You may already be familiar with Michael Shepard if you’ve listened to the band Lovedrug. He is the founder, singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the iconic indie rock band from Canton, OH. Their last album, Wild Blood, was released two years ago in September 2011, and the band has been busy ever since. Shepard moved to Nashville in 2012 to “take his pop sense, unique vocal style and penchant for powerful rockn’roll to a new level, embarking on a ‘solo’ career where he brands this sound of ‘power rock’ using his name as the hallmark for the band.” The result: Michael Shepard is a Rock Band.
Fans of my music are very stoked about this.. as am I !.. but I’m doing everything on my own now without a label, management, etc. so I need all the help I can get! I love the fact that it’s possible to make records this way now through loving, direct fan support and awesome sites like yours to help get good music heard.
…was the message we received from Michael earlier last week in preparation for his Pledge Music launch. The campaign is set up in a way where fans can benefit greatly from donations by choosing one of a series of pledges that can get them the new album, merchandise, or even an acoustic house concert. If you’re hesitant to give to something that doesn’t exist yet, have no fear. Shepard included demos of exclusive new songs for you to hear, and trust me, you’ll want to hear them. Check out “Supernatural.”
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If you like what you’ve heard so far, don’t turn back now. There’s more where that came from, and Michael needs your help to release these songs that have been building for quite some time now. Living in Nashville, I see a lot of these types of fan-funded projects, but what’s cool is that there really isn’t any competition. In fact, many musicians I know have helped fund each others projects since labels aren’t what they used to be. Many artists like Michael believe in a new system where fans are in control of what music they want to hear, and we’re here to help these artists connect the dots. In the meantime, I think it’s time to hear another demo. Here’s “I’m the Remedy.”
If you haven’t realized already, this isn’t your typical folksy, singer-songwritery solo project. What you also may not realize is that making a record takes a lot more than just recording some songs in your mommas basement. There are engineers, producers, mixers, and musicians working hard to ensure that the best product is created. For more fans to know about it, there has to be marketing. For the artist to stay in the black, they have to sell some albums. If you like what you’ve heard from Michael Shepard so far, support this project! If you’re still unsure, click on the photo below and at least watch the video.
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
4 brothers from Brooklyn. That’s what it reads on Workout’s twitter page. I bring you the single from Workout’s latest release called “If You Touch Me You Might As Well Kill Me”. A buddy of mine just sent it my way. As most everyone knows this type of musical interaction doesn’t always work out. A random youtube videos pops up on a chat. Do I click it? Do i not? I’m I too cool? Too busy? It’s a boring Friday so hey why the (expletive) not. This song is awesome. It’s got an old western ponderosa vibe turned on its head with gritty crunchy guitars and straight up rock and roll. The video itself is straight out of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show. With cool lyrics and great hooks I’m pretty glad I clicked on this video. Upon further examination they seem to be playing a ton of shows in and around the NYC area, mostly Brooklyn and have hit the road with a couple of road trips down to Austin. This tune is a great way to kick off a weekend. Add it to your playlist and get the party started.
If a shark stops swimming, it dies. If a certain Los Angeles bus drops under a certain speed, it will explode. With at least one new release a year since 2001 (with 2007 being the only gap year), someone should check on Ace Enders and make sure he isn’t putting out new music for the same reasons.
Coming off the heels of 2012′s Early November reunion – the band that brought Ace’s voice and songwriting skills to the masses – he’s returned to his solo side-project I Can Make A Mess for a new LP release on Rise Records. The album finds him stepping back from the heavy and loud dynamics of TEN and finding a soft, organic space that moves the I Can Make A Mess sound forward.
Ace’s voice continues to be his most flexible tool and he isn’t afraid to show off his mastery of it. He both whispers and shouts; croons and hollers over the course of the track. The percussion is placed impressively high in the mix, toms thudding along quietly climaxed cymbals and a crisply cracking snare. The soft picked guitar and woozy, tumbling vibe gives the record an interesting texture that suggests the sound as a whole is perhaps more important than any one particular lyric.
Not that the lyrics are anything to scoff at. Ace uses each verse to paint a picture of a world falling to pieces and his place in the middle of it, trying to make the best of the worst. During the chorus he struggles to piece together opposite parts of himself – the side that wants to shine, to fight, to hold his ground and the side that wants to give in and run.
