Jim Cat of Sharpshooters ENT

Jim Cat of Sharpshooters ENT

Questions-

How did you first decide to do music? "I grew up singing in the choir at church with my family. Eventually, my older brother found an interest in rapping so of course I had to get into it as well. We had an old Casio keyboard that we would play while we rapped, I'd do the music on the keyboard and sing while he rapped along to it."

Do you have any tattoos? "I have two tattoos. The first one I got is my performance name, Jim Cat. The second one says "Certified Gangsta"

What have you accomplished so far? "I've won 3 different trophies for music contests I've performed in, including freestyle rap battle contests. I've released numerous successful videos with SharpShooters Ent and I've released officials albums and mixtapes, which have circulated all over our side of Virginia. Outside of music, I've always maintained my own independence and have been self sufficient."

Favorite food? "BUFFALO WINGS!"

If you had to do something other than music? "I'd be owning my own business, I'd love to be an entrepreneur."

Do you listen to one genre or many? "I listen to everything, hip-hop, reggae, rock, alternative, even country. I love it all."

What can we expect in the future? "I plan on doing songs from a variety of different genres, including country and reggae."

Bio-

"James 'Jim Cat' Ellis was born in 1981, the youngest of 8 brothers and sisters. He was drawn to the fast life and allure of music around the age of 14, and has been doing his own original music since. His talents include songwriting, rapping and freestyling, playing the keyboard and producing his own beats, as well as being able to sing a variety of different genres of music. James developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome in 2006 after a bad reaction to antibiotics. The doctors gave him a 20% chance of living, and told him he would most likely end up blind and never able to speak clearly or sing again. After coming out of a coma, he fought for his life for months on end and still bares the scars of this horrible disease. He beat the odds and after a run-in with law enforcement, he decided to devote his life solely to pursuing a career in the music industry." 

Video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fttjWnCErAw

 

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PHONIKS

PHONIKS

Phoniks is a hip-hop producer from Portland, Maine known for his vintage-90's boom-bap production style and melodic jazz and soul samples. The 23-year old producer released the critically acclaimed "Return to the Golden Era" album with emcee Awon on July 30th, 2013 as well as a series of successful remix albums between 2011-2014. On February 15th, 2014 he is releasing “Stories from the Brass Section”, a collaborative LP with Houston emcee Anti-Lilly.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I mostly listen to 90’s New York stuff like Gang Starr, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Nas, Tribe, Jay-Z, etc. As far as new stuff I like Marco Polo, Doom, Statik Selektah, and Damu The Fudgemunk (my favorite current beat maker). I don’t listen to very much new music except for the occasional song and I’d rather not listen to 90% of the hip-hop that is being made today.

Do you think the music industry has changed? If so in what way?

The internet has revolutionized the music industry. It allows me to collaborate on albums with emcees all over the country without having to leave my home and it gives artists who may not live in major metropolitan areas a chance to be heard. A music blog can just as easily post a song from an artist in Hungary as it can an artist from Los Angeles, which is awesome because there’s a lot of great hip-hop being made in areas of the world you would never expect.

What’s your favorite food?

Besides being addicted to Chipotle, my all-time favorite meal is fish tacos. Corn tortilla, fried white fish, shredded cabbage, avocado, and chipotle mayo. A little known fact is that outside of chef-ing up beats I can also cook a little bit. I hope to one day retire and open my own restaurant.

What does it take for you to be inspired to do a new song?

A good sample and some weed.

If you had to do something other than music what would it be?

Outside of producing I am also an artist and graphic designer. I do the cover artwork for all my albums and Soundcloud singles and I also run my own graphic design company on the side.

What have you accomplished so far?

I’ve been featured in Respect Magazine, The Find Mag, The Word Is Bond, 2DopeBoyz, DJBooth.net, and the legendary hip-hop magazine The Source. I’ve had the #1 hip-hop song on Soundcloud.com (“Lost Girls” with Dephlow) and the #1 hip-hop album on Bandcamp.com (“Return to the Golden Era” with Awon). I recently reached 700,000+ combined plays on Soundcloud. My greatest accomplishment to date is getting my album pressed to wax by French hip-hop label Sergent Records. As a crate digger and vinyl fanatic it was the coolest moment in the world when I first saw my own record on wax.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I want to be regarded as a top-10 producer in hip-hop and I plan on outworking everybody until I reach that pedestal. I only started taking music seriously about 6 months ago and now it has become my full-time job so I plan on just continuing to put out music and hope for the best.

