(August 18, 2010 – Brooklyn, NY) After 16 years, Fat Beats has announced the closing of the legendary label’s two remaining retail locations in New York and Los Angeles. Fat Beats will celebrate the legacies of the stores, which are scheduled to close in early September (New York: September 4th, Los Angeles: September 18th) by throwing a series of blow-out sales and tribute parties open to the public during their last weeks. Fans can check www.FatBeats.com for updates.
Fat Beats’ longest running and most famed location is at 406 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. Since the 1994 opening of Fat Beats’ flagship retail location, hip-hop fans have traveled far and wide to visit the iconic store. With locations soon following in Los Angeles (7600 Melrose Ave.), Atlanta, Amsterdam, and Tokyo, the record stores were a place to experience hip-hop culture and its legacy, which became a global phenomenon. The closing of Fat Beats is just like one of my friends passing away. They promoted vinyl at its highest degree for the culture of good music and that makes it more difficult to say goodbye,” says DJ Premier.
The announcement of the closings is a reflection of the woes that have been plaguing the industry for years. Global chain HMV closed their last US location in 2004. Tower Records shuttered in 2006. Last year saw the close of the last Virgin Megastore, and the story is no different in 2010. For Fat Beats, maintaining two stores well into 2010 is a testament to the stores’ importance to the music and to fans and consumers continuing to support independent hip-hop.
While news of the stores’ closing marks the end of an era, the future is not doom and gloom. Digital sales continue to increase industry-wide; for Fat Beats, currently operating a profitable and growing online retail store, this has provided a boon to business as fans continue to order mp3s, vinyl, and CDs from FatBeats.com. Although digital sales continue to grow, executives at Fat Beats understand the importance of independent retail stores and are planning to re-open a brick and mortar hip-hop lifestyle location sometime in the near future.
The future looks just as bright for Fat Beats Distribution and the label. Fat Beats Distribution, which has been renamed FB Distribution, continues to strike noteworthy distribution deals with independent and major labels worldwide and is now working with different genres of alternative music. Fat Beats Records will continue to release notable albums from their own impressive roster of artists including ILL BILL, TruMaster/KRS-One, Black Milk, Trinity, Sha Stimuli, Q-Unique, and more. Fat Beats owner and President Joe Abajian says, “This is the start of a new era for Fat Beats. We’re adapting to meet the needs of our demographic by revamping and improving our existing systems. While our website, which stocks everything available in our retail stores, continues to do very well, we’re still exploring our options for alternate retail locations in the future. We’re proud of our legacy and will continue to re-invent ourselves. For now, we’ll see you online at FatBeats.com“
Fat Beats Announces Closing Of New York And Los Angeles Retail Stores
MAD Krew 15th Anniversary
August 14, 2010
Over the last 15 years, MAD Krew has helped shape the core of the Hip Hop community of Seattle and beyond, paving the way for new generations to expand. From street art to galleries, documentaries to live television, house parties to festivals and national summits, and education to community organizing, MADK continues to thrive in the hearts and minds of many.
Initially a Hip Hop crew, MAD Krew or Madness After Dark began in 1995 consisting of graff writers, emcees, deejays, producers, and b-boys that lived throughout the city of rain- Seattle, Washington. Members could be seen or heard spreading the culture of Hip Hop, building on its foundation in the Pacific Northwest from Franklin High School to Jefferson Community Center to Westlake Center and beyond.
MAD Krew helped nourish the scene by organizing countless events and shows including Breakin’ Grounds, Scratch Tactics, The Cypha, Rec Battles, Brainstorm Battles and others. The crew’s graff art could be seen on walls and in galleries such as Evidence at Consolidated Works and the EMP’s ‘Yes, Yes, Yall’ Hip Hop museum. MAD Krew’s release of the Hip Hop documentary video, ‘Enter the Madness’ in 1998, exposed Northwest Hip Hop to a national audience. Shortly after, member Dirty Dev (now known as Dev From Above) and others began Hip Hop 101, a live weekly television show on S.C.A.N. Channel 77 / 29. As a platform for emerging artists both locally and nationally, Hip Hop 101 TV provided the latest in Hip Hop news and entertainment for nearly a decade. As a record label Fresh Chopped Beats/MADK Productions has released various albums, compilations, and mix-tapes on CD and vinyl; including artists Khingz, Gabriel Teodros, Cyphalliance, DJ Scene, Khazm and others.
