The Legendary DJ Jazzy Joyce has been in various facets of the Hip Hop industry for over thirty years. Her primary role has been a DJ and producer, yet her passion is not just limited to music; it includes all forms of creative expression. She is a visual artist in her own right. Need That Rose Gold is her brainchild; she hand-paints her emotions on apparel and canvas. Jazzy was very proud to present her first art installation, Out of Darkness, this past weekend; she is grateful to everyone who made her debut magical. The night was captured by Jamal Turner of Phetish Magazine. Our sponsor was celebrity eye-wear designer Corey Woods. He had several pairs of exclusive pieces by Yeroc on deck; Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard won a pair painted by Jazzy. Our models, JoMarie and Sabrina, had their faces painted and worked the room. Jazzy's mother and father were on deck along with friends and family. A special thank you is extended to Chance of Bronx Ink, Aaron of Petty Post Ent., our bartender Ayana, DJ TekWun, Carla, Josh and Brian. The event would not have been possible without Kai, Rob, Kim Sanchez and El Barrio's Artspace, and for that she is truly humble. Please check out her website for upcoming events and pop-up shop listings.
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On Saturday, November 18, 2017, DJ Jazzy Joyce had the privilege of spinning for DJ Con at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. The event was organized by Shawn Prez and Reggie Hunt, the same men behind the Global Spin Awards; they did not disappoint. They bought out all of the top names in celebrities, equipment and merchandise. The event was sponsored by T-Mobile, Monster Energy Drink, Hot 97 and Power 105.1 for starters. DJ Jazzy Joyce was featured on the turntables in the Digiwaxx booth, where she put on a tutorial of her legendary skill set. She also worked the wheels of steel for the T-Mobile flagship store on Broadway, where she mixed beats for fans and patrons alike. DJ Jazzy Joyce was in amazing company; Pretty Lou, DJ Magic, Ted Smooth, DJ Jus, DJ Self, DJ Will and DJ Fat Fingaz all made their rounds at DJ Con. Jaquae, Dream Doll, Lou Got Cash, Dyce Payso and Wyclef were also on deck for the festivities. DJ Jazzy Joyce managed to scoop four exclusive bags from Sprayground; they were signed by the DJ’s and raffled off to lucky attendees. The event was a major success; one that DJ Jazzy Joyce looks forward to in the future. There is a chill in the air; and I am not just referring to the return of fall sports. Racial tensions in America have been at an all-time high; and for various reasons. Capital, education and family structure all play a role in upbringing; your exposure and access to them ultimately mold who you are. Sports and entertainment have always been a seen as a way out for some; a way to leave a dangerous neighborhood, attend a prestigious university and ultimately support their family. It is the story of so many collegiate and professional athletes.
Colin Kaepernick has been the topic of conversation of late, but his story is a little different. As a fellow athlete, who also happens to be bi-racial, he has always been intriguing to me. The fact that he is adopted and religious increases his relatability to so many Americans. The twenty-nine-year-old free agent has been outspoken on numerous injustices; not just race. He spoke openly about America investing more into prisons than education during an interview with the Miami Herald. Drafted in 2011 by the 49ers and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII in 2012, Kaepernick was on the fast track. In 2013, Kaepernick was intercepted in the NFC Championship Game and ended the 49ers attempt to return to the Super Bowl. The 2014 season ended 8-8, with Jim Harbaugh resigning. Kaepernick struggled under the new head coach, Jim Tomsula; he also underwent surgery on his left should in 2015. So why should we be surprised that he chose to sit for the national anthem during a pre-season game in 2016? He later opted to kneel for the national anthem to show respect for the military members who have served in the armed forces; yet another example at how in depth his level of respect and awareness is for people. Some saw this as a marketing ploy or an excuse for the obvious; a distraction from the real reason he has not been acquired. Is it because the average lifespan of an NFL quarterback is 4½ years or because he is stirring up much needed controversy with his support of the Black Lives Matter movement? Considering his timing, I believe Colin is genuinely motivated to spark a change in our communities. 