FARO Z

Once again... in the musical evolution of time, we find ourselves in the need of a solution to the question “How can we take music to the next level?” Which only has one answer. Which only has been given to a chosen few. One of those chosen few is an emcee. His name is FARO.Z.

FARO.Z is quite often compared to KRS, for his ability to get a positive message across in a creative hip hop manner. FARO.Z got his earliest rap influences from Rakim. Later on, in the about nineteen ninety three he heard Das Efx, and Snoop Dogg, and has yet to put down his pen. FARO.Z has always been a musically creative person, gifted with great writing, speaking and memory skills.

Equipped with a Brooklyn home-grown delivery, a large vocabulary, and an international message of solidarity in his lyrics; all that was left was production. FARO.Z linked up with Live EraProductions (music), Graphika Design Group (graphic design), Da Ghetto Tymz Studios (merchandising and promotion) and collaborated to create the Old World Entertainment Inc: “The Return to that which is Glorious About our Past.”

Once again...

GABRE MASKAL

Coming up on the streets of Brooklyn, Colin Aubrey Edmonds, aka Maskal, had his brushes with the gangsta life. But instead of hyping a bad boy past to raise his music profile, like a lot of hip-hop gangsta wannabes, Maskal is one talented rapper who is committed to dropping knowledge of a conscious and spiritual kind. Although able to kick styles from straight-up hip-hop to driving rub-a-dub and roots reggae, Maskal’s flow and superior lyrical content comes strong from the tradition of warrior musicians like Bob Marley and Steele Pulse.

Like the legendary Robert Nestor Marley, who he praises as "much more than a musician," Maskal is inspired by great icons of the Black struggle who came before him, like Marcus Garvey and Jomo "Burning Spear" Kenyatta. "I'm here to encourage sleeping warriors who are ready but don't see a way," declares the 28-year-old Rasta rapper. "All I need is one mic."

Born in Guyana, South America, Maskal was brought to America at the age of 7 by his father, who wanted to do better for his family. A "quiet street kid who got along with pretty much everybody" while growing up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, he was drawn into the gang life, while hanging out with an older crowd and a cousin who was one of the most feared youth in the hood.

"I never got as far as murder," Maskal recalls about his days as a member of the Fifty Terrorists gang. But a beat-down did land him in New York City’s notorious Spofford Detention Center. "I wasn’t trying to kill the guy," he explains. "It was just due to the injuries he suffered." Incarceration and the "Public Enemy #1" tag he was branded with when he returned to the hood, convinced Maskal to get out of the gangsta life, and led him to music and a more spiritual path.

Maskal, first caught the music flava around the age of eight listening to his father, a professional bass player, jam with musicians in their home. As a teenager, he spent his weekends going with his crew to the jumpin’ sound systems in Brooklyn. The gigantic mobile DJ systems, popularized in Jamaica in the 50s, was where some of Jamaica’s best and most famous DJs, like Screechy Dan, Admiral Bailey and Frankie Paul, showcased their microphone skills whenever they visited New York City. "Every Friday and Saturday night, I knew what I was doing," Maskal recalls. "A couple of times I passed the mic with Shaggy," he adds referring to the "Hotshot" reggae/rap star who lived in his neighborhood when he was growing up.

Maskal eventually became known in Brooklyn for his own sound system, named Big Boss, and his mix tapes became much-requested party jams. After learning how to scratch by hanging with DJ Richie Rich of the old school rap group 3rd Bass, he began dabbling with lyrics and writing about whatever he saw. "Music is a chance to express yourself to the world," says Maskal.

Now, Maskal is ready to break out and make his mark on the music scene and beyond. Naming names and taking no prisoners, the mighty young dread with the mad lyrical skills is set to educate and inspire the masses with his keen social commentary and the thought-provoking observations of a "righteous Rasta livin’ the rebel life in Brooklyn."

Maskal's lyrics are a cut above the larger-than-life guns talk and boasts of bling-bling lifestyle perpetrated in the hip-hop game, and ring with the truth of what he has lived. "My music is not inspired by falsehood," says the conscious rapper. "There's no pretense. I want my music to be positive and the people to be inspired. If you're down, I want my music to pick you up."