With a over a decade of community involvement, several members of MAD Krew joined the Universal Zulu Nation in 2003 to establish a Seattle Chapter called 206 Zulu. Zulu Nation is a community-based organization established in 1973 by the Godfather of Hip Hop, Afrika Bambaataa and other Hip Hop pioneers as an international awareness movement for peace, unity, education, justice and self-empowerment.
Today MADK Productions continues to sustain their rich tradition of using Hip Hop as a means to connect people of all walks of life, through business and interpersonal relationships. MAD Krew’s influence and accomplishments has helped shape the foundation of Seattle Hip Hop and continues to pave the way for a whole new generation.
Experience history in the making as MAD Krew celebrates it’s 15th year of true-school Hip Hop- Saturday, August 14th with all out cyphers with some of the World’s best DJs, MCs, B-Boys/Girls & Writers!
MADK Productions & 206 Zulu present:
MAD KREW 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
DJs: Mark Luv (LA), Dev From Above, Gumbeaux, Seabefore, Tecumseh, Sureal
B-Boys/Girls: Massive Monkees, Circle of Fire, Fraggle Rock Crew, BYC
Live Painting: 179, Bler One, Crayone (SF), Ziplok, HNS, Sire One
MCs: Truth Universal (New Orleans), Gabriel Teodros, Suntonio Bandanaz, Waves of the Minds
& more announced weekly!
Underground Events Center
2407 1st Ave (Belltown between Battery & Wall)
Daytime painting/jam outside – All Ages
Evening event – 21+ w/ ID, $8, Doors 9pm-?
For more information log onto www.MADKrew.com or madkprod@gmail.com
Equinox
Zulu Radio welcomes DJ B-Girl
From producing to DJing, and organizing to mentoring youth, chances are you’ve heard or seen B-Girl in action as she is deeply embedded into the Seattle Hip Hop scene.
Now, 206 Zulu is proud to announce the newest rotating deejay on Zulu Radio- DJ B-Girl!
Tune in this Saturday, July 17th on KBCS 91.3 FM (or online at www.KBCS.fm) as DJ B-Girl brings you that true-school Hip Hop flavor from the past, present to the future, every third Saturday of the Month!
To see what’s new with DJ B-Girl, log onto www.bgirlmedia.com.
Rammellzee, Hip Hop pioneer passes
By Lady Chinita, Hip Hop Forever
Rammellzee was a graffiti writer, performance artist, rap/hip-hop musician and sculptor from New York. His death was announced on 29th June 2010. Rammellzee’s graffiti and art work are based on his theory of Gothic Futurism, which describes the battle between letters and their symbolic warfare against any standardizations enforced by the rules of the alphabet; his treatise, “Iconic Panzerisms”, details an anarchic plan by which to revise the role and deployment of language in society. He was also instrumental as one of the original hip hop artists from the New York area who introduced specific vocal styles which date back to the early 1980s. His influence can still be heard in contemporary artists such as The Beastie Boys and Cypress Hill. His song “Beat Bop” was featured in the film Style Wars.
Discovered by a larger audience through the 1982 cult movie Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn, his fame in graffiti circles was established when he painted New York subway trains with Dondi, OU3, and Ink 76, and doctor Revolt.
Rammellzee was also a member of the Death Comet Crew, with Stewart Albright and Michael Diekmann. In 1988, he and his band Gettovetts recorded the album “Missionaries Moving.” In 2003, Rammellzee performed at the Knitting Factory in New York with the newly reformed Death Comet Crew.
His artistic work has been shown in art galleries throughout the US and Europe. Currently, Rammellzee’s Letter Racers, and other Noise includes artistic works by individuals mostly identified with their musical contributions.
Rammellzee passed away on 29th June. Cause of death is as of yet still unknown.
Mayor Mike McGinn announces 21-member music commission to guide the City of Music’s future
Monday, June 14 Mayor Mike McGinn introduced the Seattle Music Commission, a diverse group of community, business and industry leaders, who will guide the city’s efforts to support, promote, expand and encourage Seattle’s vibrant culture of music. The 21-member Music Commission will serve as an ongoing city body representing a cross section of the music sector with the goal of advancing the City of Music vision throughout the larger community and providing guidance and direction regarding the city’s support of music.
“Music is such a part of the fabric of our city, and is one of the reasons why it’s so great to live here,” said Mayor McGinn. “I’m pleased that this group of individuals has agreed to serve together and leverage their collective efforts to continue to make sure that Seattle is the City of Music.”
