The FUBU Culture List
Local New York Events…for now!
Brownstone Jazz Fest Weekend Concert Series
BrownstoneJAZZ FEST up close and personal. Intimate acoustic room live concerts.
Experience the JazzFest in a restored 19th Century Victorian Brownstone located in Bedford Stuyvesant's Central Brooklyn Landmarked Historical Community. Where ou will feel transported back to earlier time as you walk through the doors.
BrownstoneJAZZ Ensambles present the best of yesteryear's jazz soldiers and today's jazz frontier. Musicians, swinging with an authentic jazz style. Something for everyone to enjoy
Bed Stuy, B'klyn and SugarHill, Harlem were both Jazz Hey Day Communities. When Ella Fitzgerald lyricized the song 'TAKE THE A TRAIN' connecting NYC's two jazz hubs.
You're invited to the magic of music with Curator Debbie McClain and M.C., Bassist Eric Lemons hosting you as you uncover this old school jazz venue to enjoy a different jazz experience.
Both Eric and Debbie have been involved in the world of music entertainment for years presenting major artist. Their list is long. They really know their way around the business.
NOTES
Friday through Sundays ONLY
Dress to impress
BYOBB (bring your own brown bag)
DanceAfrica 2024
BAM’s corner of Fort Greene transforms into a pulsing celebration of community, discovery, and collective joy at this beloved annual festival. We join with longtime neighbors, first-time visitors, the DanceAfrica Council of Elders, and our partners at Weeksville Heritage Center and The Billie Holiday Theater (formerly Restoration Arts) to create the nation’s largest festival of African dance—and Brooklyn’s unofficial start of summer. Featuring the iconic outdoor bazaar, traditional dance and music from Cameroon, classes, workshops, late-night dance parties, and FilmAfrica’s lineup of cinematic gems, this can’t-miss cultural celebration electrifies Brooklyn for a 47th year.
Studio Sound: Sable Elyse Smith
The second annual presentation of Studio Sound—a performance series that champions artists and musicians whose work engages new possibilities for sound and music—will feature interdisciplinary artist and writer Sable Elyse Smith. Exploring auditory art forms through both live and recorded performance, this ongoing series suggests an expanded history of art in which sound plays a central role.
Smith’s work draws from the legacy of Conceptual art, using video, sculpture, photography, text, and now sound to confront the mundane and pervasive impacts of systemic oppression. At MoMA, Smith will present a new musical composition and video installation in the form of an opera, with ticketed performances and an installation on view during Museum hours. Part of a larger ongoing project, this work tells a story of queer love between two Black women set in a surreal environment. Unfolding across multiple scenes, the performance explores the political, collective, and dramatic potential of the voice as well as the ways in which language dissolves through sonic expression.
Organized by Martha Joseph, The Phyllis Ann and Walter Borten Assistant Curator of Media and Performance, with May Makki, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Media and Performance. Performances produced by Lizzie Gorfaine, Associate Director and Producer, with Nora Chellew, Assistant Performance Coordinator, Performance and Live Programs.
Yussef Dayes
One of the UK’s most exciting and innovative young drummers and producers, Yussef Dayes has been deeply involved in jazz as long as he can remember. Best known for work with his brothers in United Vibrations, and also as one half of electrifying duo Yussef Kamaal, he’s been developing his sound since age four when his dad bought him his first drum kit.
Born and raised in South East London, as a kid Yussef was practicing non-stop: “My parents were strict – if I was gonna do this, I had to take it seriously.” His father was a bass player in New York in the 70s, and brought home an education’s worth of jazz vinyl that the Dayes brothers all grew-up on – Yussef and his bassist brother Kareem would play along to their dad’s records for hours at a time. This was the closest he got to formal jazz lessons until, when he was ten, he studied under Billy Cobham (Miles Davis’ drummer). Yussef considers this to have been the most impactful thing for his progression.
At school, many of Yussef’s peers were aspiring MCs, and he considers grime and hip-hop heavily influential to his output: “That same energy and those different flows, I put into my drums.” Add to this his Jamaican father’s reggae collection, his late mother’s love of the Beatles and country, and his brother Ahmad producing jungle tracks, Yussef says: “there was good music in every room” – and this breadth of taste, blended with sounds found while travelling (notably time spent in Senegal) is audible in his exhilarating combination of sounds.
