In 2006, Nas became a musical generations Ebenezer Scrooge when he declared, “Hip Hop is dead”.  And with ring-tone artist breaking records and making millions, it’s a tough case to argue against. Thankfully for you residents of Southern Cali it’s been resurrected, along with R&B who was on a deathbed of its own.

Check out the list below for dates and take a trip through Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul and Funk – Past, Present and Future– just in times for the holidays. Visit Tickemaster for more information regarding tickets and showtimes.

Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown and Ralph Tresvant | Greek Theater | 11.9     
Method Man/Redman and Guests | HoB – Sunset | 11.11                           
Lupe Fiasco | Club Nokia | 11.12                               
Q-Tip w/ Special Guests | HoB – Sunset  | 11.15                
Usher | Club Nokia | 11.19          
Maze ft. Frankie Beverly| Riverside Municipal Auditorium | 11.21            
Ludacris | Claremont Colleges | 11.22                    
Shwazy | Roxy Theater  | 11.24                
Eric Benet | HoB – Sunset | 11.26                            
Nas | Club Nokia | 11.26              
Bell Biv Devoe | HoB – Sunset | 11.28                    
The Temptations | Gibson Amphitheater | 11.28                        
Bone Thugs N Harmony | Club Nokia | 11.30                      
Jeffrey Osborne | Grove of Anaheim | 12.3                         
Wu Tang Clan | HoB – Sunset | 12.4        
Meshell Ndegeocello/The Coup | HoB – Sunset | 12.8   
Anthony Hamilton | Hob – Anaheim | 12.11                       
Murs | El Rey Theater | 12.11    
Keith Sweat, Guy, Toni Tony Tone | Gibson Amphitheater | 12.20
George Clinton and Parliament  | Club Nokia | 1.2                           

Somethings to think about…

Chris Focus - Night Cap

And for your ride to work in the morning..

Chris Focus - We Did It

One of my biggest problems with this SoCal relocation is the lack of good ‘ole fashion dirty south music. The songs you hear in the club before the radio or video. The songs you hear in the strip club before the club. The heavy hitting bass lines that you feel in your chest (pause), that make cats riding with factory turn it up like they got beat in their trunks.

Enter the “Aint I” remix by Yung L.A. ft Young Dro and T.I., a song that I will personally lobby to get played in Hollywood. With my cultural connections to home fading like McCain in the polls, this video was the highlight of my week – depressing I know.

It aint ground breaking Hip-Hop…Yung Leland Austin (despite the Mohawk, Yung L.A. indeed has no affiliation with Los Angeles) raps about what he has and what he does. Young Dro raps about what he has, what he does, and who is on the song. T.I. raps about what he has, what he does, who he is, where he is, where he’s going and community service.

AND IT KNOCKS!

With Clifford’s “Countdown to Lockdown” already begun, be on the lookout for Yung L.A. to fill the PSC/Grand Hustle void that Young Dro has had trouble with.

“…we elevated at the center of the galaxy, don’t get sonned…”

A while back Thurzday told that MTV would be debuting their new music video for Soul Hop, and while over on  Eazee St., I saw a post that the video would drop 6am Wednesday morning on MTV2.  Of course I wouldn’t be up at 6am, but I was able to catch the video before I left the house, and I was impressed.  A great video that matches with the song perfectly,  I felt it only appropriate to quote the line above from the song.  I also was able to grab  the remix to Beautiful Day with has an all star cast and new verses from U.N.I.  Check the new video Soul Hop from MTV Break Out Artist of the Year U.N.I.

UNI - Beautiful Day Remix

UNI - Soul Hop

I would be devastated if I walked up to my car and saw something similar to what is pictured above on the ground near my vehicle, but I can’t really front on Jazmine Sullivan’s newest single, its pretty entertaining. A song describing her actions after catching her man doing some un-champion lover type activity and a video to match showing her doing some damage of her own. Something that you have to see for your self, so I posted it below. Hopefully I never get to hear of any of my boys getting their windows busted, but now that there is a song about it, I am sure people will be sharing stories.

In addition Jazmine Sullivan will be in concert opening for Maxwell on November 1st at the Shrine. I earlier reported that he would be dropping an album soon, but that proved to be erroneous. He did pop up in a surprise performance during the BET Awards tribute to Al Green. Check them both out, promises to be a great show.

The Southern California concert line up has been pretty serious the past couple of months, and the timing could not be worse, i mean we are in a recession right, but so what.  I plan on driving the distance to see The Roots and U.N.I. at UCR on Friday, and try and push some of these White House Black T-Shirts.  There is a great line up next Tuesday at the House of Blues on Sunset, David Banner, Talib Kweli and Little Brother.  Each with new music to perform and old classics to show case, ill be in the House.

David Banner, Talib Kweli & Little Brother
House of Blues
Tuesday, September 30th.