Strong in his Rasta stance and in honoring his Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie in his rhymes, Maskal is one rapper who believes in "practicing what you preach and preaching what you practice." His name, which comes from the Ethiopian word for cross, came to him during a deeply spiritual experience after asking for a name with meaning and purpose.  And like the story of the finding of the "true cross", lost and buried for more than 300 years, Maskal’s coming is helping lift the burden of false music prophets from the music scene and bringing the meaning and purpose back hip-hop.

ISA STARR

Out of the universe of comic musicians… Sun Ra, once said. "I don’t come to you as reality… I come to you as a dream. I have come as the alter destiny." Born on the planet of Jupiter with the Heart of Chicago comes… Isa Starr: The galaxies 9th wonder.

If music ever planned to be in the box: Consider this Destiny altered…

Isa Starr is more than a singer, she is an experience. She weaves a vocal poetry that leaves audiences hypnotized by her harmonies. She infuses disco, soul, and alternative rock into and effortless expression of the perpetual: NEXT LEVEL. Yet, this is only one dimension. Isa Starr brings and uncanny elegance to the art of hip-hop. She writes "The definition of my mission is to kill or be killed." It is this dedication to the movement of people though music that makes her a powerful and necessary voice.

Isa Starr is the definition of an artist… forever changing. She has been musical director for the Poetree Productions: On a Poets Block, Bob Marley Monologues, Black, The Earth Show, and The Slam Scam. She is member of Poetree Chicago (a hip-hop/spoken word crew) who has performed nation-wide and has done extensive work with youth in Chicago Public Schools.

Isa Starr brings her message of altering the destiny of music from the depths of open mics… to the heights of venues such as Navy Pier in Chicago, and House of Blues. Isa has graced the stage along with many artists such as-Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Wu-Tang, Roy Ayers, Talib Kweli, Amel Larrieux and Dead Prez along with many more.

Welcome to Isa Starr… In this cosmos; one must be ready to feel… a super natural melodic flow which makes her the perfect blend between hip-hop, rock, and cosmic soul. She brings vocal bliss, beautifully constructed rhymes, and rock together in the new destiny of music: KosmicSolRoc.

Its time to listen…and love music again!

JAHMED

Born in East New York, Brooklyn in the late 70s Jahmed was the 5th born into an culturally grounded and politically minded family. His families' cultural influence had a tremendous impact on his development. Between the stirring sounds of Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and Lonnie Liston Smith to the powerful words of Malcolm X, Donnie Hathaway and Gil Scott Heron, Jahmed was always culturally nourished. With the emerging Hip-Hop culture, he first found his outlet through Djing. That experience transformed his life because now he had found a way to nurture his passion for music. With an older brother (RICH MASON) as a mentor, Jahmed was able to submerge himself in the hip-hop scene and learn the in's and out's of the industry.

Currently, he's using his past experiences and resources to build a foundation to allow him to produce quality music in this age of 'the music industry madness'. Through his involvement with the community and musical industry outlets, Jahmed has gained recent success as a performer. He has performed in such venues as The African Street Festival, Nkiru Bookstore, Holla Black, The Strivers Lounge and Cafe', The Gishen Cafe', Jimmy's Uptown Cafe', St.John's University, Cafe's, and a host of other places.

He has also performed internationally, featured in Nairobi, Kenya. Through performances, he has tapped into unlimited musical resources such as live musicians engineers, mc's poets, singers,etc.

Jahmed is now a part of different artistic collectives , trying to create the next edition of black music that will be the substance for 2005 and beyond.

He is presently working on his first solo album while teaching in the New York Public School system, studying the music industry, and entrepreneurship. For the future he plans to produce and distribute music independently while working to build community through music and education.

MASAUKO CHIPEMBERE

A musician from Malawi in Southern Africa. He was raised in Los Angeles while his parents were in political exile. His sound is a hybrid developed through his experiences in both Southern Africa and America. He sings in Chi-Chewa, Zulu and English fallowing in the tradition of the great South African singer Miriam Makeba.

Chipembere began singing at the age of seven with a barbershop quartet in grade school. From there he never stopped. At age 14 he picked up the guitar to accompany his melodic vocal style. He was in demand at clubs where he was too young to be admitted.

