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All posts for the month April, 2014
A renaissance woman of many talents and gifts: Comedienne, Actress, Producer, Radio Personality and Humanitarian. She is best known for her frank, high energy and hilarious style of comedy: “She says what many are thinking but dare not say”. Ladies and gentlemen, please meet Queen Aishah!
Comedienne Queen Aishah is known nationally, and internationally! Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, she has made the DMV her home turf for about 23 years! She is known for her Momma, Auntie, Sister, Friend personality, as she shares personal stories and life events with her unique style and twist.
Queen Aisha has been spreading laughter for many years, starting her professional comedy career in the DC metropolitan area 19 years ago. She has hosted and headlined countless comedy shows in the United States and abroad including several trips to entertain our troops in Japan, S. Korea, Europe, as well as Haiti (for a fundraiser after the 2010 earthquake). Always expanding her talents, Queen Aishah has been featured in Verizon Communications commercials, as well as print and radio ads. She has been seen on television programs such as, VH-1 series Awesomely Bad, BET ComicView, and ShowTime @ The Apollo; she has also been a celebrity guest and mentor on several episodes of Ricki Lake and Judge Hattchet, as well as doing an impromptu performance at The OPRAH Winfrey Show!
Queen Aishah is currently also the Executive Producer of the hit, All Female, Diverse Comedy Tour, “Comedienne Queen Aishah presents Funny-n-Stilettos”. The tour showcases female comedians of all cultures and backgrounds, and was most recently featured at the Howard Theater. The show is an awesome experience, receiving rave reviews from the U.S. to England, with audience members in their 80’s enjoying the show!
She has worked with noted comedians, such as Kevin Hart, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps and Rickey Smiley to name a few. She has also shared the stage with vocal artists, such as the late Chuck Brown, Yolanda Adams, Heather Headley, Howard Hewitt, Tyrese, Jaheim, K-CI and Jo Jo. Her comedic flair gained the attention of several stage producers, such as YYP’s tours where she was lead actress of “The Vagina Monologues” and “Pocketbook Monologues”. These tours offered the opportunity to work with extraordinary actresses and entertainers as Sherri Sheppard, LisaRaye McCoy, Star Jones, Ella Royce, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, Vanessa L. Williams, and a host of other remarkable personalities. Queen Aishah was also casted in the stage play, “Love Under New Management”. She’s received numerous accolades from her peers but is most proud of remarks made by Comedian and Activist Dick Gregory who said of her performance in the “Vagina Monologues”, “Outstanding”!
Let’s see what this renaissance woman has to say about her journey into her gifts/talents:
Q: What part of the DMV are you reppin’?
A: Well, when I first came to the DMV from my hometown of Newark, NJ area 23 years ago I lived in NW with family. Near Takoma Park. Red line ;-). It was the only metro line I knew for a very long time. I lived in Lewisdale/Adelphi, MD, and now I reside in Bowie. I came back to DC when I got my first apartment in DC off of Georgia Avenue. My rent was $245.00. They wanted $250.00, but I told the leasing company that extra $5.00 wasn’t in the budget.
Q: What influenced you to engage in your talents/gifts?
A: Wow, I was working in retail and co-workers and customers commented on the things I would say. Saying they were funny and asked if I did comedy or thought about doing it. I brushed it off and a few years later new people in my life asked if I thought of doing comedy. I’m a true believer of messages coming to us through people and life experiences. So, I prepared myself for the stage and started studying my craft: reading books, watching stand-up comedy shows and attending comedy shows. I spoke with my mom about being afraid of going on stage. Yes, I was shy and some more stuff. She encouraged me to do some volunteer work with a local radio station to build up my confidence. Not only did I gain confidence. I met some of my greatest friends and was hired on the Russ Parr Morning where I learned a lot about comedy through radio and much more.
Q: How has your community influenced you, and vice versa?
A: I love what I do. If I’m having a not some great day and can put a smile on one persons face it lifts my spirits. I believe we are all here to assist one another in reaching and experiencing our greatest joy, whether its in front of a huge crowd or one on one.
Q: If there’s anything that you would want your peers & supporters to know about you (assuming that they don’t already), what would it be?
A: I am inspired by both my peers and supporters. Watching fellow comedians do their thing gets me hyped. The best show for me is a great line-up and an audience that came to laugh because in the end we all achieved funny together.
Q: What’s next?!
A: I’m working on getting my all female diverse comedy tour Comedienne Queen Aishah presents Funny-n-Stilettos on television and a major world tour.