These varied influences would be put into a live setting from a young age – from ten years old he was playing shows with his brothers and their friend Wayne Francis II in an afrobeat and rock-influenced spiritual jazz group. Then, cementing him as one of the need-to-know artists in the UK scene, it was in 2015 that Yussef Kamaal was born. A duo with fellow Londoner Kamaal Williams, their 2016 album Black Focus, with its dancefloor sensibilities and funk-infused breakbeats, would become one of the most heralded jazz records of recent times, melding UK sounds with those of the US scene. Certified silver, the album won the duo the 2017 Jazz FM award for Best Breakthrough Act. With their rapturous shows, both groups have helped hone Yussef’s thrilling, rapid-fire live presence (he refers to it as an alter-ego, “the beast” that takes over when he’s playing).
2018 saw the release of ‘Love Is The Message’ - Yussef’s transcendental first solo track, self-released on Cashmere Thoughts. Following this in 2019, Yussef’s solo journey continued to flourish releasing an AA single entitled DUALITY, consisting of ‘For My Ladies’ and ‘Othello’.
A testament to the breadth and scope of his work in 2019, Yussef sound tracked and curated the Louis Vuitton dinner show for Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January 2019, collaborating with none other than Virgil Abloh and Benji B.
Currently, in 2020, Yussef and fellow South East London musician Tom Misch have released their joint album entitled What Kinda Music, distributed on legendary jazz label, Blue Note. The album curated by drummer and singer-songwriter expresses music’s ability to tick the boxes of all-genres and to appeal to an incredibly vast audience. The album has gained much global success including reaching #4 in the UK Official Charts, #1 Current Contemporary Jazz Album in the US Billboard Charts and #52 Album in the US Billboard Charts.
With a solo album in the pipeline, Yussef says working solo allows him to be free: uncompromising in choices of sounds and collaborators. He’s running with that freedom, working on multiple projects as a producer and player with some of the key names in the UK jazz scene and beyond.
It’s an exciting time ahead, with more of those soaring, epic, and intricate soundscapes that don’t sound quite like anything else to come. “Drumming is a way of communicating and expressing yourself”, he says – and in 2020, there’s no doubt Yussef Dayes is going to be the one leading the conversation.
BJ The Chicago Kid
BJ The Chicago Kid
It's been a long time coming for BJ the Chicago Kid, and not just because, after four mixtapes and one indie classic, he's now dropping his major-label debut on Motown, the modern yet deeply soulful 'In My Mind.' You've been hearing his voice everywhere though, on the songs by some of the greatest artists of our era (punctuating tracks by Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Kehlani and ScHoolboy Q's Grammy Award-nominated smash "Studio."). Notable Collaborations include Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, Dom Kennedy, Freddie Gibbs, Ty Dolla $ign, Xzibit and, most recently, OG Maco, Joey Bada$$ and Hannibal Burress. But go back even farther and you'll find BJ was fated for this life. Bryan James Sledge cooed his first note to an audience when he was five years old. His mom was a choir director and his whole family was in the congregation: BJ the youngest of three boys who all sang on Sunday. Yet outside was the constant backbeat of his youth: trunk music, rap and old school soul, the same thump that he'd hear falling asleep at night, and at the whole-block cookouts that happened every Saturday. His dad, though also a choir director, exposed him to that secular inspiration firsthand. By night his father did concert security, and he took his boy to gigs. Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation Tour (the one with the panther) changed BJ forever, and the experience got swirled up with the stuff he heard at home: the Chi-Lites, Luther, Curtis, even Babyface. The kid wrote his first song as a teen. He'd been focused on drums, and you can still hear that in the way his voice clings to the pocket, but, as happens, he caught feelings for a girl and wrote a poem about it. Producer Kevin Randolph, a family friend, saw promise in BJ's pen and mentored him in the ways of song. And when it was time, he helped BJ secure his ticket to Los Angeles. That first job, singing backup with gospel duo Mary Mary, led to studio time (vocals, songwriting) with Lalah Hathaway, Musiq Soulchild, Joe, Mario, and Mary J. Blige, among others. In 2005 alone he went into the booth with Stevie Wonder and onto the Grammy stage with Usher and James Brown. A year later came the big one: Kanye West's "Impossible" for "Mission: Impossible III." It's understandable if you've