east washington life
by Khadijah Ali-Coleman
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his summer promises a robust schedule of events to hit the Washington, DC area. As always, if you are looking for museums or cultural events, the majority of DC-area events will take place in and surrounding the National Mall area or U street corridor in Northwest. However, trends may soon be turning. The East of the River community will stake its claim this year as being a cultural nexus for DC. Joining the lineup of summer festivities planned by groups such as the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will debut east of the river, taking place this summer July 26 in Marvin Gaye Park. Located in the Deanwood area in Northeast Washington, Marvin Gaye Park is the longest municipal park in the city. It will provide plenty of space for the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest which will highlight music, art and activities. It will be an all-day outdoors affair beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m. Featured musical acts include almost all local talent, such as hip-hop artist Substantial, vocalist Afi Soul and hip-hop group MelloD & the Rados. Demonstrations will take place as well while local vendors and nonprofits showcase products and services. Before the festival, however, now is the time to stock up on the musical fare offered by some of the artists featured in the festival. Dishing out a variety of vibes and style, the selections are sure to pique the musical appetite of any and every hip-hop soul music lover. Here are some favorites of ours:
Cool Cee Brown
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
His name says it all. Heavy on the cool and tight with the flow, MC Cool Cee Brown’s new album, “Magnificent Bastard,” offers a collection of music that will reassure all hip-hop heads that hip-hop is indeed still alive. Brown frequently tours local venues with another rapper – Joe-D – as part of the rap duo Dirty Water, but, “Magnificent Bastard” is his solo CD that stakes his claim as being one of the area’s sharpest lyricist. From the first track “Name of the Game” to the last “Hollywood,” Brown mixes swagger and bite effortlessly over beats that are artfully simplistic and not deceptively hype to get you caught up so you don’t
LEFT: Cool Cee Brown: Brown, a DC native who currently lives in the Brookland area seems to enjoy being the anti-hero in his music. BOTTOM: Capital Hip Hop Soul Graphic: Joining the lineup of summer festivities planned by groups such as the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative, the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will debut east of the river, taking place this summer July 26 in Marvin Gaye Park. OPPOSITE PAGE: Dee Stone: Visit www.deestonemusic.com for updates on Dee Stone.
40 ★ East of the River | June 2008
Organ in Adams Morgan on June 15 before the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest appearance. Visit www.deestonemusic. com for performance updates and www. liberatedmuse.com for a direct link to purchase her music.
even get to hear what the lyrics are about. The CD boasts cameo flows from W. Ellington Felton on the track “Insecure” and Phonte from Little Brother on the track “No Fear.” Brown, a DC native who currently lives in the Brookland area seems to enjoy being the anti-hero in his music. His track “Because” is sure to both irk and excite women as they listen to Brown croon and rap on this track that speaks of a man’s casual attitude toward dating. With honest humor drenching fluid rhyme, the song is a highlight on a CD chock-full of winning moments. You can catch Cool Cee Brown and Joe D perform as the group Dirty Water on June 8 at The Black Cat if you want to check them out before Brown’s appearance in the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest in July. They will be opening for The Cool Kids. Visit Cool Cee Brown’s blog at www.coolceebrown.blogspot.com to read his daily updates and musings. You can visit www.liberatedmuse.com to get a direct link to purchase his CD.
Tia Dae
Genre: R & B/Neo-Soul
Dee Stone
Genre: Funk/Soul
Rarely do you come across a song that catches your attention within the first bar sung. Dee Stone’s song “Sweet” does just that though, and it lives up to its name in every soulful note of the song. With electrifying guitar riffs and staccato perky drum runs, the song highlights the exceptional talent of her band as well. The song is found on Stone’s CD “The Dee Stone Band” and will soon enjoy rotation on Howard University’s radio station WHUR. Though she calls Annandale, Va., home, Dee Stone is a regular on the local circuit, already kicking off a steady music tour locally at venues such as Austin Grill’s “Mamapolooza” in Montgomery County. She will appear at Madams
Neo-soul vocalist Tia Dae is looking forward to performing in the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. On a recent visit to the festival site during an orientation meeting with all Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest acts, Dae enthusiastically belted out an a capella vocal riff, amazing all of the guests present. She explained her enthusiasm easily. “I’m from this area. I graduated from [H.D.] Woodson which is right behind the park,” she smiles. Dae is one of the artists performing during the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest who has made her rounds at mostly all of the popular local festivals. Appearing onstage during the UnityFest, Black Family Reunion and Georgia Avenue Day, Dae is a festival pro looking to make it big by hopefully gaining exposure as she gigs more frequently. “I’ve been preparing for this all my life,” Dae told the group of artists during the meeting. Tia signed her first recording deal with independent label Bright Vision Entertainment in April 2007. Her first commercial single “I’m Tryin/ Natural High” is in rotation on WHUR 96.3 FM, XM Satellite Radio’s Suite 62, Voices of America Radio, DMX Music and Live 365 radio. Tia’s CD “It’s a Nu Dae” is available for purchase by visiting www.liberatedmuse.com and clicking on her album cover. Dae will be performing live at the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest with the Baltimore-based band the Bangladesh Project. Khadijah Ali-Coleman is a writer and performer who hails from the Washington, DC metro area. She is co-founder of Liberated Muse Productions, the group hosting the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. For more information on the Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest, visit www.capitalhiphopsoulfest.com. Vendors and nonprofits are encouraged to e-mail LiberatedMuseProductions@gmail. com for vending packages. ◆
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