’ pure, arresting falsetto. But it is tracks like the haunting “Signs of Rain,” dance influenced “Powerless,” and vocally-layered “Made To Love” on #LUKE that truly illustrate hisdiversity and mastery of the R&B genre.#LUKE pulsates with infectious, hip-hop-influenced beats that perfectly complement Luke James’ outstanding R&B-grounded vocals, and it is this foundation in technique, creativity and god-given talent that is poised to situate this rising star as the one to watch on the R&B / Pop scene.

Having already charmed critics from coast to coast, like being named Hip Hollywood’s October 2011 “Artist of the Month,” one of AOL’s The Boombox’s “Top 15 Artists to Watch” and being asked to headline Give Back Hollywood / VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Pre MTV VMA benefit, Luke James wrapped up his multi-city opening gig on Robin Thicke’s “Love After War” tour in Philadelphia on December 29, 2011. Luke James’ growing celebrity fan base includes Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Estelle and none other than Beyoncé, who selected him for a featured role in her “Run the World” video, and Melanie Fiona, who featured him as her boyfriend in her “4 A.M.” music video. Luke James is also the co-writer of Chris Brown’s “Crawl” and has penned songs for Justin Bieber (“That Should Be Me”), Michael Bolton, and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), among others. #LUKE pre-album available now
http://www.datpiff.com/Luke-James-luke-mixtape.296101.html 

Connect with Luke James at:  www.whoislukejames.com, www.facebook.com/whoislukejames and www.twitter.com/whoislukejames.

The 4th Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts

Over 2,000 people attended WBEZ’s Winter Block Party last year, and this year’s all day FREE Party will again feature a street art and graffiti gallery, a film screening, a literary event, breakdancing exhibitions, the Emcee Olympics, the Hip-Hop Barbershop, live painting by Ruben Aguirre, music all afternoon by some of Chicago’s best DJs, and more from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Metro (3730 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL).

First held in January 2009, this all-ages, all-city celebration of Chicago’s new and emerging artists of the hip-hop generation is truly a chance for everybody from anywhere to experience the breadth and style, multiple elements and forms of the hip-hop arts.

The 2012 culminating event: “Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3” beginning at 8pm (doors at 7:30pm). This retrospective on the history of breakdancing in Chicago will include feature interviews and archive footage, live guests, and the semi-final and final rounds of a live head-to-head “3 on 3” dance battle hosted by Legendary Brickheadz.

View the 2012 street art and graffiti gallery exhibition, curated by Believe Inn & Kevin Coval and featuring: Chris Silva, Lauren Feece, Krista Franklin, Ruben Aguirre, Kane One, Angela Davis Fegan, Justus Roe a.k.a djwhitelightning, Brett Whitacre, Stephen Flemister, Anthony Lewellen, Cove, Dustin Harris, Greg Penrice, Jourdan Gullet, Mario “Zore” Gonzalez Jr., Melon, Nerd, Peter Kepha, Robert Stevenson, Sam Kirk, Solo, Statik, Stef G, Roper Fuentes, B-Boy B, Qutress Trevino, and Trixter.

Shop the marketplace featuring Haymarkert Books and The Silver Room, along with works by participating visual artists. A complete Catalog of works-for-sale will be available at the door.

Listen to the sounds of the Vocalo DJ Collective – bringing  music & the art of mixing & scratching back to the radio – showcasing Chicago DJs Pumpin Pete, Big Once, Trancid, Charlie, and Jesse De La Pena.  Hosted by Vocalo’s Luis Perez and Dirty (formally of Liquid Soul).

1pm: FILM SCREENING (free – limited seating available): “The People Speak” is a film inspired by Howard Zinn’s books A People’s History of the United States and Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Narrated by acclaimed historian Howard Zinn, and using dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans, this documentary feature film gives voice to those who spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history, forging a nation from the bottom up with their insistence on equality and justice. Click here to view the trailer.

3pm: “WORD: ACROSS GENERATIONS” (free – limited seating available): Listen in as some of the most prolific and profound poets in Chicago come together to perform their work and participate in a collective conversation about the power of words.  Featuring Roger Bonair-Agard, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who is a veteran of the spoken-word scene and a two-time National Poetry Slam Champion. His most recent book of poems is Gully. Bonair-Agard will be joined by Chance, one of Chicago’s emerging hip hop talents, and Fatima Warner, a hip hop artist from Chicago’s South Side and a member of DatSkat. This event is a production of The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council, which aims to foster debate, dialogue, and exchange of ideas about cultural, social and political issues with an emphasis on social justice. Click here for more information about The Public Square.

4pm: “All-City 3-on-3” Prelims (free) – it was the most popular event of the Party last year, so we’ve moved it to the main stage and tripled the action: see some of Chicago’s best breakdancing crews in this head-to-head “3 on 3” dance battle, hosted by Legendary Brickheadz. The top 8 squads will advance to the Semi-Finals/Finals, which will be held at 8pm (see below). Winning Squad gets a $1,000 cash prize! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP YOUR CREW FOR THE COMPETITION or sign up on-site beginning at 1pm. *PLEASE NOTE: All participating dancers who do not advance to the Semi-Finals will receive a complimentary ticket to “Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3” at 8PM.

4:30pm: EMCEE OLYMPICS (free – limited seating available): Hosted by Urbanized Music‘s Amina and Coolout, Founders of Chicago’s Hip-Hop Heritage Month, the Emcee Olympics is a NOT a traditional battle – rather it is a competition testing ALL the skills an emcee should have: freestyle, bar writing, crowd participation, and more. Emcees need to prepare a 16 bar verse AND a whole song (bring a beat for your song or we will provide one for you), AND be prepared to engage in several skill challenges. No homophobic, sexist or racist language. Winning Emcee gets two hours professional recording time at the WBEZ Performance Studio. Elevate! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP or sign up on-site beginning at 1pm. *PLEASE NOTE: All participating emcees will receive a complimentary ticket to “Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3” at 8PM.

This year’s main event “Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3” will begin at 8pm (doors at 7:30pm). This retrospective on the history of breakdancing in Chicago will include feature interviews and archive footage, live guests, and the semi-final and final rounds of a live head-to-head “3 on 3” dance battle hosted by Brickheadz.

Admission is free from noon to 6:00 p.m.; 8 p.m. admission is $15/$12 for WBEZ members and $10 for students. For more information, visit www.wbez.org