heard BJ and not known it — the man's melody is classic and his voice is elastic; he sounds like a sample. But he proved his knack for present-day soul on 2012's self-released album, 'Pineapple Now-Laters,' a diverse collection of songs that moved from a cappella excellence to swaggy rap 'n' blues to the heartfelt "His Pain," featuring Kendrick Lamar. Call it a favor returned — BJ's on Lamar's 2009 EP, and works with the whole T.D.E. family. ScHoolboy Q's single "Studio" followed, capping an impressive run of collaborations with West Coast legends like Warren G and Xzibit, and Chicago new-schoolers like Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa. BJ's 'M.A.F.E. Project' tape in 2014 broadcast the message: "Music Ain't for Everyone." Of course, BJ was destined for the winner's circle, and just as he came up in a supportive Chicago 'hood, he's been building up his music community steadily. He even pitched in on Dr. Dre's long-awaited Compton on the way to now, but it's his time to shine, and for fans of all those guys to realize they've been fans of BJ all along. 'In My Mind' is the first true open door to his world, to a place where the Bible comes first, but Belly might be second. Where blunts burn and oxtails simmer. It's a window into the psyche of a soul man who watches Tom & Jerry regularly, but keeps up with the bangers from around the way. This man who sings "Church" — with a hook that so perfectly illustrates the line he walks: "She said she wanna drink, do drugs, and have sex tonight/But I got church in the morning" — is not so far removed from the so-called kid raised on the Windy City's South Side. Most of all, 'In My Mind' is a set of staggeringly great songs from a man who knows The Classics as well as he does The Now. Take his James Brown flip, "Woman's World," where vintage sound meets modern perspective. Or "Heart Crush," which connects a timeless sentiment (fast love's slow fizzle) with an atmospheric, alt-R&B sound. There's the steamy stuff like "Turnin Me Up," which finds BJ channeling both D'Angelo and Marvin Gaye while leading his live band. And romantic fare like "Shine," a piano ballad tailor-made to weaken knees on deployment. "New Cupid," especially, crisscrosses generation and genre with ease, borrowing the iconic "Oh yeah!" from "Mr. Big Stuff," sampling a Raphael Saadiq cut, and featuring a heartbroken Lamar. 'In My Mind' transcends basic classification — it's as imaginative as its title implies, but as real BJ the Chicago Kid's love for this music.
Bilal: Songs From Love For Sale - One Night Only
Bilal
Bilal Sayeed Oliver is a truly independent artist. A singer, songwriter, and producer who has always been ahead of his time - blending jazz, afro-futurism, classic soul, alternative r&b, rock, and even classical in his vocals and music. He's known for his wide vocal range, work across multiple genres, and magnetic live performances. Philip Bailey said Bilal is the rare singer who uses his voice like an instrument.
Interscope Records signed Bilal to a major label recording deal fresh out of college, after studying jazz composition and opera at The New School in NYC. His debut album, “First Born Second," showcased a range from the emotionally charged fan-favorite, "Soul Sista," which peaked at No. 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, to the political viewpoints of "Fast Lane" and "Second Child”.
Bilal quickly developed a sizable following at his live shows which were known for being emotional and elecrifying. He received great acclaim from his peers, who noted his range and ability to sing in a freeform style and his classically trained falsetto. The soulful feel of the album caused Bilal to be labeled as "neo-soul,” but throughout his career his expansion in music and pushing of boundaries has proved his point that he is much more than that.
Playing jazz venues and recording more progressive soul music in the following years, Bilal has commercially released four albums to critical success. His unreleased but widely leaked second album “Love for Sale” found wide acclaim among critics and listeners. It features collabs with Dr. Dre and J Dilla and was built around Bilal’s own musicianship, included live instrumentation and had a vibe completely new and different from its predecessor. Interscope shelved the album indefinitely. It still received over half a million downloads and Bilal began touring even though there was no proper release of the album.
As a member of the Soulquarians, an experimental collective that was active from the late 1990s to early 2000s, Bilal has been culturally and musicially influencial on a whole new generation of musicians and producers. His extensive list of collaborations includes Kendrick Lamar, Common, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Guru, Kimbra, J Dilla, Robert Glasper, and The Roots.