Other standouts from the record include title track “Enola,” with its plaintive, wailing lead guitar -
- and the buzzy, electronica tinged “Listen Lesson/Keep Away”:
A little girl picks up a guitar at a musical instrument shop and shyly sings the chorus of a song she wrote for her dad. Well, at least thats how it played out to many people enjoying Brad Pitt flick “Moneyball.” It was this little pop song (called ‘The Show’), that allowed Australian pop singer-songwriter to become a popular international hit.
Living in Australia, I nearly lost my mind when I heard the song in the movie and was excited to hear that the movie helped her name reach people back in the states (Well, those living under a rock who hadn’t heard it on a few commercials here and there). And was even more excited to see that Lenka would be touring, starting in San Diego.
Lenka played at the incredibly small and intimate Soda Bar, and her coming through the city was definitely well received because it was nothing short of a full house. Accompanying her, were three additional musician, one on guitar, one on the cello, and another on the violin. I had heard that she really wanted to work with strings backing her up, so it looks like she got her wish. And let me tell you, the sound was beautiful. Maybe its just me, and I am just a sucker for a song with a cello, but there was a fullness in Lenka’s songs that you dont hear anywhere else.
Check out her website
She opened the set with ‘Nothing Here but Love’ straight from her new album. Throughout the set she switched between playing the keyboard set up in front of her, clapping her hands or using a tambourine, and playing a small keytar synthesizer…. thing. Nearing the middle of the set she sang my personal favorite of the night, ‘Go to F*king Sleep,’ which was explicit lullaby for adults, which was the centre theme for her third album, Shadows, which just dropped about a week ago. But everyone was excited to hear ‘The Show’, which wasn’t played until the very end during the encore. Everyone, from women who looked like they barely made the legal drinking age, to an old burly biker guy and it was quite a refreshing sigh to behold.
Her set list included popular songs songs such as ‘Trouble is a Friend’, ‘Don’t Let me Fall,’ and ‘Everything at Once’.
So if Lenka comes along to your city, check her out. Her music is feel good, uplifting and just plain fun.
Photos by Lauren Wilson | Ambassador of San Diego, CA | Follow Me on Twitter | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
Nashville was slammed this weekend with one of the biggest events of the year: CMA Fest. Country music swept the town as crazed fans, tourists, and locals walked the downtown streets for hours, nourished by entertainment seeping from every tent, trailer, stage and storefront. However, there was one spot in Nashville on Saturday afternoon where you could find cool, semi-collected locals getting some quality afternoon tunes from a stage in Centennial Park. Musicians Corner is home to hundreds of music-lovers who turn out every weekend to enjoy a few hours of live music from beloved locals, bordered by a line of craved food trucks. This week featured Carolina Story, The Westbound Rangers, Striking Matches, and Skyline Motel on the main stage.
Striking Matches‘ “Hangin’ On A Lie” was recently covered by Hayden Panettiere’s character Juliette on Nashville. Okay, it’s a little country, but we did just close out CMA week. The duo featuring Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis shares every song with a very rare and skillful blend of songwriting, vocal, and guitar playing. Their journey began a few years ago, soon after gaining publishing and management deals. Bigger doors have opened along their way, as many of their songs have appeared on one of ABC’s most popular shows, Nashville. Striking Matches was preceded by The Westbound Rangers, a four-piece bluegrass band, who put on a great raw show like the one in the video below.
We were happy to see Carolina Story on stage earlier in the day. We covered the release of their new album “Home” earlier this year, which you can see here. Musicians Corner is home to some awesome local talent this summer. If you live in Nashville, don’t miss next week’s heavy lineup featuring Ben Sollee, Humming House, Matt Giraud, and Amy Stroup. The best part about it is that it’s FREE! Click on the photo above to check out other lineups this summer.
By Steve Harpine | Nashville Ambassador | @Steve_MWL | Beat-Play & Music Without Labels, LLC
The Dangerous Summer are working backwards towards fame. Over the course of two well-received LPs they’ve defined themselves as masters of the emotive, glimmery space that Jimmy Eat World rocketed out of circa 2001, but they’ve also evolved their sound further and further away from the very polish that could send them into orbit.