Formed as part of the Seattle City of Music Initiative, the Music Commission will specifically provide support, direction and advice to the city about the use of existing resources and priorities to ensure smart and meaningful investments to advance Seattle’s music culture and business are made. The Music Commission will also be charged with engaging the private sector to recognize its role in making Seattle a great musical city and developing annual City of Music programs that support the goal of propelling Seattle’s leadership role in music throughout the nation and the world.
“I look forward to the work of the Seattle Music Commission contributing to the economic development and cultural vitality of Seattle,” said City Councilmember Nick Licata. “The broad representation of this commission is impressive, and I thank the members for volunteering their time to help make Seattle a better place.”
The Music Commission is made up of both Mayoral and Council appointees, and commissioners will meet at least nine times per year, and serve staggered three year terms. In order to create this staggered process, initial commissioners will be appointed to one, two or three year terms.
“I moved to Seattle from Ohio in 1989 to pursue a career in music. Who knew that arriving in Seattle would be the equivalent of winning the jackpot. Seattle provided a perfect storm of talented people, great music and a great place to live. It has only gotten better,” said Ben London, Executive Director, The Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter. “I’m excited to be part of the music commission and continue my dedication to sustaining Seattle’s rich musical legacy and cultivating its next innovative chapter.”
The installation of the Music Commission with such a diverse group of engaged community members is a major step toward the goal of bringing musicians, audiences, business leaders, educators and politicians together in enthusiastic support of the creative, economic and culture value of music.
“As an original advisor to the efforts that built the City of Music vision, I’m proud to be a member of this new Commission,” said Holly Hinton, Content & Online Product Manager for Starbucks Coffee Company. “It’s an amazing group of people coming together for the same purpose – to support the growth of the thriving music community in Seattle.”
The inaugural members of Seattle’s Music Commission who will help shape and define Seattle as the City of Music are:
Mayoral Appointments:
– Jason Finn – Musician, Presidents of The United States of America
– K. Wyking Garrett – Director, Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council/UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. Center
– Kyle Hopkins – Head of Music Acquisitions, Microsoft X-Box/ On-Air DJ, KEXP.org
– Megan Jasper – Executive Vice President, Sub Pop Records
– Alex Kochan – Vice President, AEG Live (Showbox Venues)
– Marcus Lalario – Entrepreneur / Nightclub Owner
– Tom Mara – Executive Director, KEXP 90.3 FM/KEXP.org
– David Meinert – Owner, Fuzed Inc./National Trustee: The Recording Academy (Grammys)
– Larry Mizell, Jr. – Writer, Musician, On-Air DJ at KEXP.org
– Griff Morris – Principal, Content Licensing and Vendor Management, Amazon MP3
– Marcus Womack – Product Management, iLike Inc./iLike.com
Council Appointments:
– Kate Becker – Co-Founder, Vera Project/Director of Development, Seattle Theatre Group
– Elena Dubinets – Vice President of Artistic Planning, Seattle Symphony
– Holly Hinton – Content & Online Product Manager, Starbucks Entertainment
– Jason Hughes – Co-owner, Sonic Boom Records/Owner, Sonic Boom Recordings
– Ben London – Executive Director, The Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter
– DeVon Manier – CEO, Sportn’ Life Records
– Mike Meckling – President, SNMA/Co-Owner, Neumo’s and Moe Bar
– Jon Stone – Executive Director of Festivals, One Reel
– Annette Taborn – Executive Director, Pacific NW Blues in Schools
– Vacant
The Music Commission’s first meeting will be Wednesday, June 16, 2010.
Zulu Jam at Festival Sundiata
Cypha 10
Battle Cry
206 Zulu & Harambee Present:
BATTLE CRY
2-on-2 Poppin’ Battle
Bonney & Clyde Battle
Cash & Prizes!
DJ Sureal on the decks
Audio Poet
Special Guests
Harambee
316 S 3rd St.
Renton, WA 98057
5-11pm – Donations Accepted – All Ages
Zulu Jam
Sunday, May 30, 2010
ZULU JAM at FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL
Featuring:
One Be Lo
Suntonio Bandanaz
Hi-Life Soundsystem
Marissa & SK
Vera Project (Seattle Center)
7-10pm – Free – All Ages
OurStory
Northwest Folklife Home Page