Do you know what today is, it’s my Blogiversay! I think that’s the first time I have ever seen someone create that word too. Anyway two years ago today, I started The Prominent - an entertainment based blog. When I first came up with the concept, people kept trying to persuade me to incorporate celebrity gossip or primarily base my posts on critiques, but that just wasn’t my style. I wanted to write about things that went through my head whenever I heard a great song or album, when I watched a great film or saw someone living out their passion. The things that made me feel good, that would possibly make other people feel the same way or view things in a similar light. I wanted to create a deeper conversation about the thing we all are in tune with in one way or another - entertainment.
Music, movies and TV have been a big part of my life since as long as I can remember. I have relatives that still remember me as “the baby who used to watch TV.” It was something that would engage my imagination and help me escape from whatever reality I wasn’t interested in at the time. The older I got the more I realized I had heard and seen more than most of the people my age when it came to entertainment. It wasn’t necessarily on purpose, but in a way I was proud of it. “So why did you start The Prominent?” Well I started it because still to this day, I watch so many things, I listen to all types of music and so many thoughts run through my head at once. I have so much to say and express but usually no one to really discuss them with. Now it’s not to say no one will listen to me but it’s rare that I found anyone who was interested or genuinely shared the same passion. I also began to notice some talent that a lot of people weren’t aware of and I wanted to give them as much exposure as my little blog could. The Prominent in some way became a journal for me. It became a way to express my thoughts whether people read or not, engaged or not, cared or not. I got my degree in Communication Studies in hopes that I can implement my skills into a corporate career. However that does not override my passion of one day working as an A&R and PR consultant for a label or artist. The Prominent may be a “hobby” but it is most definitely also a stepping stool to something greater. Even though I don’t post as much as I had hoped for at the beginning, which will change, I know that The Prominent can only benefit me in the future. Over the past few years I have been extremely surprised with the people who tell me they read, who have said they learned from my posts, and the people who enjoy what I write. So thank you to those who read and enjoy. Thank you to those who give me feedback. Thank you to those who encourage me. Thank you to those who create that in return give me the opportunity to do the same and continue to help me engage my imagination. Stay tuned because there is always more to come. As Always… #StayProminent
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SoundCloud has been in my top three sites as far as go to’s for new music this past year. The other day I was randomly going through my likes and ran across Don’t Matter by Dave B. I liked this song about 11 months ago and listened to it every day for about two weeks. It samples Doesn’t Really Matter by Janet Jackson which of course is the first thing that grabbed my attention. Fortunately enough it wasn’t the only thing that kept my attention.
Dave B has a very unique tone to his voice; one that is similar to Chance The Rapper’s but not quite the same. Listening to the song I can just envision him grooving in the booth. I do that a lot. I like to imagine what it’s like in the studio. Anyway, his delivery in this song is calm yet energetic which helps me vibe a little better. I also like the lyrics to the song. With a Janet Sample it would be so easy for me to assume the song is good but the lyrics would be terrible. That isn’t the case with this track That isn’t the case with this track. The lyrics are nice and the delivery is presented well. It’s a great song to just vibe too. I tend to think it’s a song that sounds better on a warm day and taking a nice drive but anytime is good. Dave B has plenty of great songs in his catalog but this one has truly stuck with me. So if you’re looking for something to listen to, press play on Don’t Matter by Dave B. You can follow Dave B on Twitter at @davebspacedot Also check out more music at davebmusic.com As Always… Love Me is the latest single from J. Reed off of his most recent EP, Pearlie’s Boy. The song, inspired by a high school girlfriend. A story about a man who has come to an agreement with a woman that they are better off as is friends. However he still has feelings for this woman and though he wants to respect their decision, he believes that she still has feelings for him as well based on their conversations. It's a back and forth game with him on what he should do and what he wants to do. As a woman it is refreshing to hear a man, whether it’s true or not, express his feelings and thoughts about a woman he is interested in.