Their first single, “Where I Want to Be” is the most consciously radio-friendly they’ve ever been. Big opening, hummable chorus, sparkly, colorful video – these guys were on their way.
Common sense would suggest that the second record would bring TDS their own “The Middle.” Most producers or labels would be begging them to cut down on some of the guitar noodling in the leads, layer some vocoder onto AJs voice and keep the bridge driven by a simple beat. Yeah, yeah, like that! So much easier to remix.
Instead, they did the opposite.
The lead single for their second album - War Paint - demonstrates a band doubling down on their strengths. Singer and writer AJ Perdomo has a way with words that pulls the listener right in, and he delivers them in a full voice that stands out from the whiny, “emo” crowd – much in the same way that Patrick Stump’s soul-wizened croon helped set Fall Out Boy apart from the herd. The only thing that’s informing AJ’s voice seems to be mountains of sadness, the limits of his vocal cords, and maybe the day’s drink of choice – so on this album they decided to show it off. Production polish was stripped to the bone. Not only did the vocal delivery sound even grittier, but Cody Payne’s signature guitars were placed higher in the mix. Why bury the leads when you can blast them nice and loud?
The result was a record that sent fans into a frenzy but didn’t move the needle on their career as much as many had hoped it would.
Record three, Golden Record, drops on August 6th, and the band has released “Catholic Girls” as the first single. Once again, the guitars and vocals sound raw – almost live – but they’ve been anchored to a song that has focus and fire.
The only knock I have is that while the band loves to go for “epic,” this time the entire song is a giant climax. The drumming is a blessing and curse – on one hand, it’s explosive; propulsive; with cymbals erupting like fireworks for four minutes. Tchaikovsky would be stoked. On the other, it’s overkill – like the band hired their drummer off of his too-enthusiastic YouTube cover.
Still, it’s a walloping introduction to an album that has the potential to get the band the most exposure of their career. If they can find the balance of their poppy and passionate sides and ride it out for a dozen or more songs, they might finally back into that rebmun eno tops.
I know first hand how time consuming it is to research every band playing at that music festival you’re going to this summer… In the words of Youtube Icon Sweet Brown… “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”.
So with this in mind, I would like to welcome you to the 1st edition of “The Bottom Line-Up”, a new guide that gives music fans a simple (bottom line) view of all the artist playing in upcoming music festivals! My main goal in starting this series is to give music fans a less time consuming approach to researching festival lineups and a quicker route to discovering the best up and coming artist/bands and the amazing music they’re making. We hope you can use these guides to determine which artists you want to see the most, and thus maximizing your music festival experience.
Each short profile includes the Band Name, Set Time, Genre, Location, Albums, & Factoid, which you can use to impress your friends on when they mention that band thinking you never heard of them before… “Ha! Take that pretentious band know-it-alls!”
Each profile also includes The Bottom Line a descriptive quote that offers insight into the artist/bands style and vibe.
- Scott Benjamin Graham
There are 22 bands playing Governors Ball on Saturday. The bands are listed in order of their scheduled set times.
Moon Hooch Set Time: 12:15 – 12:45pm
Genre: Jazz / Acoustic Dubstep/House
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Since: 2010
Albums: (0)
Factoid: Wenzl McGowen James Muschler (drums) and Mike Wilbur (saxophone) never intended on forming a band together. The three guys attended The New School for Jazz and contemporary music. James is the only graduate.
The Bottom Line: “first spotted on the L train platform, I’ve seen these guys perform their unique “Cave Music” on several occasions, and would be very interested to see how the perform on the big stage”
Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics Set Time: 12:15 – 12:45 pm
Genre: Soul / R&B
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Since: 2009
Albums: (1) It’s About Time (2012)
Factoid: Billboard has recently ranked Ruby’s first album in the top 30 on the Heatseeker charts. In the US, the lead off single “My Dear” was featured as iTunes’ “single of the week”, sparking a digital soul-grab of 200,000 single downloads, and 1200 full album download sales, landing the album at #4 on the iTunes R&B charts.
The Bottom Line: “It’s that rhythm and soul missing from todays music, the kind that takes you right back to to the place you want to be.”
