Roots Picnic 2024 Is This Weekend!

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

The wait is almost over – Roots Picnic 2024 is descending upon Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this Saturday and Sunday, June 1st and 2nd! The legendary music festival, curated by the one and only The Roots, promises to be an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and community.

This year’s lineup is a dream come true, with a diverse array of talents taking the stage. The incomparable Jill Scott, hip-hop legends Nas and Lil Wayne, and the chart-topping Gunna are just a few of the headliners set to perform. And let’s not forget R&B songstress Victoria Monét, who will undoubtedly bring the house down with her soulful voice and captivating stage presence.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Some truly special collaborations are in store, making Roots Picnic 2024 a once-in-a-lifetime experience. J. Period‘s Live Mixtape with Black Thought, Method Man, and Redman, will be an entertaining set. The Adam Blackstone Legacy Experience which will feature Fantasia and Muni Long promises to be equally captivating, and Baller Alert: Go-Go Backyard Band with Scarface and Amerie is not to be missed!

In a highly anticipated performance, the enigmatic André 3000 will present his new album, New Blue Sun, live on stage. This is a rare opportunity to see a true musical genius showcase his latest work.

For more information and to secure your spot, visit rootspicnic.com.

Hip-Hop 4 Peace

Posted on May 27, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

Collaborating Partners: M Power Change, Make the Road NY, New York Communities for Change, CUFFH, Jay Boogie Love, and BLOQUE, are supporting The Action Lab and The Center For Popular Democracy as they present a night of hip-hop, calling for a permanent ceasefire and an end to civilian suffering in Palestine, DR Congo, and Sudan.

It will take place on June 2nd at Roulette (509 Atlantic Avenue) in Brooklyn, New York. The lineup includes Ana Tijoux, Smif-N-Wessun, M1 and Umi from Dead Prez, Emilio Rojas, Waheeb Nasan, and more. Confirmed host is Suheir Hammad.

This event is free so admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rapsody Announces Tour Dates For “Please Don’t Cry”

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

North Carolinian lyricist Rapsody has surely come a long from just dropping mixtapes and being a featured guest artist on other people’s projects. Since the release of her 4th studio album, Please Don’t Cry, the consensus within the hip-hop community is that Rapsody is now the new force in the rap game.

Please Don’t Cry came out on May 17th, 2024, and Rapsody and her team are now following up its release with the announcement of the record’s official tour. See dates and locations below.

Friday, Sep. 6
Berlin, Germany

Monday, Sep. 9
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Thursday, Sep. 12
Paris, France

Sunday, Sep. 15
London, United Kingdom

Thursday, Sep. 19
Philadelphia, PA

Friday, Sep. 20
Cambridge, MA

Saturday, Sep. 21
Hartford, CT

Sunday, Sep. 22
New York, NY

Thursday, Sep. 26
Washington, DC

Sunday, Sep. 29
Toronto, ON

Tuesday, Oct. 1
Detroit, MI

Wednesday, Oct. 2
Chicago, IL

Saturday, Oct. 5
Atlanta, GA

Tuesday, Oct. 8
Houston, TX

Wednesday, Oct. 9
Dallas, TX

Sunday, Oct. 13
Denver, CO

Thursday, Oct. 17
Seattle, WA

Friday, Oct. 18
Portland, OR

Sunday, Oct. 20
Oakland, CA

Monday, Oct. 21
Los Angeles, CA

Friday, Oct. 25
Charlotte, NC

Sunday, Oct. 27
Raleigh, NC

Freddie Jackson, Third World & Others Confirmed For St. Kitts Music Festival

Posted on May 19, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

The 2024 St. Kitts Music Festival will take place over a three-day period (June 27-29) at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. This multi-genre event will feature live afrobeat, soca, hip-hop, r&b, reggae, dancehall, and world music acts.

Among the performers are Third World, Mary J. Blige, Eazi, Kabaka Pyramid, Freddie Jackson, Nadia Batson, Busy Signal, Tony Rebel, Kerwin Du Bois, Capleton, Mical Teja, and others. Click here to buy tickets.

Demitsedek’s New EP “Masked Confusion” Drops On June 7th

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

Jamaica-born, Toronto-raised recording artist Demitsedek (formerly known as Tha Vor) will be releasing a new EP called Masked Confusion on Friday, June 7th, 2024. The reggae-fused hip-hop project will have a total of five tracks, each carefully crafted to tell a story that’s both personal and unique to the author.

It is worth noting that this project was inspired in part by experiences Demitsedek had while living in Tanzania (Africa) for over a year. See his summation below.

“During the time I had a few life changing experiences that caused me to do much soul searching and reflection. Looking into my Ethiopian roots I decided it was best to align my self with a more African perspective. So I change my name from Tha Vor to Demitsedek. During this time I also wrote a few books as well, one on healing and health, and one on His Imperial Majesty. I also spent many hours in the studio recording many songs which I would like to share and distribute.”

BET Experience 2024: Comedy, Music & Awards

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

BET Experience 2024 is a week-long celebration of Black culture, entertainment, and comedy. From June 26 to June 28, the Miracle Theatre in Los Angeles will host the inaugural late-night live comedy series, presented by Walmart, and premiering as part of BET Experience 2024.

A concert series featuring performances by Davido, The Roots, Common, Queen Latifah, Jungle Brothers, and more, will also be in full swing at both the Crypto.com Arena and Hollywood Bowl on June 28 and 29. The experience will culminate with the BET Awards on Sunday, June 30. Get additional information on bet-dot-com.

New Music From Perfect Giddimani “Rice & Peas”

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Maria Jackson 27 Magazine

International recording artist Perfect Giddimani, who is known for creating roots music, has ventured into the now trending sound of trap-reggae. For those not in the know, this is reggae from Jamaica fused with American trap music.

Giddimani‘s newest single, Rice & Peas, which was released on April 5th via Mystic Firm Production, is a vibrant, rhythmic track that instantly captivates listeners. Lyrically, Perfect Giddimani, who is underrated as a lyricist, delivers a comical message proclaiming his status as a ‘clean Rasta’. Click here to download Rice & Peas.