2016 was riddled with police shootings and “Not Guilty” verdicts across our nation. The real question should be, why aren’t more people sitting down and speaking up? As of late, the majority of feedback I have seen on the issue, calls for a boycott of the NFL; amazing. Let me be clear, I would love to see the boycott of a major sports organization, but how realistic is that? After all, we had an opportunity to do this when Donald Sterling, the former owner of the LA Clippers, was exposed for making racial comments during the 2014 playoffs; all the players and the fans had to do then, was sit out one game. No physical attendance at the stadium. No socializing at venues with the game displayed. No watching the game at home with friends and family; the impact with sponsors would have been received loud and clear. In 1964, hours before tip-off, NBA players planned to boycott the All-Star Game; pensions were paid immediately. In 1964, the fans did not have to act; today, we do. We cannot expect one person to carry the responsibility of bringing about change, for burdens we all face daily. Nor can we anticipate more martyrs on our behalf without our support behind them. This is bigger than sports and Kaepernick is aware of that. Since his time away from the NFL, his role as an activist has kept him busy; those are the real stats worth discussing. For starters, Colin pledged one million dollars to over twenty-four different organizations; $700,000.00 has already been donated despite him waiting for a job opportunity. The Know Your Rights Camp is a free campaign for children that focuses on how to interact with law enforcement, higher education and self-empowerment. It is fully funded by Colin and holds full-day youth seminars. Chicago, the Bay Area and New York City have already had events staged there, with more cities to come. This is not new however for Kaepernick. He has volunteered at Camp Taylor, a camp for children with heart disease, years prior to the controversy. Heart disease is something that he and his family hold dear; his adopted parents lost two newborn sons to this prior to adopting Colin. This further speaks to Kaepernick’s character; his actions mirror his words. Fans made Kaepernick’s jersey the most sought-after this year; who profited from that? It shows how important and influential the minority dollar is, but what good is that if it does not benefit those same minorities directly. Who is hiring us? Who are we working for? Shopping with? These are the real questions we should be asking; “Where does our money go?” With this in mind, an NFL boycott is simply not enough; we have to be more pro-active within our communities and here is why. As we plan to boycott the NFL, we must be prepared for the financial and economic consequences. Lower turn-outs at arenas and bars will result in the lay-offs of everyone from maintenance workers, security staff and food-handlers. The sales of merchandise will also wane with the boycott, leaving sneaker and apparel corporations with a loss of sales; stores will close and ultimately more lay-offs will follow. Who do you think will be the first to be laid-off? This is a key opportunity to discuss how the increase in minority owned businesses will improve employment opportunities in our communities. Competition will ultimately raise wages and minimize the leverage against minorities financially. More capita per household will improve educational opportunities and allow parents to spend more time with their children; thus improving the family structure. Colin has started this conversation indirectly; it is time for us to finish it. Kaepernick stated, “To me this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.” The question is, which way will you be looking this fall? The song of the summer of 2017 is clearly DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts” featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller. A remake of Santana’s “Maria, Maria,” almost twenty years later, what isn’t there to love? I think we can agree that not all remixes are the success story that “Wild Thoughts” is. We should be singing DJ Khaled’s praises, but DJ Jazzy Joyce and I are anxious for what is to come. With the resurgence of Xscape and Bell Biv Devoe and the twentieth anniversaries of the murders of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur upon us, this is the perfect time to revisit some of Hip Hop and R&B’s most iconic acts. The downside; not every track will be a hit. Furthermore, we are prepared to be inundated with tracks not worth the studio time spent to lay them down. So, before you become a statistic, what should you know about the chemistry and politics behind the music? According to Forbes, Hip Hop and R&B is the dominant genre in the U.S. for the first time in history. In part, because the fanbases age range continues to grow; Hip Hop elders are approaching their sixties and are still contributing to the culture. With that in mind, the song choice should feel nostalgic to this demographic. This will increase your exposure and sales in this age bracket; they have more disposable income than younger fans. To make it fresh and relevant, the message and timing are everything; collaborations are key. Make sure your clear the samples. Remy Ma’s “Shether”, one of the most controversial tracks of the year, should be very fresh in everyone’s mind. You never know how big a track is going to be; especially when the lyrics are delivered with precision. Now that we have covered the politics, we look forward to ending 2017 strong. Be sure to pick your team wisely; they reflect you. If you would like additional insight on this issue, please look into Jazzy’s Jewels – The DJ Jazzy Joyce Industry Workshop for Music; sessions are available now on www.djjazzyjoyce.us.