The Rubens Set Time: 12:45 – 1:30 pm
Genre: Alternative Rock
Hometown: Menangle, New South Whales, Australia
Since: 2011
Albums: (1) The Rubens (2012)
Factoid: The band comprises the three Margin brothers, Zaac, Sam and Elliott, and a childhood friend, Scott Baldwin.
The Bottom Line: “An Australian band bringing that early 90′s rock feel with a sound that makes even their recorded songs sound live.”
Robert Delong Set Time: 12:45 – 1:30 pm
Genre: Housem, Electronica, EDM, Moombahton
Hometown: Bothell, WA
Since: 2010
Albums: (1) Just Movement (TBA 2013)
Factoid: DeLong began performing his genre-bending songs in 2010, where he uses MIDI interfaces, a full drum set, drum pads, keyboards, laptops and game controllers, looping his music to fuse electronic dance beats with rock ‘n’ roll melodies.
The Bottom Line: “Combining personal and thought provoking lyrics with great 8-bit inspired production to create positive dance tracks.”
Wild Nothing Set Time: 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Dream Pop
Hometown: Blacksburg, VA
Since: 2009
Albums: (2) Gemini (2010), Nocturne (2012)
Factoid: Jack Tatum previously played in bands Jack and the Whale, and FACEPAINT in the college town of Blacksburg, VA. He began recording under the name Wild Nothing in the summer of 2009.
The Bottom Line: “Jack Tatum is at it all by himself delivering soft emotional lyrics over relaxed indie pop rhythms that appeals to a wide audience”
Factoid: Grant Kwiecinski a.k.a. “GRiZ” is an independent American electronic music artist but first became classically trained in Alto Saxophone and as a piano player which he likes to incorporate in his recording and live show.
The Bottom Line: “Labeled as future funk and if this is true, I’m excited for the future! What Griz has accomplished in his first year with Mad Liberation is taking the perfect sample choice and funking the shit out of it. Good enough to catch the attention of Bassnectar and Big Gigantic, both of which he toured with in just the last 9 months.”
MS MR Set Time: 2:15 – 3:00 pm
Genre: Art Rock, Dream Pop
Hometown: New York, NY
Since: 2011
Albums: (1) Secondhand Rapture (2013)
Factoid: According to band member, Channy Leaneagh, Polica is Polish for “policy”, and she sees it as a reference to an unwritten code that guides the members when they play together, as well as its work ethic.
The Bottom Line: “Beautiful voice. Feel good inspiration flows through the production and capitivates the mind, body, and soul.”
Icona Pop Set Time: 2:15 – 3:00 pm
Genre: Dance, Electro Pop
Hometown: Stockholm Sweeden
Since: 2009
Albums: (1) Icona Pop (2012)
Factoid: Members Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo both who grew up in Stockholm but didn’t meet till 2009, when they were introduced to each other at a party.
The Bottom Line: “Classical pop melodies with drums and synths which you can both laugh and cry with at the same time”.
Japandroids Set Time: 3:00 – 3:45 pm
Genre: Indie Rock, Garage Rock, Noise Rock
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Since: 2006
Albums: (2) Post-Nothing (2009) Celebration Rock (2012)
Impress Your Friends Factoid: The name Japandroids came from two other band name ideas: Japanese Scream (from Prowse) and Pleasure Droids (from King).[2] Occasionally they would spell it without vowels, as JPNDRDS.
The Bottom Line: “powerful guitars and beautiful screams are the outcome when influences of punk, grunge, pop, and classic rock join in a four way marriage”
Paper Diamond Set Time: 3:00 – 3:45pm
Genre: Electronic (DJ), Electro Soul, Trap, Dubstep
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Since: 2011
Albums: (1) Levitate
Factoid: Alex Botwin a.k.a. Paper Diamond started out as a bassist for the dance music Pnuma Trio in 2004 before becoming an owner of a record label, design company and store owner under the name Elm & Oak in downtown Boulder, Colorado.