"Airtight's Revenge,” his experimental 2011 album, blends jazz, hip-hop, electronic, rock, soul, and blues into one raw, genuine collection of music. The album's single, "Little One", earned Bilal a 2011 Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Urban/Alternative Performance. That year, he was also on the Roots' Grammy-nominated album Undun (2011) and the Robert Glasper Experiment's Grammy-winning Black Radio (2012).
With the release of his next album, “A Love Surreal,” Bilal immediately achieved commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on iTunes' R&B Chart. On Billboard, the album debuted at No. 17 on the Independent Albums Chart, No. 19 on the R&B Albums Chart, and No. 103 on the Billboard 200. The album received shining reviews, including an 8/10 from SPIN magazine,4.5/5 stars from Allmusic, and 4/4 stars from USA Today.
In an essay on the Soulquarians, Michael A. Gonzales traces the collective's impact to Bilal's contemporary contributions: "Listening to Kendrick Lamar's newest album “To Pimp a Butterfly”, “Bilal has transformed himself for the post-Soulquarian generation that includes Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding and now Kendrick.”
In August 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Bilal wrote and recorded his first EP, Voyage-19, over the course of three days and in collaboration with various musicians in remote experimental sessions, which were streamed live on YouTube. The resulting three-track EP was released digitally the following month, with revenues of its sale and accompanying donations given to the participating artists, many of whom had been struggling financially due to the pandemic.
He is working on new music and currently splits his time between the US and Morocco, where he paints and writes music.
COTTON: Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano and Justin Austin, baritone
Celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, acclaimed for her riveting performances on the world’s great opera stages, her activism in support of diversity in the arts, and her championing of new music, brings the New York premiere of an immersive exploration of African American stories through song, poetry, and photography.
COTTON is inspired by photographer John E. Dowell’s haunting images of South Carolina cotton fields – captured in his 2018 exhibit Cotton: The Soft, Dangerous Beauty of the Past. The work comprises a song cycle by acclaimed composer Damien Geter – performed by Graves with exciting rising star baritone Justin Austin – with original poems by Nikki Giovanni, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Afaa Michael Weaver, Lauren Alleyne, Charlotte Blake Alston, Glenis Redmond, Alora Young, and Trapeta Mayson, and Dowell’s evocative photographs. A poignant and powerful multidisciplinary work that speaks to the resilience of soul and psyche, led by one of music’s most compelling vocal stars.
COTTON was inspired by the cotton photography of John E. Dowell. The poetry and music were commissioned by Lyric Fest (Philadelphia) in honor of its 20th Anniversary.
Black Violin Experience
City Winery Presents Black Violin: The Experience Tour live in concert on April 2nd at 8pm
For nearly two decades, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. Members Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste first met in orchestra class at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, becoming classically trained on the violin and viola through their high school and college careers. Post-college, they reconvened to produce beats for South Florida rappers, and began building an audience in local clubs. They later went on to win Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, and eventually sold out headline performances at venues across the country, including a sold out two-night headline run at The Kennedy Center in 2018. NPR took note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.” Black Violin’s 2019 album release, Take the Stairs, earned a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album”. The band also recently received their second ever Grammy Award nomination for the track “The Message” as Best Americana Performance, in collaboration with The Blind Boys of Alabama.
Black Violin has plays roughly 200 shows a year; many of which are performances for young, low-income students in urban communities. In the last year alone, the group has played for over 100,000 students with the goal of challenging stereotypes and preconceived notions of what a “classical musician” looks and sounds like. “The stereotypes are always there, embedded so deep in our culture,” says Wil. “Just by nature of our existence we challenge those ideas. It’s a unique thing that brings people together who aren’t usually in the same room, and in the current climate, it’s good to bring people together.”
Candlelight: Legends of R&B at Arlo Williamsburg
⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in NYC. Get your tickets now to discover the most iconic RnB hits at Arlo Williamsburgunder the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
📍 Venue: The Ballroom at Arlo Williamsburg
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 65 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert, please click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in New York
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
Wake Up Everybody - Harold Melvin / The Roots
Caught Up In The Rapture - Anita Baker
Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic
What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye
Pretty Wings - Maxwell
You Don’t Know My Name - Alicia Keys
Long Walk - Jill Scott
Brown Sugar - D’Angelo
Performers
PureSoul New York - featuring vocals, guitar, piano, electric bass, and drums
Candlelight Spring: A Tribute to Beyoncé
🌷 Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in New York. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Beyoncé at St Ann & the Holy Trinity Church bathed in a lush, floral display dedicated to spring.
