This year sees the 14th annual Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid, Spain in October-November. In the lead up to the event Red Bull Music Academy is going on world tour, hosting events in Berlin, Cape Town, London, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Rome, São Paulo and Toronto, as well as two stops in the USA at New York and Detroit. If you’re unsure what to expect at these events then you should know that they aim to “highlight elements of the Red Bull Music Academy experience on a unique journey through sound. Encouraging DIY initiatives, exploring technology, crossing generations and letting cultures clash: all the while facilitating creative exchange between music lovers around the globe.”
The event in New York will feature prominently hip hop artists to perform and put on workshops, since it is the home of hip hop. The artists involved in the event, which takes place over September 25-30, include Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Slick Rick, Black Moon, Big Daddy Kane, Dipset and Vado.
In Detroit, where the event takes place from September 12th, the focus will from vary from garage rock to Motown to techno. Artists involved include Theo Parrish, Carl Craig, Mad Mike, Juan Atkins, Dabrye, Amp Fiddler, Mike ‘Chav’ Chavarria, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Dennis Coffey, Ed Wolfrum, Marcus Belgrave, Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Jim Diamonds and Nick Speed
Full details on the specific dates and details of the workshops and shows for both cities are below.
DETROIT “MOTOR CITY FREQUENCIES”
All workshops will be hosted at Flat 151 (151 W. Congress, Suite 600). Monday – Friday doors open at 5:00 p.m., Saturday doors open at 3:00 p.m. Free admission.
● Monday, September 12: Theo Parrish, Carl Craig
● Tuesday, September 13: Mike Banks, Juan Atkins
● Wednesday, September 14: Mike Chav, Nick Speed
● Thursday, September 15: Dabrye, Ed Wolfrum
● Friday, September 16: Marcus Belgrave & Wendell Harrison (Tribe), Amp Fiddler
● Saturday, September 17: Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jim Diamonds, Paul Riser
Club Nights:
● Wednesday, September 14: 3 Chairs @ TV Lounge 6:00pm – 2:00am
(free wings & fries 6:00 – 9:00pm)
● Saturday, September 17: Tribe Showcase feat. Phil Ranelin, Marcus Belgrave & Wendell Harrison @ Flat 151. Concert starts 10:00 p.m.
NEW YORK CITY “FIVE DAYS. FIVE BOROUGHS. FIVE CLASSIC ALBUMS.”
Queens, birthplace of hip-hop pioneers such as MC Shan, LL Cool J, Nas, Run DMC and A Tribe Called Quest, will be the first borough focus for the RBMA Global Series. “The Infamous,” Mobb Deep’s magnum opus, is still one of the most influential pieces of work to come out of the 90s hip-hop movement and was instrumental in putting the Queensbridge Housing Projects back on the map.
Talent Info-Session: 4:30 – 7pm, Mobb Deep Discussion @ 5pm
Performance: Mobb Deep & Lloyd Banks & Mobb Deep – 9pm Show, 8pm Doors @ Webster Hall – 125 E 11th St. New York, NY 10003-5301
Ticket Information: www.websterhall.com
Slick Rick’s “The Great Adventures Of…” has clearly stood the test of time as a classic body of work. Tracks “Children’s Story” and “Mona Lisa” are two of the most recognizable songs of all time and Rick’s music has been covered by fellow hip-hop heavyweights like Nas and Black Star.
Talent Info-Session: 4:30 – 6:30pm (Discussion 5pm): DJ D-Nice
Talent Info-Session: 4:30 – 6:30pm, DJ D-Nice Discussion @ 5pm
Performance: Slick Rick – 9pm Show, 8pm Doors @ Paradise Theater – 2403 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10468
Ticket Information: www.paradisetheaterevents.com
The Wu-Tang Clan effectively bum rushed the hip-hop industry with a debut album that not only put Staten Island on the map but revolutionized the concept of a crew album as all members of the Wu followed “Enter the 36 Chambers” with classic solo albums.
Talent Info-Session: 4:30 – 7pm, Wu-Tang Discussion @ 5pm
Performance: Wu-Tang (Masta Killa, GZA, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah) – 9pm Show, 8pm Doors @ Eve Ultra Lounge is: 2354 Arthur Kill Rd. Staten Island, NY. 10309
Ticket Information: www.eveultralounge.com
Black Moon’s “Enta the Stage” marked the birth of the Boot Camp Clik, a Brooklyn based crew who would emerge as one of the top independent hip-hop labels of all time. “Who Got the Props?,” “I Got Cha Opin” and “How Many Emcees?” remain some of the most revered tracks of all time in New York’s deep hip-hop history.
Talent Info-Session: 4:30 – 7pm, Black Moon Discussion @ 5pm
Performance: Black Moon and Big Daddy Kane – 9pm Show, 8pm Doors @ South Paw, 125 Fifth Ave. (St Johns + Sterling) Brooklyn, NY 11217
Ticket Information: www.spsounds.com
The Dipset Crew/Diplomats sprung to life off of the success of founding member Cam’ron and his Confessions of Fire album. The Dipset truly emerged as a crew after introducing a young Juelz Santana on Cam’ron’s third album “Come Home With Me.” It was only a matter of time before Juelz, Cam and Jim Jones would orchestrate “Diplomatic Immunity,” the Diplomats’ first crew album.
Talent Info-Session: 3 – 5:30pm, Dipset Discussion @ 3:30pm
Performance: Dipset & Vado – 9pm Show, 8pm Doors @ Best Buy Theater – 1515 Broadway at W. 44th Street. New York, NY 10036