The Bottom Line: “Perfection in production, creative bass styles, poppy vocals, hyper breaks, and all out dance jams”
Dirty Projectors Set Time: 4:45 – 5:45pm
Genre: Indie Rock, Experimental Rock
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Since: 2002
Albums: (7) The Glad Fact (2003), Morning Better Last! (2003), Slaves’ Graves and Ballads (2004), The Getty Address (2005), Rise Above (20007), Bitte Orca (2009), Swing Lo Magellan (2012)
Factoid: The band, started by vocalist and guitarist David Longstreth while attending his freshmen year at Yale, the band currently has 6 members including himself and lists 17 people as past members.
The Bottom Line: “If their was an award for best use of random sounds The Dirty Projectors would win the lifetime achievement award, using some of the most interesting noises I’ve heard on a record and churning them into the most unique and ever-intriguing musical masterpieces.
Fucked Up Set Time: 4:45 – 5:45pm
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Experimental Rock
Hometown: Toronoto, Ontario, Canada
Since: 2001
Albums: (3) Hidden World (2006), The Cheistry of Common Life (2008), David Comes to Life (2011)
Factoid: Everyone in the band goes by nicknames 10,000 Marbles (Mike Haliechuk), Father Damian / Pink Eyes (Damian Abraham), Mustard Gas (Sandy Miranda), Concentration Camp / Gulag (Josh Zucker), Guinea Beat / Mr. Jo (Jonah Falco), & Young Governor / Bad Kid / Lil’ Bitey (Ben Cook). In 2008 the played a 12-hour show in NYC.
The Bottom Line: “All I saw was a white rick ross screaming hardcore chants, a few orange county looking boys backing him up with punk progressions, and a female bassist who calls herself Mustard Punk… It was Fucked Up!”
Divine Fits Set Time: 5:45 – 6:45pm
Genre: Indie Pop, Indie Folk, Indie Rock
Hometown: New Bomb Turks, Spoon
Since: 2012
Albums: (1) A Tribe Called Divine Fits (2012)
Factoid: The video for their hit single “Little Talks” was nominated for an MTV VMA for “Best Art Direction” as well as a Juno Award for “Video of the Year”.
The Bottom Line: “David Bowie x The Clash + 80′s synth music = The Divine Fits”
Alt-J Set Time: 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Genre: Indie Rock, Psychedelic Folk, Experimental
Hometown: Leeds, England, UK
Since: 2007
Albums: (1) An Awesome Wave
Factoid: Alt-J were also nominated for three Brit Awards (British Breakthrough Act, British Album of the Year and British Group of the Year).Also An Awesome Wave was announced as BBC Radio 6 Music Album of the Year 2012.
The Bottom Line: “With the combination of great production, absolutely beautiful writing, and precision delivery laced with a snippity voice makes Alt-J strangely captivating”
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros Set Time: 6:45 – 8:00 pm
Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Folk, Noe-Psychedelia
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Since: 2005
Albums: (3) Up From Below (2009), Here (2012), Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (2013)
Factoid: Band Leader, Alex Ebert began work on a book about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe after breaking up with his girlfriend, joining a 12-step program for addiction, and moving into a house with his lifelong friend Nicholas Raymond Kellen.Ebert later met singer Jade Castrinos outside a downtown Los Angeles cafe. In the summer of 2009, Ebert, Castrinos, and a group of musicians toured the country by bus as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.
The Bottom Line: “True Americana in every song… guitars, pianos, horns, and vocals sweeter then southern brew tea… throw in some tambourines and well placed yelps and you find a rich catalog of tunes that will put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.”
Azealia Banks Set Time: 6:45 – 8:00 pm
Genre: Hip Hop, Electro Hip Hop
Hometown: Harlem, NY
Since: 2011
Albums: (1) Broke With Expensive Taste (2013)
Factoid: Banks pursued an interest in musical theatre at a young age, studying at the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts before dropping out to focus on her musical career. In late 2008, she adopted the pseudonym “Miss Bank$” and began releasing her music through MySpace, eventually being signed to XL Recordings at age 17
The Bottom Line: “Voice like Kim, flow like Missy, swag like nothing we’ve seen before… I consider Azealia one of the best female rappers I’ve ever heard and she hasn’t even released an album yet
Cut Copy Set Time: 8:00 – 9:30 pm
Genre: Synthpop, Indietronica, Dance-Punk, New Wave
Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Since: 2003
Albums: (3) Bright Like Neon Love (2004), In Ghost Colours (2008), Zonoscope (2011)
Factoid: The band has toured with international acts such as Franz Ferdinand, The Presets, Junior Senior, Bloc Party and Mylo. In December 2007, the group toured Australia with Daft Punk on the “Nevereverland” tour, the Sydney leg of which attracted a crowd of almost 50,000 people.