General Info
📍 Venue: St Ann & the Holy Trinity Church
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert (min 15+ people), please click here
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in New York
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
“Love on Top”
“Hold Up”
“If I Were a Boy”
“Say My Name” (Destiny's Child)
“Drunk in Love”
“Single Ladies”
“Sandcastles”
“XO”
“Irreplaceable”
“Halo"
“Survivor” (Destiny's Child)
“Crazy in Love”
Performers
Highline String Quartet
Reviews of Candlelight Concerts
💬 Brian L. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: "The concert was amazing the band was incredible the setup was breath taking. Truly a phenomenal evening."
💬 Elizabeth L. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: "absolutely outstanding. extremely intimate experience. 10 out of 10 will repeat"
💬 Awilda R. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: "Wonderful venue... incredible musicians."
Candlelight: Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites
⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in New York City. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop Favorites at The Sheen Center under the gentle glow of candlelight.
General Info
📍 Venue: The Sheen Center
📅 Dates and times: select your dates/times directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: 65 minutes (doors open 60 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult
♿ Accessibility: this venue is ADA compliant
❓ View the FAQs for this event here
🪑 Seating is assigned on a first come first served basis in each zone
🎻 Check out all the Candlelight concerts in NYC
🕯️ If you would like to book a private concert (min 15+ people), please click here
🎁 To treat your friends and family to a Candlelight gift card, click here
Tentative Program
Passionfruit – Drake
This Woman’s Work – Maxwell
Rose in Harlem – Teyana Taylor
Lucid Dreams – Juice WRLD
Love Galore – SZA
Un-thinkable (I’m Ready) - Alicia Keys
Ready for Love – India.Arie
Redbone – Childish Gambino
Ordinary People – John Legend
Changes – 2Pac
Earned It – The Weeknd
Biking – Frank Ocean
Performers
DIVISI’s Amp’d String Quartet
Bilal @ City Winery
City Winery NYC presents Bilal live in concert on February 29th at 7pm
Philadelphia born, Soul Singer, Bilal is one of the most dynamic artist of our time. Bilal is an eclectic--drawing from gospel, jazz, soul, blues, and hip-hop. Bilal made his major label debut with 2001’s First Born Second. The cd sold over 300,000 copies and announced that Bilal was an artist to watch. Bilal’s sophomore recording Love For Sale leaked to the internet before its official release and would enjoy over half a million downloads. 2010 saw Air Tights’ Revenge, which yielded the Grammy nominated “Little Ones”. In Feb 2013 Bilal released A Love Surreal, which has already garnered critical acclaim being named as one of “People Magazines” top ten albums of the year.” And in 2015 he released his most celebrated project of his career, “In Another Life” produced entirely by retro soul producer Adrian Young. Followed by the him earning he first Grammy Award for his participation on the critically acclaimed, “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar.
"The Legacy Tour" With Syleena Johnson
City Winery NYC Presents Syleena Johnson live in concert on February 25th at 5:30pm
Grammy-nominated recording artist Syleena Johnson is a woman of many titles and talents. Singer, songwriter, author, and daytime talk show host are just a few avenues that she is able to share her gifts with the world. As an R&B/soul songstress, Syleena Johnson was destined to touch people and impact lives. Her sultry voice, combined with her timeless beauty, classic style, and piercing delivery has made her a fan-favorite for nearly twenty years.
Inspired by the pain, struggle, strength, and resilience of women everywhere, Syleena returned to the studio with Grammy award-winning production team, Toxic Productions. In January of 2019, Syleena dropped her highly anticipated single, WOMAN, from her forthcoming new album with the same title. Their collaboration resulted in a battle-cry for women everywhere, signaling a spirit of empowerment and amplifying the desire for cultural change. WOMAN is the opening single on the soundtrack of socially conscious revolution. Both Chicago natives, Toxic and Syleena decided to join forces again on her 11th studio album, Woman, which is set to be her most compelling work to date.
