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December 2014



 

Urban Voices Collective and S.O.U.L.S.
Alameda County Juvenile Hall
November 18, 2008
Host: Carolyn Gauthier
 
Essence Story by Carolyn Gauthier

Bread & Roses was fortunate to be able to collaborate with Urban Voices Collective for this show at Alameda County Juvenile Hall. Urban Voices Collective or UVC is a non-profit corporation that was founded to have professional hip hop and spoken word artists share their craft with people in San Francisco Bay Area communities—particularly youth in disadvantaged communities.  Through UVC, a diverse group of artists give free performances and interactive workshops to inspire, uplift, educate, and edify community residents. It is a natural match with what Bread & Roses does, bringing the healing power of live entertainment to those most in need.
 
There were ten performers, two female and eight male, who came to share their talents and their message with fifty-five teens. Big Dan began with a poem exploring the question “What is peace?” Audience members responded afterwards with their answers: “Be yourself,” “Let it shine,” “Take care of family.” Dan shared that he had been in juvenile hall six times growing up, and now he has his own band, a group of Chicano artists called Brown Buffalo or BRWN BFLO who tour across the country and beyond.
 
Next up was D. Labrie the EOG (East Oakland’s Greatest), a recording artist and member of S.O.U.L.S. He told how his art has taken him to Japan, a long way from his "hood". After performing, he encouraged all the kids by saying, “express your inner voice.” The message he left them with was that searching inside to find your true self can lead to great creativity and satisfaction.
 
Bill Jackson, owner of True Vibe Records led a Q and A and introduced Sounds of Urban Life Soldiers. He advised the kids, “Don’t get suckered into negative thinking. You can control that.” 
S.O.U.L.S., featuring Keldamuzik, Sandy Tili, Keith Thompson, Lingo Starr, and D-Brock, performed “On the Street,” a song about the reality of life in most these kids’ neighborhoods and their anti-violence anthem “Squash it!”  True Vibe Records uses its powerful performance artists to influence troubled youth to pursue more productive and wholesome lives. It was indeed a Bread & Roses show which made a big impact.
 

Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant
415-945-7120 ext.104
Lstarbird@breadandroses.org
www.breadandroses.org
"Hope and Healing Through Live Music"

 

S.O.U.L.S. at Camp Wilmont Sweeney
June 18, 2008
Host: Carolyn Gauthier
 
Report by: Carolyn Gauthier:
S.O.U.L.S.

Eight representatives from Sounds of Urban Life Soldiers brought their powerful messages to seventy young men serving out detention sentences at Camp Wilmont Sweeney. The songs and spoken word pieces told stories about the challenges of living in today's world as a black person, a woman, a child in a broken family, a teenager on the streets, a person trying to stay clean and sober, a peacemaker in a violent neighborhood.
 
The positive response form the audience was overwhelming. Several young men came up towards the end of the performance and did their own spoken word or "flow." They were rewarded with CD's from the group and rousing applause and shouts from their peers. This was a great opportunity for them to express their creativity and be a part of a professional performance.

 
Thank you S.O.U.L.S for sharing your Jazz Funk Hip Hop Poetry and shining your light where it is needed most.
 


Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant
415-945-7120 ext.104
www.breadandroses.org
"Hope and Healing Through Live Music"




S.O.U.L.S. at New Bridge
Date: June 15, 2008
Host: Kurt Huget
 
Report by Kurt Huget:

Seven voices, hip-hop rhythms, and a positive message. That is what "Sounds
Of Urban Life Soldiers" presented at their debut performance for Bread &Roses. These
fine voices blended together harmoniously in spreading their music and
message to a very appreciative audience. The themes covered overcoming
addiction, taking responsibility, and fatherhood (fitting for this Father's
Day show), among others. They performed with heart and soul, and were justly
rewarded with an exuberant response.


Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant
415-945-7120 ext.104
www.breadandroses.org
"Hope and Healing Through Live Music"

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http://www.radioindy.com/
http://www.radioindy.com/
 
RadioIndy.com has named you a Gold Artist


 

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Dear Paradise Jazz Funk HipHoPoetry,

We screen thousands of songs by indie artists and name the best artists        RadioIndy.com Gold Artists. We focus on musicianship, songwriting and recording     quality when determining your Gold artist status. Congratulations - You are a      Radioindy Gold Artist! Feel free to copy/paste the Gold Artist Logo above onto any   website(s) to announce your award.

If there is ever anything we can do to improve your experience on RadioIndy.com,    please let us know.