It definitely holds a summer groove but will do just fine for the fall. It seems like everyone these days are interested in love or in some crossroads on the issue, but for sure this song will bring one person to mind to whoever listens. A lot of times rappers try to overdue the word play to tell a story but J. Reed gets right to the point. While I love a good metaphor and awesome word play, the delivery of just a conversation is amazing too. It makes you think as if he’s either talking directly to you or for you. The song definitely feels personal and I truly believe this was a great choice as a single. "It was a breath of fresh air when I seen everyone's reaction after my verses were recorded", says J. Reed after explaining that everyone in his circle believes that this one is the "it" song. This is the first song I heard from J. Reed and I didn't know what quite to expect when I first received the link. Here I am weeks later and I listen to this song multiple times a day. Love Me holds this R&B/Pop feel to it, which I love but still holds on to the essence of Hip-Hop which definitely makes it that much better. I haven’t quite decided if it’s the song overall or my two favorite lines; “I probably need to hand you your wings and let you fly, but something in me tell me you lovin’ the way I try” & “My granny used to tell me she liked you and asked about you, so how would I look walk in heaven and I’m without you?”. The first line is very nostalgic. Not many times does a woman admit that the effort a man puts in does something to them no matter how much they push them away. I know I’ve been there. The second line, well everyone loves their granny. As a woman it would almost make me feel obligated to be with a man LOL, “I can’t let granny down”. I just know it's for sure going on my daily playlist. This song is just one off of Pearlie’s Boy. If you are feeling this, I would definitely suggest pressing play for a full picture. J. Reed has a show coming up at The Bullfrog in Redford Charter Township on November 11. He plans on releasing a visual for Love Me soon so be on the lookout. SoundCloud: ImSoJReed Twitter: ImSoJReed Instagram: ImSoJReed Facebook: Javier Reed As Always…. #StayProminent P.S. You request this song on Detroit's radio station 97.9 WJLB Have you heard an artist’s song and immediately were feeling it? Then based on your feeling you imagined that artist in your head but when you saw them, they looked nothing like how they sound? Well that’s what happened to me the first time I heard Kid Blue. But that’s beside the point. I was first introduced to Kid Blue’s music by Kidd O (another Prominent featured artist) a few years ago. Then I thought, “how could something so raw come from someone who was so young?” Either way I liked what I was hearing. It is easy for a lot of rap artists to have a similar sound, but the hard part is making it sound like YOU regardless of anything else. Kid Blue has a subtle way of doing that.
Brendan Sturgill or Kid Blue as we call him is yet another Michigan native. Raised by a single mother and help from his grandmother, music became a sense of responsibility in his life at a young age. His grandmother used to sing, “Hallelujah” to him every night before bed. That was just the beginning of his admiration for music. Growing up he listened to music from Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Eminem and Tupac. These artists help the passion for music to grow. At the tender age of 14, Kid Blue started making his own music. Seeing an interview featuring Wiz Khalifa, was an influence to him sparked that flame to get going. Kid Blue has a flow that really seems effortless. There are plenty of artists who publish music but it sounds forced. I always believed that a good artist is someone who the music flows through naturally. It isn’t a hobby or a project, but it’s simply a part of who they are. I get the sense that that is true for Kid Blue. He has a lot of control over his voice and his story telling is put together really well which is what makes me a fan. From his own words and I would have to agree, he has a sound that is similar to Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole and Isaiah Rashad. He holds a subtle but intense energy that I believe Lamar and Cole possess and contains a similar vibe from Rashad. Being 19-years-old I would say for sure Kid Blue has a lot to learn, not only about the business but about himself. The more he learns, the better his craft will become. With the talent he has now, in time he will go far. He will be able to truly put out some work that is definitely true to him. He notices a change in the music industry from previous years, especially in hip-hop. He hopes that with his music he can get it back to where hip-hop originates. God, I hope so! Some of the things Kid Blue likes most about making music is watching his “writings come to life”. He says that in the studio he becomes a perfectionist, but in my opinion that’s the best way to be when it comes to your music. Don’t stop until you are satisfied with the sound. If Kid Blue wasn’t making music he says that he would want to work along the realms of counseling. Which in one way or another still ties into what he can do with his music. But in the future he hopes to tour nationally and adding some positivity within the hip-hop community. He also hopes to make enough money to give back to the community that raised him. Describing himself as humble, hungry, diverse, wise and modest, he hopes that if anything people find a message of peace, love and positivity from his music. Right now Kid Blue is on tour with an alternative rap artist, The End. Traveling through the Midwest, catch him if you can. Also he is working on a new EP entitled “Atelophobia” which is just a little something about him and what to expect from him. He offers a bit of everything when it comes to his music. Plenty for everyone to enjoy. xdSo definitely stay tuned for that and you can definitely find him online at: Soundcloud.com/kid_blue1 YouTube.com/BrendanSturgill Twitter.com/WhosKidBlue Instagram: WhosKidBlue As Always… #StayProminent Neo Jessica Joshua also known as Nao (pronounced Nayo) is an East London native with a worldwide talent. She is a Jazz vocalist with in my opinion some neo-soul and some R&B. She has been in the music business since for some years now and has done nothing less than impresses all of those who listen to her.
