Body Boyz Memorial Weekend BBQ + Pool Party - Saturday May 28, 2011

Summer is right around the corner and what better way to kick it off then with my Body Boyz crew! In preparation for Body Boyz 2011 in Las Vegas, the crew is having their annual BBQ and Pool Party in Los Angeles. Yes I will be there helping out, hosting, and having fun by the pool. So all the boyz with body and the men who love them need to be there to represent!

The event takes place on Saturday May 28, 2011 from 12 noon - 6pm. The address is 5434 South Garth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90056

Presale tickets can be purchased for $15 online at HERE

More info at http://bodyboyzunited.com

Facebook invite

NoChella Weekend 2011 Recap

Mega-Festival Coachella sold out in a record 6 days in 2011, leaving many folks, including myself in a bind. But when life throws you lemons, what is left to do but make lemonade, and thus NOCHELLA was born! With a ton of parties popping up to take advantage of the extra people in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert cities, the idea of driving out to the desert to hit up a few FREE parties seemed pretty logical (and thrifty).

With Palm Springs accommodations on lock and trusty sidekick George by my side, I made the journey to the desert Friday night and headed straight to the Ace Hotel. Our goal was to catch Flying Lotus but that didn't happen. There were just a bunch of random hipsters looking for something to do. We made our way to our lovely house (666 Thornhill Road) and prepared for the next day of fun.

Saturday was a bit of a mission to drive from Palm Springs to Bermuda Dunes. Roads in Palm Springs tend be geared towards locals so getting lost if actually quite easy. I finally touched down at a Interscope party sponsored by Belvedere. It was at a really sexy house and Chad Hugo from the Neptunes was spinning. There was free vodka but by the time we got there all that was left was Bloody Mary Flavor(who thinks of this shit?) so after one drink we were out. So it was back to the Ace for Scion's Rhonda party. It was a little light by the time we got there so we then made our way to LA's Smog party in downtown Palm Springs. The all-dubstep affair featured a nice surprise set from Magnetic Man's Skream. The vibe was on point and the music was proper all night.

After an all-night rager at our 666 house and lot of pool action on Sunday morning, the Ace Hotel called again. Although I wanted to drive out to Bermuda Dunes to check out the Brainfeeder party, driving 20 miles in the heat did not seem like a great idea when the Ace was just 1.5 miles away. The Do-Over went off at the Ace. BoysNoize and Cosmo Baker dropped sexy and varied sets that kept the crowd moving. The party actually had a covered dancefloor and in the 100 degree weather this was an essential element to keeping bodies moving. Props to the Do-Over for the smart move.

Overall my Nochella weekend was a fun getaway from LA that was inexpensive, yet packed with lots of new places, people, and experiences. For those looking to soak up some of the Coachella vibes without breaking the bank, this is definitely a wonderful option for 2012!

NoChella is coming!

Another year, another Coachella. And yet another year that I couldn't get a press pass! BOOOOO! But never fear. Coachella has never actually been my favorite event to attend. 3 days in the hot desert, walking for what feels like miles to get from tent to tent only to be so far in the back that you can't even see the artists you want to see. So for the second time I am driving out to the Palm Desert Cities to experience what I like to call NoChella. Each year more and more parties have been popping up surrounding the festival to make use of all the sponsorship money and impressive talent at the festival. So safe to say that there will be plenty to do. Some well known record labels, corporations, and party promoters are doing their thing so it is sure to be a great time. Some of the things that caught my eye include Smog's Coachella afterparty on Saturday night, 2 pool parties from Scion, a collaboration party from Brainfeeder and Stones Throw, and a Belvdedere sponsored pool party! Stay tuned for my review and photos from NoChella!

Nikki Grier + Jazzy at Nu-Thursdays April 14

Excited for another week at my event Nu-Thursdays! On April 14 I am hosting two Nu-R&B divas. The first is Nikki Grier who is signed with Aftermath. She writes with Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Busta Rhymes so you know she is the business! The second is Jazzy, who performed at one of my very first events but has since sang background for Melanie Fiona and written for Jamie Foxx. Both ladies will be performing with the amazing Breezy Lovejoy!

See you at Little Temple

4519 Santa Monica Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90029

$10 all night!

RSVP on facebook

Body Boyz Model Contest

 

I will be a part of the Body Boyz crew again this year in Las Vegas! Body Boyz has just announced a special contest to join the crew. Info is on the flyer above. Just submit your photos and info to FLex at fitnessmodel@bodyboyzunited.com

http://bodyboyzunited.com

I am hosting ART + SOUL w/ The Rebirth Saturday April 2, 2011

I am back with another edition of ART + SOUL. I put together a lot of events but this one holds a special place in my heart. The venue and vibe are truly unique and amazing! If you are in downtown Los Angeles this Saturday you should come check out this synthesis of art and music. It's FREE until 11pm with a RSVP to the following link: http://tinyurl.com/artsoulapril2011

My interview with Taylor McFerrin

Taylor McFerrin is a one man band of sorts, creating musical gold with his hands and voice that traverses traditional jazz and soul to progressive hip-hop and dubstep. I was lucky enough to interview this amazing artist. And yes he is the son of Bobby McFerrin!

