Music

There are three hip-hoppers bubbling right underneath the surface of the mainstream and determined to breakthrough and those three artists include Panama, David E. Beats and WordSpit.  What connects them is passion and what separates them is their own unique originality and talent.  Panama is perhaps best known as the street kid from HBO's acclaimed series, "The Wire."  Lately he has been setting the internet ablaze with his mixtapes and features on all the major hip-hop sites.  David E. Beats has built buzz through his lively performances and WordSpit has been steadily building devoted followers with the release of his album, The Coolest BBoi Stance and recent McDonald's campaign.  JimmyJazz.com hit the scene with all three artists and got the juice on several interesting facts about each hip-hopper including passing on producing for Wale to sacrificing eventuating for family.

What you should know about Panama:

He's an actor at heart:

Acting is still my main passion and the foundation of my career.  It has given me a voice to be heard musically and that has been driving faster for me.

He was acting from experience in HBO's "The Wire" as a street kid:

As an adolescent I was part of multiple childish gangs and was the look out for drug dealers.  My little brother and sisters need stuff for school, the heat was broken and mom was working multiple jobs.  I come from a poverty stricken country and my family wakes up every morning thinking about what to eat for breakfast.  So to get out of that situation I was forced to do certain things.  Now that we are more stable everything is a go.

He does it all for his family:

My father came from nothing and has been through it all.  Now that he slowed down and can't provide for the family-everyone from my great grandmother to my cousin's daughters-I have to pick that up.  I'm the only one in a profession that can land the kind of money that my pops once had.  It keeps me focused, modest and aware of the world.  This is bigger than me.

What you should know about David E. Beats:

He passed on the chance to produce for fellow Washington, D.C. artist Wale:

In 2006 or 2007 my cousin met Wale and he told me he was looking for beats since I was producing for local artists.  Wale was expecting some beats from me and I was like forget it he won't blow up.  I never followed through with it and months later he came out with "Nike Boots," and blew up.  At the time I didn't take myself seriously and I didn't see the bigger picture.

He plays a mean guitar:

I sat down for a full year and practiced between 4 and 6 hours a day and taught myself how to play.  Then I hung out with guitarists which makes you better to observe and absorb their style.  When I play live now I always try something new to see how crazy I can make my sound.

He knows sacrifice:

I dropped out of college and moved to New York City to produce for an artist.  The artist turned out to be a pretender and wasn't who he said he was in the music industry.  So I had to put my money up, get a bull**** job, find my own place and equipment and do so much to get myself together to start being my own artist.  I discovered that I am extremely persistent and passionate.

What you should know about WordSpit:

He waits for no one:

Before I started going to open mic showcases, I would beg my friends to come with me or else I wouldn't take part in the event.  After my close friends repeatedly let me down, I performed at these events by myself.  It made me realize you have to work towards accomplishing your goal and let nothing stop you.

He knows the streets of Brooklyn:

It wasn't my initial gang affiliation that got me in trouble, but my affiliation with others that lead me astray sometimes.  In life, you learn from your mistakes.  It taught how to become an individual instead of following the pack.

He stays motivated thanks to one special memory:

A week before my cousin, Black died, he told me "Spit forget about everybody who doubts you, just do what you do."  That's where I draw some of my motivation from when I'm down.

For more information please visit

Panama:  http://www.panamalovesu.com

David E. Beats: http://www.myspace.com/tonenswaggahent

WordSpit: http://www.wordspitwashere.com

Panama ft. Skyzoo “Play Your Position”

David E. Beats “Over Here”

WordSpit’s “Joystick Madness”

By Souleo. Artists come and go but few are soul survivors.  Leela James intends on being one of those few.  After the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, A Change Is Gonna Come Leela has experienced the difficult business side of music, switched labels from Warner Brothers to Stax Records; all the while touring and releasing a sophomore album of covers, Let's Do It Again.  She now returns with the May 25^th release of her new album entitled, My Soul.

For Leela focusing on the album meant getting her business and finances in order after she realized funds were being stolen from her by those within her team.

"People I've trusted took from me certain things and people took money.  So you definitely have to watch all your surroundings and the ones you think you can trust watch them as well," she advises.

The experience led Leela to make some positive changes in order to move forward with her career.

"I made some business changes since the debut.  I changed my management.  I feel like the business has always been half music and half bad business so you got to take control 'cause this is your livelihood."