Masauko went on to study Jazz and Opera at Cal State University Northridge in 1988. It was there that he got his first real exposure to jazz and developed a deep love for the art of improvisation. His songs often include improvisational jazz scatting and rapping.

Once finished with his studies, Masauko entered the L.A. music scene. He took what he had learned from Jazz and the African melodies his mother sang around the house and created his own healing sound. This sound grabbed the attention of Russell Pope, a South African music producer also living in Los Angeles.

Masauko made his first album with the help of Russell Pope and South African musician Neo Muyanga. The album was called Blk Sonshine (Black Sonshine). This album became an instant hit in South Africa where it was picked up by Fresh records and BMG music.

The first single from the album, "Building" went to #1 on South African radio in 2001. The success of the album gave Masauko a chance to visit and live in South Africa. While in South Africa he toured extensively sharing stages with: Mary J. Blige, Ishamel Lo, Cesaria Evora, Take 6, Talib Kweli, Black Thought (The Roots), Stanley Jordan, Hugh Masekla and even had the honor of meeting and singing for his idol Miriam Makeba.

Masauko now lives in Brooklyn, New York and performs all over the country. His time in Africa exposed him to the serious problems caused by HIV/AIDS. Now he often performs in D.C. soliciting funds for various organizations working to end the HIV/AIDS crisis in Southern Africa.

TEHUT-NINE

Born and raised on the Island of Jamaica, where he was inspired to start writing after witnessing his oldest brother performing at a concert. Already armed with an impressive resume of accomplishments, he was recently featured on HBO and Russell Simmons DefPoetryJam.com and was also a featured performer at the 2002 Neo Soul Festival in Bermuda alongside Angie Stone, Bilal and Shemar Moore. This talented poet/laureate is definitely on the threshold of greatness.

Former Elektra Recording Artist MC LYTE wrote, "Tehut-Nine’s poetry will definitely touch the intangible parts of you."

During the course of 2001 Tehut-Nine launched one of the most successful international spoken word tours traveling across 2 continents, 9 countries and over 50 cities in the US , Canada, the Caribbean and Europe where he performed in England (London, Bristol, Norwich, Sheffield); Edinburgh, Scotland; Paris, France; Germany (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart), Italy (Rome, Venice ); Zurich, Switzerland etc. The tour was a landmark success and provided enough leverage for Tehut to release his debut album "Mind Magician," which sold out within a few months.

London’s Pride magazine wrote, "Tehut-Nine [is] one of the most gifted talents ever to storm the international spoken word scene."

Over the years, Tehut-Nine has shared the stage with entertainers such as Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, M.C Lyte, Mos Def, Wyclef, D'Angelo, Chuck D, Kid Capri, etc. In addition to recording artist, he has opened up for activists, poets and speakers such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Saul Williams, Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovani, Linton Kweisi Johnson, Sonia Sanchez, Maulana Karenga (Founder of Kwanzaa), Cornel West, Bobby Seales (Founder of Black Panther Party), and countless others.

Tehut-Nine is the Author of two books of poetry respectively titled The Fire In Me and Mental Eye-roglyphics. His peers describe him as, "Compelling and powerful, a master of wordplay and a performer for the mind- A modern day Langston Hughes."

Tehut-Nine has long been a favorite at Colleges, Universities, social and corporate entities across the country. His lyrical dexterity and passionate performance creates an embracing energy, that draws audiences in to be inspired. He was a member of the World Famous Apollo Theatre Poetic Battles Slam Team and Nuyorican Poets Cafe 2000 National Slam team.

Tehut has also been featured on CNN, MTV, HBO, BET, Amateur Night at The World Famous Apollo Theatre, Madison Square Garden, The Cotton Club and The Black Expo to name a few.

TIYE PHOENIX

Tiye Phoenix is everything you'd want in an underground emcee — pens and pads, cordless mics and lyrical prowess. Brooklyn's Tiye Phoenix has been blessing mic's for some time now and has co-written songs for the likes of Public Enemy. Tiye has also toured with R&B songstress Teena Marie and has worked with Rawkus Records labelmates, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and The Last Emperor. She's done it all for the love of the music — one fact that is the most important and the easiest to prove.