Queen Aishah currently manages her own company, QA Enterprises, LLC, as well as engages in philanthropic ventures. She is the founder of THE M.A.R.R.K.(Massive Action to Reach and Rescue Our Kids) FOUNDATION, based out of her hometown of Newark. The foundation was established to support and promote leadership in the inner city, where stewardship can be aspired. Queen Aishah also makes it a priority to lend her support to youth around the country through various speaking engagements at schools and youth outreach programs. She currently works with the Michael Walton Foundation: Speak out to Reach Out tour based in Washington, DC.
Most recently, she was a featured comedian with the Radio One: Family Comedy Tour in Detroit, appearing with other artists such as Joe Clair (from WHUR‘s The Frank Ski Show) & and Marcus D. Wiley (from Praise‘s Yolanda Adams Morning Show). Coming up next, you can catch her back in the DM[V], headlining a show in Richmond this coming Thursday, April 17th! To continue following Queen Aishah and figuring out your next opportunity to see her live, follow her at these social media avenues: Facebook (Queen Aishah), Instagram & Twitter (@QueenAishah & @funnynstilettos).
– EMW
The bold and conscious verses & flow of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot and MC Lyte; the smooth hip-hop groves likened to those of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Leaders of the New School; this, ladies and gentlemen, is Emperess!
Emperess is a DMV native of Prince George’s County, and a graduate of Central High School. Coming from a musical family, she honed her skills as an emcee starting at the age of 14, following in her brother’s footsteps. She has always had, and will continue to have, a style that is unique to herself, and is a lover of things abstract artistic (especially photography), old-school music and all things that are just plain dope!
By 2010, Emperess had released 2 mixtapes, A Verse a Day Keeps the Posers Away and FairyTaleWorld (FTW). While A Verse a Day… establishes her traditional sound, which is early 90’s hip-hop meets jazz meets Neo-Retro-Soul and proves that she’s no where near a sucka emcee, FTW explores more of the current sounds of 21st century hip-hop and experimental sounds. However, FTW does still include classic samples, such as “Lady in My Life” by the late, great Michael Jackson, which is used on her track, “…Like This…”. She also has a track dedicated to one of her biggest production influences, called “Dear Mr. Mosley”, aka super-producer, Timbaland.
Emperess spent a few years in Philly, building on her craft and performing gigs with some of the hottest up-and-coming/underground hip-hop artists. She notes that her biggest gig was opening for fellow hip-hop artists Jean Grae and Roc Marciano. She has recently moved back to the DMV, and is ready to take over the hip-hop scene!
Let’s hear some more about Emperess on a personal level:
Q: What part of the DMV are you reppin’?
A: I am the oddball of PG County.
Q: What influenced you to engage in your talents/gifts?
A: I come from a very musical family. Dad was a DJ, granddad, aunts, uncles and a slew of cousins are singers, but my brother was the emcee. So a lot of the influence came from him.
Q: How has your community influenced you, and vice versa?
A: I’ve always been outside of the norm and I try to stay that way. My community has pretty much influenced me to not settle and follow a trend.
Q: If there’s anything that you would want your peers & supporters to know about you (assuming that they don’t already), what would it be?
A: I’m starting to come out of hiding a little bit more as of late but I would like folks to know that silence doesn’t equal complacence. Everybody is about to be bum rushed with a ton of stuff from me. Lol!
Q: What’s next?!
A: Hopefully an actual album…finally…
In 2014, Emperess has launched 2 more single tracks, “Leave it Up to Me…” & “The Other…”, which have burned up to social media waves, including having a feature of “The Other…” published on the This is Real Music blog site. Keep up with her on her social media sites: Facebook (Emperess Michelle), Instagram (@Emperess_), Twitter (@Emperess), SoundCloud, ReverbNation, and BandCamp (emperess.bandcamp.com). Also, if you so happen to be in the Philly area this weekend, she will be performing this Sat. night, April, 12th during The Phlight Plan, at The Fire!
– EMW
The sounds of the future of R&B have just been released on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. Those sounds have been encapsulated in the indie album Time Machine, by J. Baylor.
Baylor is a DMV native, hailing from Prince George’s County, MD. His initial endeavors into music came through mastering the percussive sounds of the drum sticks and snare kicks. He has also proven himself as a singer/songwriter that has an ear for vocal arrangement. Whom has he proven himself to? Try his previous creation of the dynamic Christian band, Vertical Band, as well as other successful artists, such as Chrisette Michele, Brian Courtney Wilson, Trinitee 5:7, Tye Tribbett, Kierra Sheard, and more, with whom he has had the privilege to work with, thus far!
Now, J. Baylor has released his debut EP project on indie label, GMG World Media Entertainment, which will establish his career going forward. Here’s what we heard from the album:
TRACK 1- “Walking On Air”: This was his first single, which was released Aug. 6, 2013; this production combines light and airy futuristic sounds with hard hitting base and smooth harmonies of R&B.