Leela is confidently moving forward wiser and stronger than ever before as evidenced on her new single, "Tell Me You Love Me."  While the single has fans grooving the music video has them talking about rumors that Leela received a nose job; but Leela laughs off the gossip.

"Uh, I just say my nose is my nose.  I don't know where people get it.  I hear so much and I laugh that's all I can say.  I didn't even know that was out there but I laugh.  My nose is my nose," she said.

What has certainly changed is Leela's sexier but still classy image this time around, which is just another dimension of her multifaceted soul.

"I just think it's a different side than what people have seen.  It's always been there just not out there.  I do what I feel like and I don't care what people got to say so that's that."

For more information please visit:

www.leelajames.com

Check out the new video for "Tell Me You Love Me"

By Souleo. When it comes to throwing a party, few do it as well as veteran celebrity event planner, Patty Laurent.  For almost 20 years under her own company, Patty Laurent Signature, she has coordinated corporate events for Pontiac Automobiles and Bud Light along with album release and birthday parties for celebrities such as Ne-Yo, Ludacris, Robin Thicke, and Outkast.  Her events have garnered press in the New York Post, the NY Daily News, Vibe Magazine and more.  Now Patty is bringing her expertise to JimmyJazz.com readers with ten tips on how to bring an A-list Hollywood party vibe to your own personal affair.

One:  Have a theme...

You have to create an atmosphere.  For example, if you're going with a Hawaiian theme then make sure when they walk in the room they get what is going on.

Two:  Know who is coming...

Make sure that you manage a really good guestlist and get those little RSVP's.

Three:  Clean up...

Please don't have a party in your messy house.  How you present your home says a lot about you.  If guests come into a dirty house then more than likely they won't eat the food or drink the water.

Four:  Don't make them wait...

You must be prepared before the guests arrive.  The last thing you want is to have guests sit and wait for you to do set-up of food and drinks.

Five:  Something in common...

If you don't want your guests going into your bedroom or private areas then there should be a common area where your guests can mingle.

Six:  You make the rules...

Whatever you don't like going on in your house should not happen at your party.  So make the rules known before your guests get out of hand.

Seven:  Be a pro about it...

You can make your home feel like a special event with the proper staffing.  So hire a bartender or some servers.  It's not expensive.  This way your guests don't feel like they're going to your aunt's house and mixing their own drinks.

Eight:  Show the love...

The host/hostess should be great and make people feel like they are important.  When people leave their house they already feel like they are stars so you have to make them feel like superstars.

Nine:  Break the ice...

If it's a small gathering of friends come up with games and activities especially if they don't know each other so they can interact.

Ten:  Get into the groove...

You absolutely must have the right music and the right DJ in order to get the party started.

By Souleo. If you want to know the secret ingredient tot a hit song most of the times you don't have to look any further than the person behind the boards: the producer.  For artists such as T.I., 50 Cent and Keyshia Cole that secret weapon is Bronx, New York native, Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson.

To get to where he is Amadeus had to endure the strife of industry politics.  One major case involves Foxy Brown's brother, Gavin Marchand taking a co-producer credit on the Foxy song Amadeus solely produced, "My Life," for the Cradle 2 the Grave soundtrack.  The situation left Gavin with half of the royalties and Amadeus struggling to rectify it all which he eventually accomplished.

Still Amadeus holds no grudges toward Foxy or her brother for the incident but takes it all as a learning lesson.

"I wasn't sure if Foxy knew what he was doing but who knows?  We never spoke about it and it is what it is.  I don't hold grudges.  I just learned how important it is to have spirituality.  The industry is hard with all of the politics but I'm not gonna stop," he said.

Amadeus certainly isn't stopping as the most recent signee to Diddy's production team, The Hitmen.  While many would think this position would mean smooth sailing Amadeus notes that the grind never ends.

"Regardless of the integrity or name of the camp you are coming on board after the fact, which means nothing when they are already established.  So you have to prove yourself and put the work in to really make it happen.  Nothing comes to me so I still go out there and get," he said.

With a full calendar for 2010 Amadeus is getting it all as this year which will see the release of tracks with, Trina, The Game, DJ Kay Slay and Redman and many others.  Plus, Amadeus will hit the road with Trey Songz as his musical director for the BP3 Tour.