 

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3THOU

3thou

http://www.twitter.com/3_Thou

http://www.youtube.com/3ThouVA 

    q)What does it take for you to be inspired to do a new song?? 

A) other artist inspire me. I like to hear other ppl make good music & that inspires me to go & make the best song that i can. 

q) If you had to do something other than music what would it be??

a) I would just travel the world if i could. See all of the landmarks & beautiful sites all over the world

q)Have you done any shows??

a) Yes i have. I have done about 4 or 5 shows. Some local showcases. Im always looking to do more tho. Rocking the stage is an incredible feeling! 

q) What can we expect from you in the future??

a) I got a couple mixtapes lined up, a few music visuals in the works. I got "Catchin Light" t-shirts coming soon as well. & hopefully more shows coming soon! 

q) How did you first decide to do music?? And what made you pick this genre??

a) I always loved music. I used to play around & make songs in high school. People always told me that i was good with it but i didnt take it serious until 2010. I just was looking at the industry & felt as if i had a chance. 

q)     Is this your first interview??

a) It actually is my first interview & i greatly appreciate the opportunity. Hopefully its the first of many

q) What’s your favorite clothes brand??

a) i don't really have a favorite brand. I just wear whatever looks good on me. It could be any kind of brand. Nothing in particular

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Plunky and Oneness

Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch is an experienced performer, songwriter and music and film producer. He is president of his own independent record label, N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 25 albums. At one time Plunky was a studio musician for television's top-rated sitcom, "The Cosby Show.” His song “Every Way But Loose” was a top-ten soul music chart hit in London in the 1980’s. He has appeared on avant-garde jazz albums by Pharaoh Sanders, Hamiet Bluiett and others. Nowadays Plunky spends his time leading his band onstage playing rousing funk, R&B, jazz, African, reggae, gospel and rap and making music in his recording studio.

His latest releases are the CD album Never Too Late, the 5-CD compilation Plunky & Oneness 2012 Collectors Box Set; and his DVD Plunky & Oneness of Juju - Live In Paris. Plunky’s European touring has taken him to England, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He twice toured Ghana, West Africa, once for the Ghana National Commission on Children, and again as a cultural specialist for the U.S. Information Agency. Recently he has performed in Paris; traveled to Brazil; and twice to Cuba to research and produce music recordings and a documentary film, Under the Radar – A Survey of Afro-Cuban Music.

With his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has opened shows for Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Yellow Jackets, and Frankie Beverly & Maze, LL Cool J, Chuck Brown, and more. Plunky & Oneness performed at the New Orleans World’s Fair, the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta (four times) and twice at the Capital Jazz Festival in Maryland. For more than 15 years Plunky has toured continually with support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA).

Plunky’s career accomplishments are as varied as his music and his diverse interests, which include: African art and culture, history, digital technology, politics and the media. In addition to being a veteran saxophonist and composer, J. Plunky Branch has served as an administrator, lecturer and teacher. He has been a frequent arts panelist for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Plunky is a two-time recipient of NEA Jazz Fellowships and he was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force for the Promotion of the Arts in Virginia. He has been Director of the Jazz Ensemble at Virginia Union University as well as an instructor of Afro-American Music History at Virginia Commonwealth University, both in Richmond.

Recognized by Richmond Magazine as Musician of the Year for 1999, Plunky is a sought after artist-in-residence and performer for public schools systems. He has written film scripts, journals of his travels, poems and over 400 songs.

Throughout his career Plunky has entertained and taught thousands, and in the process, has developed a broad and loyal following. During his 1987 West African tour, critics proclaimed Plunky "one of the greatest living saxophonist!" In a context where rhythm, ritual, power and emotion reign supreme, he just might be!

For further information contact: J. Plunky Branch, 2218 Rosewood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220, 804-355-3586, Fax 804-355-7240, Email: plunkyb@aol.com

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JEP ROADIE

JEP ROADIE

JproD (Jeopardy)

@IamJproD

www.JproDintheRegal.com

#Regal coming soon!