The Bottom Line: “Cut Copy, but no paste… maybe thats because their style is so unique it can be recreated… I call it 80′s music from the future.”
Kendrick Lamar Set Time: 8:00 – 9:30 pm
Genre: Hip Hop
Hometown: Compton, CA
Since: 2003
Albums: (2) Section.80 (2011), good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
Factoid: Even before major label debut, Lamar amassed a large internet following, and had already worked with Dr. Dre, Game, Drake, Young Jeezy, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, E-40, Warren G and Lil Wayne. In early 2013, MTV crowned Lamar the No. 1 Hottest MC in the Game, on their well known annual list.
The Bottom Line: “Garnering a rapid rise to the top of the game via an amazing debut album littered with insanely catchy hip hop that remains authentic through unparralled and highly creative word play, you would think he was Dr. Dre’s new protoge… oh wait he is.”
Animal Collective Set Time: 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Genre: Noe-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Psych Folk, Art Rock
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Since: 1999
Albums: (10) Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished (2000), Danse Manatee (2001), Campfire Songs (2003), Here Comes The Indian (2003), Sung Tongs (2004), Feels (2005), Strawberry Jam (2007), Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009), ODDSAC (2010), Centipede Hz (2012)
Factoid: Animal Collective grew out of the childhood friendship of Noah Lennox and Josh Dibb who attended the second grade together in Baltimore County. Dibb enrolled at The Park School of Baltimore where he met member David Portner who later brought it the final member Brian Weitz, who was also enrolled in the school.
The Bottom Line: “The culmination of electronic influenced rock… If EDM married classic rock and had a baby who only listens to Arcade Fire, Animal Collective would be there family photo.”
Theivery Corporation Set Time: 9:30 – 11:00 pm
Genre: Electronica, Downtempo
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Since: 1995
Albums: (7) Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi (1997), The Mirror Conspiracy (2000), The Richest Man In Babylon (2002), The Cosmic Game (2005), Versions (2006), Radio Retaliation (2008), Culture of Fear (2011)
Factoid: Thievery Corporation was formed in the summer of 1995 at Washington D.C.’s Eighteenth Street Lounge. Rob Garza and Lounge co-owner Eric Hilton were drawn together over their mutual love of club life, as well as dub, bossa nova and jazz records.
The Bottom Line: “Its like if elevator music developed a soul and collaborated with the smoothest tidbits of world music… making it impossible to make it to your floor without your head nodding first.”
Guns N’ Roses Set Time: 9:30 – 11:00
Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Since: 1985
Albums: (6) Appetite for Destruction (1987), G N’ R Lies (1988), Use Your Illusion I (1991), Use Your Illusion II (1991), “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993), Chinese Democracy (2008)
Factoid: Starting out as an underground couch-surfing rock band trying to break into the early 80′s L.A. rock scene, Guns & Roses are now one of the most successful bands of all time, selling more than 100 million records worldwide “The Most Dangerous Band in the World” was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, their first year of eligibility.
The Bottom Line: “If you don’t know who the Guns N’ Roses are then how the hell did you come across this article… no seriously.”
Nas Set Time: 9:30 – 11:00pm
Genre: Hip Hop
Hometown: Queens, NY
Since: 1996
Albums: (13) Illmatic (1994), It Was Written (1996) The Firm (1997), I Am… (1999), Nastradamus (1999), Stillmatic (2001), The Lost Tapes (2002), God’s Son (2002), Street’s Disciple (2004), Hip Hop is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Distant Relatives (2010), Life is Good (2012)
Factoid: Nas is often named as one of the top hip hop artists. MTV ranked him at number 5 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time.In 2012, The Source ranked him No. 2 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. In 2013, Nas was ranked fourth on MTV’s “Hottest MCs in the Game” list.
The Bottom Line: “The greatest storytelling and detail oriented rapper of all-time giving us a poetic evolution of what it means to go from growing up black in the inner cities of America to becoming one of the most consistent and well respected artists of our era.”