TOYIA TAYLOR

People who have had the pleasure of experiencing Toyia T. Taylor, on stage, usually walk away with an adrenaline rush and a new outlook on performance art.  She is a Seattleite with Louisiana roots. This performer possesses the originality and passion of a young Nikki Giovanni, but the funky, eclectic energy of Nina Simone or Lauryn Hill.  This orator, spoken word artist, writer and actress is constantly reinventing her style and image through her unique brand of rhythmic and socially conscious prose. 

As a performance artist, Toyia’s talents extend well beyond the world of spoken word.  Her natural flair and love for the stage are evident in her versatility.  She exhibits an incredible skill to connect with the audience.  At an early age, as an orator and activist she began to share stages with national and international community leaders, Kweisi Mfume, Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael), Benjamin Chavis-Muhammed, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Debbie Turner and Nikki Giovanni.  In 1999-2000, her dynamic voice and writing skills won her the title of Miss District of Columbia, advancing her to the Miss America Pageant.  As a contestant in the Miss America Pageant, she received accolades for Best Interview and Talent.  This striking actress currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.  She was recently featured in the 35th Anniversary Limited Edition of Interview Magazine.  She’s featured in an ad campaign for the American Cancer Society along with Danny Glover.  She has appeared on the HBO series Sex in the City and the daytime soap opera All My Children.  She has also worked with several national and local organizations:  Harlem School of the Arts, NAACP, National Black Child Development Institute, Professional Performing Arts School, The Young Eight, Youth Speaks, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center and Seattle Girl’s School. 

DISTINCTIVE DARLINGS BY P.J.

Founded in 1991, Pamela Jackson's passion and desire to design, stemmed from an early childhood goal and to foresee her purpose in life, was envisioned. While attending public schools in Jersey City taking home economics, she knew she was on her way towards the fashion industry. Pamela's success continued as a graduate of Tobe Coburn School of Fashion Careers, and a graduate of the world famous Fashion Institute of Technology. Both have given her a much greater vision. Pamela's favorite thing to do is cut and drape. Favorite quote, "the best way to predict the future is to create it."

For more info, visit www.distinctivedarlings.com

RADHA BLANK - HOST

The Village Voice called Radha Blank's one woman basketball comedy, Kenya,'riveting...immediately alive'. It garnered her numerous awards including The New Professional Theatre’s Annual Writers Award, The New York Foundation For the Arts Artists Fellowship as well as The Nickelodeon Writers Fellowship.  This New York Native has since written for hit shows like Little Bill and the new Nick Jr. series, The Backyardigans.  She has also written for the Hip Hop/Anime series Battleseed.  As a comedian, she's performed at clubs all around New York but is most proud of her role in the all-women stand-up comedy troupe, Shades of Laughter: Sisters Doing Comedy. Radha teaches Hip Hop writing, playwriting and poetry to NYC kids and is a student of every child she meets.  Having just signed a development deal with the hot new teen network, The N, Radha looks forward to giving greater voice to today’s generation of youth.

DJ SABINE

DJ Sabine spins House, Afrobeat, Haitian Roots music and other African diasporic tunes. Her main influences are her spirit guides, ancestors, and warrior womyn. Her ear for music soothes the innate part of herself and others that honors the sounds of drums, the power of words, and the healing affect of conjuring up pure positive feeling and emotion. All of which her musical mission is to move one to dance, release, and ultimately be free. DJ Sabine has spun for NYC venues and grassroots organizations such as Goga Café, Kush, Casper Jones Café Bar Lounge, Sutra, Rockwell’s Bar Lounge, Remote Lounge, Sputnik, Nuyorican Poet’s Café, Quilombo, Sista II Sista (El Refugio), Sisterfire NYC, PS 122, The Black Out Arts Collective, Five Spot, Whitney Museum, and Central Park Summerstage ‘04.

Oyasound Productions consists of founder DJ Sabine. Her mainstay and cultivation has been the monthly and weekly events Ritual Grooves, Family Underground, & Soul In The Hole. DJ Sabine’s Oyasound Productions events focuses on the exposure and pleasures of African diasporic music like House, Afrobeat, and Classic Soul music. Oyasound seeks to expand its efforts by having an Open Mic/Performance segment, Visual Arts and Oyasound Market. The market will consist of Oyasound T-Shirts, copper art, CDs and more made by DJ Sabine and her supporters.