TRACK 2 – “Better Off”: This overall arrangement is similar to the previous track in terms of the feel, but also makes good use of his falsetto range during his transitions into the hook.
TRACK 3 – “Time Machine”: Baylor makes the best use of futuristic sounds to drive the overall theme of the track; the percussive rhythm merges R&B and Hip-Hop sounds seamlessly, while his falsetto use in the hook keeps you grounded into the true R&B feel.
TRACK 4 – “Love Die”: This track is a smooth, straight ballad, with only piano accompaniment, which provides for a very intimate feel.
TRACK 5 – “Push It”: This is our personal favorite track! This is the most uptempo, Neo-retro-soul, led by a funky electric guitar rift, and smooth electric bass accompaniment; the melodic and percussive transitions within the hook is everything, and can definitely be a party favorite!
Go now to iTunes and download the Time Machine album! You can also keep up with J. Baylor on his site (www.iamjbaylor.com), your nearest social networking site, including ReverbNation, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (IAMJBAYLOR is the handle on all sites). You can also find him on YouTube, where he also covers hit songs, including “Without You” by Usher, “Thinking About You” by Frank Ocean, and even “Pure Imagination” from the classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory movie. This young artist is just getting started, and we want to follow this “time machine” all the way into the future!
– EMW
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Lana Rae, Fashion Show Producer & Ean Williams, Corjor International Couture
On a cloudy and slightly rainy, the atmosphere in the Walters Art Museum in Downtown Baltimore was plenty vibrant and spring-like. The theme of this free Super Thursday event: In Full Bloom. Considering that this is still the beginning of Spring, In Full Bloom is an appropriate title…’Tis the season!
However, there is more to this theme than just the obvious seasonal correlation. All aspects of this event took to the theme in true form. The first couple of hours of the event were dedicated to artistic lovers, seekers, observers and networkers. Guests of the event were treated with the pleasure of being able to observe their latest exhibit, “Designed for Flowers: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics“, free of charge. Filled with various colorful and unique ceramic pieces, from multiple artists all over Japan, each piece takes you on a descriptive journey of the piece and how it was constructed. This exhibit will continue to be open to the public until May 11, 2014.
Outside of that exhibit, guests were also treated to unique displays of floral arrangements interpreting works of art pieces, which were organized by the Women’s Committee of the Walters Art Gallery. The pieces were particularly placed throughout the gallery, and ranged in size from small 3-4 roses to large, colorful bouquets of artistic arrangements. For the social aspect of the event, multiple halls were set up in the museum’s 2nd floor, filled with standing tables to couches with coffee tables (depending on how your social vibe was at that moment). All the while, Mix It Up, expert mixologists, provided the spring-like, floral-inspired drink options for guests to enjoy, and DJ Jus-Spin played the lively, uptemp tunes to keep the party going.
Around 7pm, the real excitement began, as the In Full Bloom fashion show began. The production was created and arranged by none other than the top notch producer of the infamous Fashion Awards MD brand, Lana Rae (www.fashionawardsmd.com). First up were the designs of STUDIO D’MAXSI (www.studiodmaxsi.com). The collection was vibrant, yet sophisticated, starting with looks in shades of white, and ending with a bold red and gold theme for the last several looks. The floral inspirations shined through the use of ruffles, pleats, and floral headwear on several of the models. Next up was the Naomi Davidoff (www.naomidavidoff.com) collection, which dove in head-first into the “Full Bloom” theme. Although this collection featured the least number of looks (only 3), each told a story in being inspired by floral masquerade ball gowns of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries silhouettes. Needless to say, the collection was very colorful, dramatic and took the floral arrangements into a literal aspect. The final looks were from the Corjor International Couture collection, by Ean Williams (www.corjor.com), who is also the organizer and producer for DC Fashion Week (www.dcfashionweek.org). This collection takes the In Full Bloom aspect to the next level in abstract couture. The theme is lived out and realized through a few aspects: lace, sheer and free-flowing materials, the use of eye-catching designs as floral-esque type silhouettes, and the pops of color that spurts throughout the collection. By the last round of looks in the collection, you are submersed into an outdoor spring wedding, full with the dress and vail. You also couldn’t help but to sing along to your favorite popular songs during the collection’s debut! The production ended with a round of applause and many thanks to Ms. Lana Rae, who also glowed in her blue, multi-layer feathered, ball gown inspired dress…also, a Corjor International original.
Top: STUDIO D’MAXSI; Bottom: Naomi Davidoff
Corjor International Couture
Nevertheless, this event was a great way for art, fashion and spring enthusiasts to co-mingle together and kick-off what is sure to be a great season of warmth, growth, and artistic paradise for all!
All of the artists, and venue, listed above can be found on your nearby social media site, and stay tuned for more info on the next Super Thursday event.
– EMW
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