I absolutely love this woman’s music. She gives me 2016 vibes if Sade and Erykah Badu had a baby. Some people have to train and work to tap into their true talent while some are just born with it. Nao is one of those artists. Her voice comes out really effortless and that’s what I love most about singers. For example Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle and Jennifer Hudson, they all have voices that are so unique and strong but it requires little training if any. That is what initially caught my ear about Nao. So usually on my down/boring days I either find a show to binge watch on Netflix or I search tirelessly on SoundCloud for new music. Nao was one of those artists I found on a down day. I came across her song Bad Blood (2015) and I loved it. The song is about what used to be between a man and a woman but is no longer. All of us I’m sure have some type of understanding about that. Anyway, the song, from a lyric standpoint, spoke to me but her voice kept me hooked. It reminded me of Tynisha Keli who sang I Wished You Loved Me, but I knew it wasn’t her. I then found another song called Adore You. This song is pretty much what the title portrays; a woman who adores a man and how it makes her feel. Again a situation that I know very well. Nao is listed as a Jazz, R&B and Hip-Hop artist and she culminates those genres really well. Her sound does not sound clouded or recycled. Of course in this industry people are always trying new things, working with the same people and share common interest so some productions turn out similar, but it is imperative that each artist has something that stands out. I have yet to really put my finger on what it is, but Nao has something I haven’t heard in a while. Her style whether it be musically or visually is a bit eccentric. It can sometimes catch you by surprise which is a good thing. As of now Nao has two EP’s out. One is entitled So Good from 2012 and February 15 from 2015. Nao has worked with both Disclosure and Zillionaire. You can find her on Pandora, YouTube and of course SoundCloud. She is an artist that I believe is worth listening to. She hasn’t been considered “mainstream” yet but I believe she is on her way. She is currently on tour and it’s doing pretty well. Hopefully she will release a full album soon. I will be there to listen. As Always… #StayProminent What makes a great musician/artist? To me a great artist is someone who makes music because it’s a part of who they are. A great musician is someone who makes music because they have a feeling or a message to share with people who are willing to listen. Someone who is a great musician is a person who has an open mind and entertains the ability to learn more. A great musician is someone who makes sure that whatever they put out means something and it’s their best work. Kidd O is a great musician.