Hosted by JoJo Simmons.

JproD - "We Here Now (So Much Smoke)"

 https://soundcloud.com/jprod-2/jprod-we-here-now-so-much

"A bunch of trend stealers, a bunch of imitation, a bunch of lies. I want to bring back that rugged feel. Let's make it cool to say what we really feel. Let's leave being politically correct to the politicians. In 2014, let's make it cool to be normal. I promise it is okay to be a black music artist and not wear Jordans. Which is exactly what I am, a music artist. Not a rapper, not an emcee, not a hip-hop artist. I am a music artist. I have never been conventional. I never felt it was possible to be something i'm not. More than comfortable in my own skin. Am I a genius? Not sure I care. All I care about is having genuine lyrics, attention grabbing hooks, creating my own sound. The reason I make music is to address every feeling I have. So that, if someone feels the same way, they now can articulate those feelings. Any subject matter found in my music is there because I actually do that, I have actually seen that, I have actually felt that. It is not because I care about what anyone thinks may or may not be cool. There are a group of real artists in the world who had their culture stolen from them, I am one of them. I was born to attempt to change the world through music. I know every "artist" tries to say that, but what's the difference between me and them? I plan on proving it. I ain't trying to start a revolution. Only trying to make the art of music sacred again. "You know it's real when you are who you think you are". I just want to be a legend for the right reasons. My dad's opinion doesn't matter to me, please don't think yours will. Regal is the story. #TrifeLife is the way. I am JproD (Jeopardy). You are real. I recognize it. Bless up."

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NEW ARA

1. How did you first decide to do music?? 

- Coming up singing & dancing listening to music as a shorty, after i stopped the basketball thing & fell into music. 

2. Have you done any shows?? 

- Numerous in a couple states, a lot in Chicago, plenty sweet 16's & college parties. 

3.  Does fashion have a big influence on your music?? 

- very large, everyone wants to stay updated on clothing but sometimes loose the value of regular t-shirt & some sneakers. 

Myself i wear a lot of different things but Im a sneaker head i actually still work at a footlocker. I tend to wear 2 different shoes alot as well.

4. What can we expect from you in the future?? 

- you can expect a long, crazy,loud,weird career out of me. Alot of downs But plenty more Ups. Im weird so i know my fans will stick with me.

5. What’s your favorite food??

- shiiit. Chicken & waffles, macaroni, skittles,krunchy kurls. 

6. Do you wish you could change the world musically?? 

- I don't necessarily want to change the world, but more like add my Water mark, make my name known forever in the music game.

7.  Where did you grow up?? And do you think that had any influence on your style??

- born & raised in Indiana, my moms family stayed there so close to each other it was no point of me to be anywhere else. my grandpa was the most important thing to me. lost him & den i started to grow up. But my Ogs took me to school in south suburbs of Chicago. but i was always in the city so i went through all the bad of gang bangn & shit still doing it. BUt i rep Chicago & Indiana. dont know any other artist out of indiana so i want to be the 1st.

Twitter- @NewAra_2Cool 

Vine- NewAra 

IG - NewAra_ 

Youtube. - NewAraTV 

Sound cloud - https://soundcloud.com/new-ara 

NewAra - Loud Prod. Trey Billz Shot By @AZaeproduction ( Music Video ) 

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BLACK FRIDAY

Black Friday (born as Jonathan Friday) is an up an coming artist from Eastern NC. Black Friday is a lyrical genius and is ready to take over the industry with his influential-real rhymes. His presence is so dominating you will engage to his music naturally. Work eagerly to put NC on the map, his company 365 ENT has a lot in store for 2014 and beyond.

www.twitter.com/black_fridaync
www.instagram.com/_black_friday365
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Friday/535546876534175?ref=hl
www.soundcloud.com/blackfriday365


How did you first decide to do music? It was just something I love to listen to and eventually became something I loved doing


What does it take for you to be inspired for a new song?? Experience observation real situations and just craft


Do you think the industry has changed?? Well to me It seem like it changes every five years or so just different music different sound


Where did you grow up??I was born in the Carolinas I think it gave me a mixture of styles


What have you accomplished so far??Well im completing my first project and can be one the lookout for some visuals to my music other than that im working with a couple djs to hit different markets

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