For more information on Amadeus please visit:

www.myspace.com/produceramadeus

By Souleo. Well, not quite.  Willie Taylor of Day 26 may have had naked pictures leaked last year but the only sex tape he is issuing is his latest mixtape entitled, Sex Tape.  Sorry for the tease.  Throughout the mixtape Willie offers up tales of pleasure but what you may be surprised to know is that he didn't always know how to "Knock it Out of the Park," when it came to his sexual prowess.  As a young man he revealed to JimmyJazz.com that he had a lot to learn about the art of making love.

"I thought I was good but I had a couple of teachers who helped me get better.  I thought it was about hearing noises.  My young age wanted to hear noise and screaming for the neighbors.  Plus in high school the girls like you and the guys boost you on so I started feeling like I was the king but that wasn't so," he said.

Willie has now reached a place where he is confident in his, ahem, skills.

"In my older life I realized there's so much more.  So now I don't want loud screams.  I want passionate ones and to take my lady to a place she never been before and keep her going there every time.  Now I feel like I'm at a point where I can say I'm good and my wife vouches for that," he said.

Still with all the confidence he has now he doesn't see himself as a sex symbol despite constantly taking off his shirt for fans.

"I leave that up to the ladies and people who want to call me that.  I don't toot my own horn.  If you think I look nice then thank my mommy and my dad," he joked.

For Willie the mixtape release is also about more than just sex and music.  It's about him stepping front and center as an entrepreneur and the CEO of his own label, Noivak Music.

"I want to brand my label and that's why the mixtape is out under Noivak.  This way people can identify the label and get familiar with it so that when my artists come out they can trust the brand," he said.

Willie is also slated to get back into the studio this month with Day 26.  No doubt, they will be creating some more steamy songs for listeners.

You can get your freak to Willie's Sex Tape at the stroke of midnight on Valentine's Day when it become available for free download here: www.noivakmusic.com

Photos: Fred King @ King Vision Photography

By Souleo. When you put their records on you just might get turned on and the electronic soul, dance, hip-hop whatever you want to call 'em, L.A. based duo, J*Davey, wouldn't have it any other way.  With one listen to any of their records and it becomes apparent that while other acts use sex as a marketing gimmick this duo, made up of female vocalist Jack Davey and producer Brook D'Leau, uses it as a tool of artistic empowerment to push the limits of gender and sexuality.

"As a woman it's always empowering to be able to talk about sex in a way that isn't degrading to my femininity.  It's saying I'm a human being like everyone else.  It's a way to celebrate the power of the p**** but it's also showing that I know how to use it.  It's not a misuse of it.  I always try to use words that other females aren't using and paint a picture that other artists aren't painting," said Jack.

For Brook the experience is just as liberating since he is able to step outside of the conventional role of men in society and explore his feminine side.

"From a male perspective it's interesting because often for males it's a very macho approach to sex where the male has to be dominant.  I think it's more intriguing to women when a guy doesn't force his sex on you.  So we like to ruffle feathers," he said.

When it comes to identifying their own sense of sexuality the duo refreshingly does not evade the question like many artists.  They admit that while they both prefer the opposite sex they are open to same sex partners.

"I consider myself straight but you never know like if the right male walks into my life you never know.  We leave that door open and it's whatever," Brook said.

In the end, besides making great music for listeners to groove to J*Davey just wants their followers to have the best sex of their lives by loving themselves first.

"I would say the point of sex is to express yourself with your body and to enjoy it.  You need to be comfortable with who you are and your body.  If you're searching for a better sex life work on yourself and the good sex will come," Jack advised.

In anticipation of their Warner Brothers Records summer debut album they are providing foreplay with the release of three free EP's, with the first one entitled Boudoir Synema: The Great Mistapes: http://jdavey.bandcamp.com/

By Souleo. In the DJ realm there is only one "commander-in-chief" and that is NYC's own, DJ Commish.  DJ Commish has worked with some of the biggest artists and corporations in the industry including Jay Z, BET, VIBE, AOL, the NBA and the NFL.  With his exclusive access to the stars you can bet that DJ Commish has some interesting tales to share on the celebrity party scene.

Some of the observations DJ Commish makes involves the party habits of the stars.  The most interesting habit comes from, Lil' Kim for her super late appearances.

"During the last two years of my New Year's parties she likes to come in at four in the morning.  Normally at four people are completely wasted and ready to go home but she is juts getting to the party and wanting to get it started," he said.

When the party does start, DJ Commish knows to expect the unexpected.  One unexpected occurrence involved Ray J and a flashing episode in the men's bathroom.