In 2018, Syleena Johnson added the title of author to her repertoire by releasing her highly anticipated self-help book, "The Weight Is Over". “The Weight is Over” is her compelling and triumphant journey toward self-love and discovery, while chronicling her battles with body image birthed in adolescence and carried throughout her music career. Honest, humane, and heart-warming, "The Weight Is Over" shares Syleena's pain and progression; while providing practical ways to identify and eliminate stressors to sustain optimal mental, emotional, and physical health.
Experience Syleena Johnson live with an acoustic sound as she celebrates Black Music Month.
Corinne Bailey Rae - The Black Rainbows Tour
Corinne Bailey Rae
English singer/songwriter/musician Corinne Bailey Rae shot to stardom with her self-titled #1 U.K. debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Over the course of her career she has released three critically acclaimed studio albums—Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea and The Heart Speaks in Whispers—and earned two Grammy Awards, two MOBOS, and has been nominated for multiple awards including the BRIT Awards, Mercury Music Prize and BET Awards. Her work for film and television includes the theme to Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (SKY1), “The Scientist” for Universal Pictures’ Fifty Shades Darker opening title and soundtrack which charted globally, and in 2020 her song “New to Me” was performed in the film The High Note by Tracee Ellis Ross. Bailey Rae has collaborated with a wide range of artists including Mary J. Blige, Al Green, Herbie Hancock, KING, Paul McCartney, Kele Okereke (Bloc Party), Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Questlove, Salaam Rami, RZA, Tyler The Creator, Paul Weller, Richard Hawley, Stevie Wonder, Tracey Thorn, Pharrell, Logic, Mick Jenkins and many more.
Celebrating Valentine’s Day: Victory Boyd with special guests Keyon Harrold & Kenneth Whalum
Victory Boyd
"There is a rich legacy of music that originates from both the trials and triumphs of the African-American experience, a legacy that flows like a river through generations and waters the world with songs of hope for the present times and for the future".
This is how Victory Boyd, a 27-year-old soul and folk artist who hails originally from Detroit Michigan, describes not only the sound that she carries but also the responsibility of what she carries as an artist, entrepreneur, and advocate. After being personally signed by Jay-Z in 2016, Victory released her debut EP entitled "It's a New Dawn" featuring her soul stirring rendition of Nina Simone's classic "Feeling Good," among other songs including original songs "Believe In Love," "Lessons From My Father," and "Cheap Love." The entire project was released globally and premiered in over 8,000 Starbucks locations worldwide for over a year and positioned Victory to be highly anticipated in 2018 when her debut album and "The Broken Instrument" was released. Victory's talent as a singer-songwriter and performer quickly became popular in the music industry as she continued to demonstrate rare capabilities of captivating audiences with her classic sultry voice, thought-provoking lyrics, and unconventional guitar skills.
Victory established a reputation in elite circles of influence having performed private concerts for Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, Mellody Hobson from Ariel investments and her husband George Lucas the creator of Star Wars, Robert Smith venture capitalist, Mike Novogratz, Tyler Perry, Kanye West, and many, many others.
After Victory's talent and spiritual depth as discovered by Kanye West in 2019 she was invited to be a writer on Kanye's Grammy award winning album "Jesus is King" and went on to become the primary lyricist for hit songs "Closed on Sunday" and" God Is." Victory went on to win her first Grammy as a songwriter with Kanye and that same year she crafted the theme song for Russell Stover the Chocolate Company and their first commercial campaign in 20 years which went on to be a huge success.
Victory began writing her sophomore album entitled "Glory Hour" in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic.
"After spending several months writing Gospel songs for Kanye, and then ending up in a worldwide pandemic and seeing how much I needed the comfort of a savior, I knew I hope to keep writing the message of the Gospel in song. For myself first and then for the World."
Victory's album Glory Hour" is slated to be released Q1 2023.
Slum Village featuring Chris Rob & Live Band
Slum Village
Chances are, if you are anywhere near the Detroit music scene, you have heard of the influential hip hop trio that makes up Slum Village. The group was founded in the early 90's by 3 childhood friends: Baatin, T3, rapper and producer Jay Dee a.k.a. J Dilla, who all grew up together in the Conant Gardens neighborhood of Detroit, MI. After leaving Pershing High School, the trio began to forge a path into the Detroit underground hip hop scene and quickly found themselves steadily gaining popularity, where they originally went by the name Ssenepod. Dopeness spelled backwards.