Music marketing and promotion has always been a difficult task, to reach an audience who is bombarded by artist who have little talent but large budgets, the quality artist are usually overlooked.  With many new internet and viral initiatives being put in place to catch attention of consumers, many go unseen and unappreciated.  With a degree in the formal teaching of marketing I pay close attention to any fresh and innovative marketing efforts.  Today I saw the Monday Night Football billboards with actually astroturf and chalk writing.   I tried to snatch it off the wall, I will let you know if I get my hands on one, but that’s not what this is about.  Phonte and Nicolay are gearing up for their second collaboration, Foreign Exchange Leave It All Behind (LIAB).  The first album Connected was great, nice mellow beats, fresh lyrics, something that you can play thru with out getting bored or tired.  They have released tree videos of different chat conversations, leaving things very vague, and most fans sitting on the edge of their seat like when Kells dropped the first couple Trapped in the Closet songs, before it got weird.  I am looking forward to this project, available for digital download on October 7^th and in store on October 14^th, check out the videos below, look up the Connected project to get acquainted. 

No this is not about the presidential race, but about a few other people that need your vote, coincidentally all at the same time. Read the step by step guide on how to help.

A few weeks ago we posted on Fonzworth Bentley’s video for his new single Everbody featuring Kanye & Andre 3000, with the MTV Video Music Awards around the corner, the call has been set forth to nominate this classic for Video of the Year. Click here and scroll down Fonzworth and provide your vote.

Everybody - Mr. Bentley w/ Kanye & Andre 3000

Also on the MTV VMA Ballot is Los Angeles’s own U-N-I, whose song Supreme has been on our music player for sometime now, has been nominated as one of LA’s Best Break Out Artist. The winner will be revealed at the awards and we want to make sure they take the title. Check out the song & Click here to vote, and represent for U-N-I.

U-N-I - Supreme

Last but certainly not least, we [elevatedla.com] need your help.The 2008 Black Web Black Awards nomination process has begun and we need nominations & votes in the categories: Best Blog Design, Best Food Blog, Best Group Blog, Best Photo Blog, & Blog to Watch. Nominate for one category or ALL.

It will only take a few minutes for this and this can serve as some early practice for the big vote in November, but more on that later!

…EVERYONE. It seems like every year, this show gets better. The Rock the Bells International Festival Series is making its way to Southern California this Saturday. With a ridiculous line up of artist that includes, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul, Red & Meth and A Tribe Called Quest just to name a few. Plenty of tickets left, account for the cost of gas driving to what should be considered another state, but fact remains its more than worth it. Plan to spend your whole day in the sun, the door open at 11am and show ends at 11pm.

Rock the Bells Festival Series 2008
Glen Helen Pavilion, Devore, CA
Sat, Aug 9, 2008 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Get Tickets Here

Just got the email from my man Dave, saying that the “Video is Up over on Kanye’s Blog!” And I must say that the video is very fresh. The song has been floating around the net for some while now, and the video has finally dropped. The video is for the song Everybody, by Mr. Bentley featuring Kanye, Andre 3000 and produced by Sa-Ra, the video showcases classics performances by each of the, and is directed by Dion Watkins. Shout out to the whole crew for a great song and video to compliment it. Make sure to check out Bentley tonight in the premier of G’s to Gents on MTV. Video and message from Bentley below.

Bentley X elevatedla.com

If you know that classic and said “Its mine, its mine, its mine” then you probably know that today Nas dropped his 9^th studio album “Untitled.” With plenty of controversy surrounding this album because of its initial title, many have been awaiting its arrival. Already being rated as a classic in many notable publications make sure to cop the album today. If you have been paying close attention to our events, you will know that Nas has be a guest and host on more than one occasion, and its only fitting that we produce his Official Album Release Party tomorrow night at Cabana Club. In addition the 2008 EPSY Awards will be filmed tomorrow night, and its is only appropriate that our favorite athletes join us in celebration. Cuttino Mobley (Clippers), Matt Kemp (Dodgers) Vernon Davis (49ers) Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper (Chargers) will co-host this combo event.

In review, today go buy Nas album “Untitled”, tomorrow join us for Nas’s Official Album Release Party/ESPY Awards After Party. Though you will never be quizzed on these things, you may still want to take notes, “Hustle Hard, Eat Well, Live Elevated.”

I could never understand why so many people dreaded Mondays. Starting of a new week, back in the office, and if you were lucky you have stories to share with your co-workers on what a great weekend you had. Though there is no known cure for the a case of the Mondays, I prescribe a little medicine I stumbled upon.

Every Monday Phonte of Little Brother and DJ Brianchild release a podcast episode of the Gordon Gartrell Radio Show. A mix of great music and comedic yet prophetic commentary make for good listening while working on those TPS reports. You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, or just check back for their updates. If you can’t listen to music while sitting in your cubicle, you can get a new job, or just download it and listen later.