"I took a break from DJ'ing a party to go to the bathroom and Ray J followed right behind me.  So we're using the bathroom and talking about his album and the party.  Then some chick comes up between the two stalls and flashes him.  He apologized to me and was like this happens all the time.  Later when he came up to the DJ booth some other chicks came up and were wilding out too," he recalled.

Aside from the fun tales DJ Commish even has experience being caught in the crossfire of hip-hop heat, most notably the 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule vs. Fat Joe beef.

"I did a G-Unit barbecue 4 or 5 years ago and I was not allowed to play Ja Rule or Fat Joe.  The funny thing is it didn't come from the G-Unit camp at all but it came from the company working with G-Unit for the site.  50 Cent wasn't even there.  Olivia, Young Buck and others were there but they didn't even care.  They were there chilling so that was crazy," he said.

DJ Commish's craziest experience comes from outside the celebrity world with a near riot that almost landed him in jail.

"There was one night in Pittsburgh when I played Crime Mob's "Knuck if you Buck."  I didn't hear the record but five or six people requested it at the club so I played it.  There was a part where the girl starts her verse and once she started it was a riot in the club.  Police came in and shut the whole thing down.  They tried to arrest me for inciting a riot.  I had no idea and that happens to DJ's with certain records," he said.

It's these colorful experiences and memories that make it all worthwhile for DJ Commish and why he continues to keep on spinning at all the hot parties and on Music Choice's Mix-tape Network.

For more information on DJ Commish check out:

www.djcommish.com

By Souleo.

Singer-songwriter and ABC’s “Lincoln Heights,” actor, Mishon may only be 16 but he already knows a thing or two about love.  On his forthcoming debut album, The Yearbook he sets out to school his listeners on the trials and tribulations of that innocent young thing called puppy love.

“As an artist I feel like it’s a responsibility to share some of the things I've learned.  I think a lot of these young kids out here make a mistake like going all the way and sometimes they regret it  That’s not a good thing.  So I’m trying to make sure that they don’t regret it.,” he said.

Mishon notes that peer pressure is one of the key reasons why so many teens fall in love quickly and engage in sex before they are really prepared for the act.

“I think nowadays in our world it’s a lot of peer pressure.  People see stuff and sometimes they feel forced to do stuff.  I'm just reminding them that if you really like somebody then you don’t have to go all the way.  You should really get to know somebody better,” he said.

To encourage his young fans not to have any regrets about their experiences Mishon sings innocent songs like “Just a Kiss,” which are a far cry from most of pop music’s “beat it up, smash it” songs.

Mishon - "Just A Kiss"

“In that song I was basically saying to all my fans out there that if you really like somebody, you don’t have to jump right into it.  You can just start with a kiss and take it from there,”  he said.

Like a true love guru, Mishon is learning to practice what he preaches.  After a few failed romances he is finally taking things slow and not rushing into the heat of puppy love only to get burned.

“Well the thing with me is that I fall real fast for girls.  So lately I been trying to take it slow.  If I really like this girl then we got to you know—you gotta let it marinate.  So yeah, I definitely like to take it slow,” he said.

While Mishon’s love life may be slow, there’s no question that his career is in the fast lane thanks to his talent and insight into love.

One of the best things about Rocawear is that you get a piece of Jay-Z with the urban fashion collection, like the recent "Empire State of Mind" tee we blogged about earlier this week, but that was just a taste.

The brand, which of coarse is owned by Hovi, released more silk screen tees inspired by the Marcy Projects rapper. The tees have song titles and references from some of Jay-Z's biggest songs, like "Can't Knock the Hustle", "Empire State of Mind", "Dead Presidents", among several others. Obviously, these tees are limited edition, so shop now before they are all gone!

Mens Winter Fashion Tip: It's cold out there and we don't want you getting sick. Wear a thermal under your tee. Available in multiple colors at JimmyJazz.com.

Dead Presidents Tee by Rocawear

LETS TAKE IT BACK: Reasonable Doubt is without question one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Beats, rhymes, a witty Jay-Z, and the blueprint for making money. Here's the original video for "Dead Presidents":

One of the best sayings in the streets (and maybe just in general) is "you can't knock the hustle". A simple quote to live by with so much meaning that was made famous from Jay-Z. Now where those words on your sleeve... literally.

Can't Knock the Hustle tee by Rocawear

LETS TAKE IT BACK: Just like "Dead Presidents", "Can't Knock The Hustle" was also featured on Reasonable Doubt. The classic features the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige.

Jay-Z Photo Source: Roc4Life.com