Raymond “Kidd O” Oliver was born in Racine, WI but raised in Kalamazoo, MI. In Michigan is where he learned and decided that music was a prominent aspect of his life. Being influenced early on by artist such as; Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Eminem along with others, helped him start to form this idea that music was an interest to him. When asked what was the nail in the coffin when deciding to truly pursue music he said, “Back in 2005; my cousin was dating this guy (A.C.) who rapped at the time. I used to sit in his car, and listen to music while he'd wait for her to come outside. One night, he played a freestyle he did over a Fat Joe beat (Lean back), and that was it. I started recording at his studio in his apartment, and that's when the journey began.” Kidd O would much rather give his fans quality over quantity. As a lover of music and the true essence of what it is supposed to mean, I can respect that. Some may not appreciate the “inconsistency”, for the lack of a better word. So whether it’s a song about his transition from WI to MI, his love for music, his other love of skateboarding or even his encounters with women, he wants to make sure it’s genuine from him. In the events that life takes Kidd O down another path as far as a career, if he would to not end up doing music, he would hope to be doing something with photography. He has done some work in front of the camera with two great photographers in Kalamazoo; Aaron White and ShotxChance. With the possibility of being a model for specific brands and or ads is something that interests him. So if you don’t hear him on the radio, possibly look for him in your favorite store. Kidd O offers his fans another perspective and another tone to hear the same situations they have lived. Like artists such as Nas, who is a great story teller and other out of the box artists like Lupe Fiasco and Kid Cudi, Kidd O gives you a little something more than what is typical. While listening to artist like J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Eric Bellinger and Big Sean, Kidd O still seems to add different forms of music and inspiration for his own career. As an artist, Kidd O would describe himself as “honest, vulnerable, lyric-driven, melodic and different (sonically)”. If nothing else he would like to make sure that his fans understand him as an artist and that they find a way to relate to his messages through his lyrics. With work already published and more work to come, you can find Kidd O’s music on Soundcloud as well as his music, videos and photography on his own website Kidd-O.net. Make sure that you look out for new releases and updates. And hopefully more videos. *hint hint* You can follow Kidd O on social media; Twitter: @269Kidd_O Instagram: @269Kidd_O As always…. #StayProminent Being from Kalamazoo, MI myself, it is imperative that I make sure you all understand my love and support of this city and the people who live here. With that being said, I want you all to meet Dairyion Gardenhire aka thatkidDAIRY, no spaces. He was also born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI and gives plenty of thanks to all parts of the city for molding him into the man he is today, as well as the artist.
Growing up, Dairy was a huge fan of 90’s hip-hop and R&B. With music playing a huge role in his life, at a young age Dairy knew that music needed to be a part of his life. He notes Michael Jackson as being the artist who truly inspired him to write and record his own music, but goes on to note a video by Lil Bow Wow, not Shad Moss (LOL), that really made him believe that he could do it. From that point on, Dairy put his all into his artistry and has not looked back since. Along his journey of becoming an artist, Dairy has learned that more than anything, who Dairy really is. He enjoys the idea of being able to take certain stories, and tell them the only way he can. Dairy just wants people to hear his music, he wants to be able to reach kids and give them certain messages about life that other artists once gave him. Lastly, Dairy would love to be able to say he came from Kalamazoo and “made it” just because of his music and not because of the awards, because that it not what interests him. Since practicing his art in music he has been compared to Fabolous, Curren$y and J. Cole. With just those names you can only imagine that not only does he have the messages available, but he definitely has some songs to play in the club and the voice of someone cool, calm and collected. You can hear in his lyrics that he has purpose and he is trying to reach anyone who listens. Dairy is still his own artist nonetheless, but there is truly nothing wrong with being compared to those three men. Currently, thatkidDAIRY is working constantly on music; make sure you all check out The Black Tape. Using the world around him, social media in particular, Dairy finds himself using everyday life and the lives of people around him as a muse. He does amazing work with painting a picture with his lyrics in order to share with the listeners what he experiences. His work ethic is strong, staying up until 7 a.m. some days just to get his thoughts down. That type of work ethic is not found in a lot of artists these days. He truly believes that what he is doing serves a purpose and hopes to one day; let the world know what that is. If Dairy didn’t have his music, he would probably be somewhere painting which is his second love. But more than anything, Dairy finds that music is truly who he is and it plays a major role in his life. Like a true artist in this industry, he finds music in everything and with that he hopes to tell his story and the stories of those close to him to make sure that the art of this thing we call music is never lost. You can find thatkidDAIRY’s music and artwork at www.getspiked.org which is linked to another set of artists, Mikey Hatt & Aaron aka AweezTheArtist. Together, they all offer you a doorway into their art of music as well as the imagery. You can also find some of his work on www.SoundCloud.com/that_kid_dairy_1 and Youtube, thatkidDAIRY. Hope you all enjoy! #StayProminent! Born as Dominick Travis, Domo or Dom Fresco is an up and coming, well... everything. He does photography, videography, graphic design and music all in hopes in making it his primary profession in the near future. |
What Will You Find Here?Learn more about those who are chasing their dreams. They may not be walking across the stage to receive a Grammy or an Emmy...yet, but they most certainly have the potential. |
The Prominent |
"Dreams only stay dreams to those who don't wake up and work for them." |