Congratulations,

Manny and Greg
Co-Founders, RadioIndy.com

MikVacch Enterprises, LLC (Radioindy.com)

RADIOINDY.COM REVIEW

On "Paradise Presents Jazz Funk Hip HoPoetry", Paradise shows that they can mix      many styles of music into a collaboration of beautiful sound. Paradise does an       excellent job of incorporating spoken word lyrics and hip hop with jazz and funk       music. The lyrics are presented with an intelligent sense of spirit and life. On the        track "Ain't Yo Mama Black", the group puts a witty positive twist on "yo mama"         jokes using spoken word, and beatnik sounding drums. If you like spoken word,           jazz and hip hop then you will love Paradise. Get your copy today!

-Josh B and RadioIndy

 

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO WHAT SOUL PATROL'S BOB DAVIS SAYS!

 

**Paradise Freejahlove Supreme - Jazz-Funk-Hip-HoPoetry (Jazz/Funk/Spiritually Elevating Hip Hop/Spoken Word/Like It Was Supposed To Be http://www.trueviberecords.com/

In some ways there isn't much to write about this new release called Jazz-Funk-Hip-HoPoetry by west coast artist Paradise Freejahlove Supreme, In most every way the     title of this album speaks for itself. However, I'm not going to stop there, because I   believe that this album will ultimately be of historic importance, so therefore it's  important to connect a few dots from the past as we look towards the future. It is indeed one of the most compelling pieces of music that I have heard in the year        2006. You owe it to yourselves and your children to have a copy of it in your home.

Those of you who are above a certain age will recall an album from the early 1970's entitled "Hustlers Convention" by spoken word artist "Lightning Rod" (of the Last      Poets). "Hustlers Convention" the 1959 cautionary tale ("one" dies and "the other"      does a 10 year stretch) of two hustlers named "Sport" and Spoon" which features jazz/funk background music from the pre disco Kool & the Gang, is one of the most effective and creative pieces of artistry that I have ever heard laid down on wax.   "Hustlers Convention" is the very definition of what KRS-One called "edutainment",      and is truly a soundtrack begging for a movie.  As such "Hustlers Convention" the     model for what hip hop should have become, but never attained. 

Fast Forward to 2006, Paradise Freejahlove Supreme, surely must have been         exposed to "Hustlers Convention" because the album "Jazz-Funk-Hip-HoPoetry"     contains many of the same elements. It's got a STANK NASTY Jazz/Funk (much like     Kool & the Gang) "background" that will have you tapping your toes & bobbing your    head the entire time you are listening. Now here is where it differs from "Hustlers Convention". Instead of telling us a fictional spoken word tale, Paradise Freejahlove Supreme delivers instead a series of essays, using the poetic form in a powerful way    that compels you as a listener to pay attention. He manages to be "hardcore" without uttering a single profanity in delivering what is essentially a state of the union  address on the world that we live in today. Paradise Freejahlove Supreme not only outlines the problems facing us, but also suggests positive action that can be taken      on both an individual and collective basis to make life better. And because the music  is so damn good, Paradise Freejahlove Supreme ends up taking you to school and         you might not even realize it till he's done. If "Hustlers Convention" belongs in the movies, than "Jazz-Funk-Hip HoPoetry" belongs on CNN.


The coolest past about owning a copy of this album is that I can listen to it with my        13 year old daughter or any other younger person. It's got a "hard core" edge that      sucks you into focusing on its positive and progressive message, not unlike a Trojan   Horse. If any of this sounds like it might be of interest to you, I strongly urge you to      get your copy as soon as possible. I doubt that the US Government is going to allow anything that entertains and educates younger people this much to remain available      for very long...

Track listing:

1. How to Be a Black Man in America (Extended Remix)
2. Equal Opportunity Lover
3. Keepers of the Flame
4. Cocoa Venus
5. It's OK to Be a Black Girl
6. Ain't Yo' Mama Black
7. Two-minute Warning



"A king wears his bling on the inside!"

Bob Davis-Soul Patrol New Jersey

THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT  "Jazz Funk Hip HoPoetry:" 

 "Love it!  Fabulous!"
VJ---WCRX, Chicago Underground

 "I'm just glad something like this exists."

Bob Davis---Soul Patrol

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As an old school R&B fan, this 47 year old can count the number of rap albums he's bought on two hands. Ditto the number of rap shows attended. And one or two I even walked out on. Now I love and admire a Public Enemy, De La Soul, KRS-One and those rare few who truly have "something to say." But all in all, it's a genre that's more often than not disappointed me with its now crass commercialization and messages that this educator often disagrees with.  

So it was a pleasant surprise when, out of nowhere, Oakland indie True Vibe Records forwarded me "Paradise Presents" Jazz Funk Hip HoPoetry," at this gem reminded me of the best of Gil Scott Heron and Oscar Brown, Jr.  On How to Be a Black Man in America, we learn that "A king wears his bling on the inside." It's just one of the many insights that composer/musician Bill Jackson in collaboration with poetry icon Paradise share on this hybrid of spoken word/rap.  I recommend this to anyone who appreciates quality music, intelligent lyrics, and positive messages. I'd even go so far as to tell parents to pick it up for their hip-hop loving kids. It's that good.     

