Royce Da 5′9″ Cancels His Participation On “Sacrificial Lambz” Tour

Statement From Royce:
“Due to last minute scheduling and prior commitments, I cannot participate in the “Sacrificial Lambs” Tour. I’m in the final stages of finishing up my album “Street Hop” and mix cd the “Bar Exam 2” as well as readying my 1st Single / Video from the album. I’m also in the mist of planning my fall tour that will go throughout the US, Canada and Europe starting in Sept 08 to support my new projects. Please check my myspace page for further details.”

Dwele Set to Release New CD “Sketches of a Man” On June 24, 2008

Receives 3 Grammy Nods This Year for Collaborations with Kanye and Common, and The Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Remake, “That’s The Way of the World”

This year, Dwele was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” category for his interpretation of “That’s The Way of the World,” from the Stax Records compilation, Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire. He also appeared on long-time friend Kanye West’s Grammy-winning mega hit “Flashing Lights” and on rapper Common’s Grammy-nominated single “The People,” which made Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Best Songs of 2007.”

“Sketches of a Man is ultimately what I am and where I am in 2008,” Dwele explains.  “It is inspired by life and love, and it is about finding out how I fit into these different musical genres, or how I would fit into these new cultures. Like, if I spoke French, how would it sound? . . I think that’s what inspiration is.”

Sketches of a Man finds Dwele writing, producing, arranging and playing all instruments on nearly all of the tracks on the project.  One of the few exceptions is “A Few Reasons,” a bouncy groove with a hip hop feel written and performed by Dwele with production from Nottz (Snoop and R. Kelly’s “That’s That”).  Dwele shows us his hip hop side on Sketches… with tracks like “ Body Rock,” and funky ballads like “Open Your Eyes,” (a Bobby Caldwell cover), and “Love Ultra,”  but doesn’t stray too far from the soulful roots that we love on tracks like “Vain.”  On “Vain” Dwele speaks of how difficult it is to hold on to a relationship. “With my music I try to touch on things that everyone can relate to.  Things like, being a musician and trying to find the balance between work and love,” Dwele says of “Vain.”

Dwele is also a fine artist and has created a series of color and black & white mural-size works in acrylic.  He is also an accomplished photographer who works in digital as well as the old-fashioned way – using manual cameras.

One of the most refined and stylish singers to emerge in recent years, Dwele infuses the musical traditions of Motown visionaries Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, who he listened to growing up on Detroit’s west side, into his own contemporary sound. He taught himself to play several instruments including piano, trumpet, guitar and bass before embarking on his journey as a soul singer. His demo tape, 1998’s The Rize, got significant buzz around the Motor City and collaborations with fellow Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village also helped Dwele gain visibility.

He released his critically acclaimed full-length debut Subject in 2003, and cemented his appeal to European audiences with an extensive tour that summer. His second album, Some Kinda, followed in 2005, and featured production from the late J Dilla, as well as Mike City and G1.

K’naan Announces Summer Festival Dates, Including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, & All Points West

(May 1, 2008 – Brooklyn, NY) Award winning artist K’naan released an ambitious summer concert schedule today. Comprised of the biggest festivals in the US and Canada, K’naan will play to a diverse group of fans across North America. The festivals range in scope from alternative to jam band to folk to hip-hop.

The first summer date will find K’naan at alternative music / jam band oriented Bonnaroo in Tennessee. Next up is the eclectic Star Belly Jam, now in it’s 9th year in Crawford Bay, British Columbia. Then the Somali artist hits the storied alternative music festival Lollapalooza in Chicago. After a brief break, K’naan will play The Edmonton Folk Music Festival in Alberta, Canada and then jump on a plane with his band and perform the next day at the highly anticipated All Points West Music & Arts Festival in New Jersey. The circuit comes to an end at the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

“It is a testament to the breadth of K’naan’s music and fanbase that he is able to book such a diverse range of festivals,” said Interdependent Media’s General Manager and A&R, Dominic Del Bene. “This is isn’t very surprising to those that are familiar with him though- in the past two years he’s played at everything from reggae music festivals to Live 8 and been on tour with Mos Def, Nelly Furtado, The Roots, Damian Marley, dead prez, and Pharoahe Monch. K’naan is a truly global artist.” Interdependent Media will be releasing K’naan’s award winning debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher Deluxe Edition, for the first time in the US this June.

K’naan Festival dates:

June 14th – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Manchester, Tennessee

July 19th – Star Belly Jam Music Festival – Crawford Bay, British Columbia

August 1st - Lollapalooza – Chicago, Illinois

August 8th - Edmonton Folk Music Festival – Edmonton, Alberta

August 9th – All Points West Music & Arts Festival – Jersey City, New Jersey

August 23rd – Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival – San Francisco, California

###

The Dusty Foot Philosopher Deluxe Editionin stores everywhere in June.

2006 Winner Juno Award Winner- Best Rap Album*

2006 Polaris Music Prize Nominee 2007**

BBC Radio 3 Winner- Best New Artist, World Music

*The Juno Awards are the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards

**The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label