I wonder what James Quincey had to drink with his lunch today? Considering he is the CEO of Coca Cola, I am confident it was not a product made by Pepsi. I am also confident that Pepsi is not going out of their way to promote the other guy. If that seemed obvious to you, the same parallels across various industries, should strike the same cord.
The UMA's were created over a decade ago and were geared towards acknowledging unsigned talent; the last award ceremony was in 2015 despite some bragging about 2016 awards that do not exist. The UMA's set the groundwork for other award shows and showcases to follow. The thought was good initially, but towards the latter years, I began to notice favoritism with respect to the nominees and winners. As it became apparent that the results were biased, I took these types of events less seriously. Some outlets utilize others' fanbases, which are far more extensive, then their own. Their goal is to "nominate" potential winners so they can promote the event. The nominees' guests ultimately have to pay to get in; the same way unsigned hype has to pay to perform. The pockets and fanbases of the event organizer will get bigger all while you waste your time voting for a "winner". Is this based on the quality of someone's work or a popularity contest? If it is based on merit, no outside voting should be needed; major award shows have an independent committee for this. The fight of the year finally took place this weekend, to wide acclaim. I'm indifferent as to who won the belt, I'm more concerned with who won the bag. In this instance, people paid $100.00 to watch the fight, paid to go out to watch the fight, or flew to Vegas to see it in person. Mayweather, McGregor, promoters, hotels and airlines are the real winners here when you think about it. With that said, ask yourself, “what is in it for me?” If the answer is not obvious, you are most likely part of the agenda. I would also have to question the motive of one platform, awarding and praising the talents of another. The accolades of said platform would also come into question; what qualifies them to issue “awards”? Are they BMI or ASCAP certified? Is it possible that with the increase in local stations and the burst of podcasts on the forefront, that their leverage is waning? Some nominees are notably working harder than entire entities. So, when the reflecting on the winners and losers, the answer is obvious; follow the money. DJ Magic presented “Take It to the Streets,” his Custom Car, Bike and Lifestyle Show, this past Sunday, July 30, 2017. The annual event was held at the MCU parking lot in Coney Island; the weather was stellar to say the least. I made sure I was there early to capture images of these amazing rides; some of my favorites are included in this article. Cloud 9 Exotics did not disappoint and had several cars on display; most notably DJ Magic’s vehicle for Hot 97’s Ridin Out. The event was backed by Finest Auto Body, Long Island Tire and GlassParency; all located in Long Island. Sponsors like VIP Pro Audio and Proline Car Stereo were there to show you how to trick out your sound system. MetroPlus and Monster Energy Drinks were also on deck for this family friendly event. The occasion was hosted by Pretty Lou and Du Dollaz, of Money & Violence; it had a showcase for unsigned hype and I wasn’t disappointed. Two notables were Young Nasaro and Young Devyn; do not let their monikers fool you. I was impressed with their flow and versatility on various tracks; they had nice stage prescience and kept the audience engaged. “Take It to the Streets” also boasted some heavy hitters. D. Chamberz, Ricky Bats, Handsome Balla, Grafh, Special Ent., and DJ Jazzy Joyce were some of the notables on hand. DJ Big Skipp was on the turntables. The best part is that the proceeds will go to benefit women with breast cancer. As Pretty Lou mentioned, “We all know someone with cancer; I have cancer.” This is an unfortunate fact that we are working to change for the better. With individuals like DJ Magic, change will be possible. If we work together, accomplish so much more and do so more quickly. I look forward to DJ Magic’s future events; especially the Custom Car, Bike and Lifestyle Show for 2018. In a day and age where technology reigns supreme, it has become more and more common to see radio hosts take their shows on the road; the road to independence that is. There are several reasons for the transition that are apparent. First and foremost, the industry is inundated with artists, DJ’s, radio hosts and internet radio shows; there are more underground stations now then ever before. An increase in supply conversely affects demand and drives prices down with respect to studio time. A lower price point makes things more accessible to “talent” and thus, affect the quality and caliber of the show, furthermore the radio station.
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Jenna A. HercheA native New Yorker, Jenna has been in various facets of the entertainment industry for over twenty years. Her newest venture is media. Be sure to stay tuned for her perspective on the industry and the politics that come with the territory. CategoriesArchives
March 2020
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