In 1991 changed their name to Slum Village, recording demos which turned into their first album Vol. 1", released in 1996 on cassette which was recorded in J Dilla’s basement and RJ Rice Studios which landed Slum Village their first record deal in 1998 with Barak.
In 2000, J Dilla made the decision to leave the group to pursue his solo career, but still hung around helping his portage Young RJ with production. Baatin and T3 started work on their next album "Trinity" through Barak/Capital Records (2002). This album would feature their first commercial single "Tainted" which ft an unknown Dwele.
In 2001, “Dirty District”, a compilation of songs by Detroit rappers largely produced by T3 and Young RJ, was released, on Barak Records.
2002 Trinity included hit song “Tainted”
2004 album, “Detroit Deli” (A Taste of Detroit), (Barak Records/ Capitol), the album included the hit single “Selfish” produced by Kanye West, featuring John Legend.
2005, the release of “Prequel To a Classic”, a mix tape with production from Young RJ and Black Milk also releasing their Self Titled album Slum Village on Barak Records.
In 2009, Slum started production on their next album, “Villa Manifesto” on Neastra Music.
In 2010, the album "Villa Manifesto" was released under Ne'astra Music / Koch Records.
2011/2012 Slum Village new mixtape “Dirty Slums Vol. 1 & Vol. 2” presented by DJ Mick Boogie featuring artist such as Rapper Big Pooh, De La Soul, Focus, Skyzoo, Phonte, and Phife, having over 300,000 downloads on Ne’astra Music.
2013/2014 “B-Sides” and Vintage albums were released on Neastra Music
2015/2016 “YES” was released, produced by Jay Dee a.k.a. J. Dilla and Young RJ (Ne’astra Music).
2018 Slum’s new release titled “Lost Scrolls Vol. 2” is slated for release April 20, 2018
Containing lost music and mixed from their critically acclaimed album “Fantastic Vol. 2”, performed by the original Trio. (Neastra Music)
2023 Slum Village / Larry June / The Dramatics single “Just Like You”
2024 Single “Request”
Slum Village continues their journey with their Longest Line Up (12 yrs.), with invigorated energy as T3 and Grammy nominated producer Young RJ hold down the legacy.
Mardi Gras New Orleans Brunch featuring Calvin Johnson & Native Son
Calvin Johnson is a 3rd generation saxophonist, composer, and bandleader born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Johnson was able to nurture and expand his love and interest in the music business at the famed Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp then the performing arts high school the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Johnson then furthered his education by graduating from the School of Business at the University of New Orleans. Calvin has toured and/or recorded with the likes of: Harry Connick Jr., Aaron Neville, Jason Derulo, Blind Boys of Alabama, Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mannie Fresh, Mystikal, Irvin Mayfield, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. In the winter of 2022, Calvin released his third studio album, Notes Of A Native Son, to rave reviews. The project is Johnson’s most recent, and also his first that features his composition and arranging skills. He is proud to have been recognized by Downbeat Magazine with 4 out of 5 stars as well as labeled as one of the best albums of 2022.
Brooklyn Talks: Swizz Beatz
Don’t miss a one-time-only conversation between celebrated producer Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak as we open Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Dean delves into the magnitude of this renowned collection, sharing his and Alicia Keys’s efforts to expand the canon of contemporary art. Zoom in on Giants’ monumental works, and consider how legacy and lineage intertwine with the practice of collecting. Also explore the bonds between the Deans and the constellation of artists they champion.
Tickets are $50 and include after-hours access to Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. Member tickets are $30. Not a Member? Join today!
This program will include ASL interpretation. For access needs, email us at access@brooklynmuseum.org.
Jazz is Black Excellence
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER HONORS BLACK HISTORY
Since its inception, Jazz at Lincoln Center has fostered community around music that emerged from the Black experience in America. We believe that jazz is Black history.
This February, we’re proud to take part in Black History Month with select performances and virtual experiences that salute Black excellence. Through events that examine the music’s legacy, its capacity for celebration, and its progression, we honor this music’s evolving permanence in American culture.