Read the Nu-Soul Magazine interview

My Thoughts on WMC 2011

 

Winter Music Conference 2011 will always be known as the year of controversy. With the much discussed fights between WMC and the Ultra Music Festival and the subsequent split into 2 separate weeks in March, no one really knew what to expect this year. Having attended Ultra since its inception in 1999 and watch it grow and, in recent years, get worse, I decided to show my support to WMC who seemed to uphold the values that drew me to dance music in the first place. While this year's WMC was largely a subdued affair, compared to previous years, it allowed me the perfect opportunity to explore events, artists, and promoters that I had ignored because off all the big parties. My experience was unlike any year that I had been before and the smaller more intimate crowds we right up my alley.

Highlights for me this year included my involvement with NextAid and their Beauty & the Beats event. A unique event held at South Beach's Primp Salon, visitors could get their hair done while listening to house beats and sipping on wine. This was a surprisingly lively event and stood out as being uniquely Miami. Large Music's party also held a special place with some of the best house music I heard all week. I mostly hung out in smaller venues, catching Mark Farina at a tiny packed bar, catching the Geishaz spinning amazing electro bass at Jazid, digesting the warm house at Sobe Live courtesy of NextAid, chilling with my Om records friends at the gorgeous Setai hotel, random beats at South Beach dive bar Liquor Lounge. This year it wasn't about catching the biggest and most popular DJs. It was simply about the feeling of discovery and renewal that dance music can provide. And while most people are preparing to go to Miami for all the Ultra craziness, I feel fully satisfied in my personal and rather intimate experience I had at WMC this year. It was a return to basics. Friends, Fun, and Fierce Music!

I am doing PR for Jayvon!

 

So I have taken on yet another project but this one is easy. I am officially doing PR for my friend DJ/producer/remixer Jayvon. One can say that I have always been his publicist. I did his first few interviews and I have always been a champion of his music back when he was handing out drum&bass mixtapes at raves. Well since then Jayvon has grown into an eclectic artist, dropping remixes for major artists like Rihanna and Sade, going on several sponsored tours, rocking a K-Swiss ad campaign, and producing lots of mixes in all genres and styles. I am proud to be on team Jayvon so definitely look out for more from me and this awesomely talented dude that I call friend!

http://jayvonbeatz.com

Japan Relief March 24: My response to the events in Japan

Like everyone I was shocked by the level of devastation that hit Japan last week from an Earthquake, tsunami, and now nuclear radiation. Since I have a weekly event and a whole lot of DJ friends I decided I should throw a party to raise money to send to Japan. The resulting event will take place on Thursday March 24 at Little Temple here in Los Angeles and will feature some of the city's best DJs in all genres such as Mark de Clive-Lowe, Abdul Shakir, Jayvon, Eva, Destroyer and many more of my awesome friends. I will be donating all the door proceeds to Direct Relief International! And it's only $5!


RSVP on facebook

I am shooting with T.I. Photography in Miami

So what's all this operation Miami business that I have been tweeting about? Well I am headed to Miami next week for the annual Winter Music Conference. You know you need to look good in Miami so that is a given but while I am there I will be shooting with Philip Brown aka TI Photography! This dude knows how to shoot black men and he only shoots the buffest most muscular black men around. So I have been going super hard at the gym to get that proper TI Photo look. Check out some of the men he has shot and go to his model mayhem page.

http://www.modelmayhem.com/28790

Taylor McFerrin and Nikko Gray at Little Temple

I am so happy to be hosting another week at Little Temple. I am super excited for this one. The uber-talented Taylor McFerrin will be in the house making some live music and beatboxing and the always lovely Nikko Gray will be sharing some of her new music!

RSVP on facebook

I am hosting Jaguar Wright and Lady Alma this Thursday Feb 24!

My year keeps getting crazier with each passing week. Just 2 weeks after I launched my new weekly event called Nu-Thurdays at Little Temple I am having another really big show! I will be hosting hip-hop soul legend Jaguar Wright for a very rare show. If you don't know who she is, she is most known for her scene stealing vocals in Jay-Z' legendary MTV Unplugged performance! She is a truly remarkable vocalist and it is an honor to have her at an intimate venue like Little Temple.

Advance tickets are just $14 via http://templebarconcepts.tickets.musictoday.com/

My Life's Biggest Adventure Begins This Thursday Feb 10, 2011

I started my website Nu-Soul Magazine back in the Fall of 2006 and starting throwing parties to promote the site in the Summer of 2007. Since that time I have seen my events begin humbly in North Hollywood from one monthly showcase to various events around Los Angeles, events in San Diego and San Francisco, one-offs in New York and Atlanta, 2 monthly events and one bi-monthly. But now I am about to begin my first weekly event! The kind folks at Temple Bar Concepts loved what I have been been doing at Little Temple for the past few years and offered me an opportunity to move to a better night (THURSDAY) and duplicate my efforts every week.

I was a bit nervous about it at first but I accepted the offer and now my ass in knee deep in bookings and shows. Yes I am nervous about how everything will turnout but at the same time I am enjoying every breathless minute of it. I am running headlong into my fate, rising to the challenge! If you live in LA you probably saw me out somewhere in the last week; I feel like I've been out every night and I think I have. I have been passing out flyers at night and hitting the emails, twitter, and facebook postings all day! I am so ready for this moment! Let's do it!

I am hosting ART + SOUL at the Mezz this Saturday Feb 5, 2011

 

The last few weeks have been really busy for me as I am preparing to start work on my new weekly event at Little Temple. But before I can get that started I have another event which will now be every other first Saturday in downtown LA. ART + SOUL is another of my creations and it combines the vibe of my Strictly Social live music events with that of an interactive art gallery. If you love both art and music, this party is for you!

It's only $5 to get in but if you RSVP to http://tinyurl.com/artsoulfeb2011 you can get in for FREE until 11pm!