By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information Before rap music took the world by storm, the crooners of Soul music and R&B were at the top of the Black entertainment food chain; people like Donny Hathaway, David Ruffin, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye were revered … Continue reading#SlapAlert Hip Hop Crooner Jay Luck Has Struck Gold With His Single “Hot 1 Remix” f/ Mistah F.A.B.
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information Marisha Ashanti is a very talented rhyme-sayer that I met at D’Wayne Wiggins Compound, where I used to regularly host. I’ve caught 3 of her performance sets over a year, and every time she had the whole room … Continue readingBay Area based wordsmith Marisha Ashanti is Touring Ghana with D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony, Toni, Tone
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information Religious people who believe in the Bible, believe that the first thing in the universe created was the word. Traditional African people that believe in NOMMO, believe in word, sound, power, which refers to the power of being … Continue readingThe Evolution of a Bay Area Wordsmith
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Yesterday evening I woke from a nap, checked social media, and saw that another one of my brothers that I grew up with, on the Bay Area music scene over the last 20 plus years, Steve “Zumbi” Gaines … Continue readingSalute To My Brotha Zumbi of Zion I
By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information I’ve been the host for Small Stage Sesh, since it began. It is a live music showcase that happens every Monday at D’Wayne Wiggins’ Compound in East Oakland, and one of the perks of the job, is that … Continue readingLODDY DOLLY the Bay Area R&B Sensation Speaks
By JR Valrey, the Minister of Information Reminiscent of the great crooners like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway, Ty Astor is a very talented vocalist that I met at D. Wiggs’ Small Stage Sesh, on a Monday, in East Oakland. Ty Astor stood … Continue readingTy Astor is the Future Sound of RnB from the Bay
By JR Valrey, the People’s Minister of Information The ingenuity of the Black community in the Bay, has always allowed for Black artistic innovation, at least since Fillmore was considered “Harlem of the West”, Jimi Hendrix was hanging around the Haight, Richard Pryor was trying … Continue readingTake a Ride Through the Comedy World of Promoter Bump Geesus