  Evan Ginzburg
  www.evanginzburg.com
  DJ Fan Talk Live-New York City

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Paradise presents Jazz Funk Hip Hopoetry

Jazz Funk Hip Hopoetry pronounced (pronounced jazz-funk-hip-hop-a-tree) is an interesting release.  Cut #1 (How To Be A Black Man) clearly got our attention.  Paradise rapping behind a thumping bass groove sets the tone for this eclectic release.  Folks the title accurately captures the feel of this disc.  This is a funky CD that draws you in.

The partnership between Paradise and Bill Jackson is credited for this monster mix of Ol’ School, new school, jazz, R&B and Hip-Hop.  The lyrics are informative and easy to understand and the music is consistently upbeat and energetic.  When you put this in a bag and shake it all together, you really do get a mix of Jazz Funk Hip HoPoetry.

Gary Johnson,  President of Black Men in America,
Washington, D.C. at  www.blackmeninamerica.com

 

Paradise Freejahlove Supreme

Bill Jackson-Producer/Composer/Artist

Paradise

Bill Jackson
  Producer

Track Listing:
 

1. How to Be a Black Man in America
2. Equal Opportunity Lover
3. Keepers of the Flame
4. Cocoa Venus
5. It's OK to Be a Black Girl
6. Ain't Yo' Mama Black

7. Two-minute Warning        

8.How to Be a Black Man in American-Single Edit

You can learn more about Paradise and Bill Jackson at http://www.jamgproductions.com/paradise.php.

You can buy this disc at: http://trueviberecords.com

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Paradise presents JazzFunkHipHoPoetry
 
It was once said that hip hop was the black
communities CNN. But it seems that hip-hop has lost its way. Paradise has brought hip hop to where it needs to be. Not only is this album musical (there
are more than hooks and beats) but it has a message; never preachy so you can really jam to it. Paradise took the next logical step with hip hop, backed by a live band that played original melodies; this hip-hop album transcends its genre. 7 tracks with all hits and no misses, Paradise spits lyrics that will make any hardcore hip-hop sit up and take notice. This is not your children's hip hop but it should be. This album with titles like 'How to Be a Black Man in America', "Cocoa Venus", "Its OK to be a Black Girl" and "Ain't Yo Mama Black" this is an album deep in both  thought and groove. Paradise is a mature step out of a genre is now about the bling  and the booty. High production and artistry make this JazzFunkHipHopoetry a most memorable album.
 
AyeJay (Da' Muzik Hunta') Spraggins 

Brooklyn, New York
arthausnyc.com

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There are a number of reviews out there now on this album, including reviews from many of yall. This one from Soul-Patroller Chuck Woo of Earwax Records in Atlanta, in his weekly E-zine "In Your Ear Weekly" is particularly significant because Chuck not only has the "ears" (pun intended....lol) of the hip hop community not only in Atlanta, but nationwide!!!!

The "Godfatha" is gone and as a musical entity can't be replaced. However wouldn't be a wonderful thing for our current generation if 100 or maybe 1000 young artists like Paradise could rise from the ashes of "The Godfatha"?

It's one thing for an "old fart" like me to dig this.
It's a whole nother thing for younger folks to be into it Imagine the difference that it could make, our younger people need this... Listen to the album, if you haven't heard it yet at the following link:
http://www.soul-patrol.com/jazz/

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Spoken Word & More: The new CD from artist Paradise defies standard genres, thus it is appropriately titled "JazzFunkHipHoPoetry" (which is
pronounced jazz-funk-hip-hop-a-tree). I was intrigued from the beginning as the lead track is called 'How to Be a Black Man in America' and they did not let me down as they took 6 ½ minutes to weave their way through varying images of most Black men's existences from 'little man' stages through adulthood.
 
Throughout the disc, the message of Black strength and love is the overarching theme and they provide a perfect counterpoint to the aforementioned track with 'It's OK to Be a Black Girl'. I love this song, as it teaches young Black women that it's OK to be themselves without all of the superficial accoutrements that society suggests will help them live up to a severely skewed standard of beauty. I also really enjoyed how they twisted 'the dozens' on 'Ain't Yo' Mama Black' and pointed out all of the good done by the Black mothers of civilization. They end the CD on a very powerful note with 'Two-Minute Warning' and I swear it sounds as if The Last Poets got back together and made a new song. Add to all of this some great music (composed by Bill Jackson) and you have something that will make you think as well as nod your head. Don't sleep on this joint; it's definitely worth a listen. Available at Earwax Records Chuck Woo Atlanta, GA



Bob Davis earthjuice@prodigy.net

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