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Music

Spotify’s Most Necessary Live Concert Series

by Tamerras Leonard
written by Tamerras Leonard

Spotify’s Most Necessary Live concert series debuted in the heart of Houston, lighting up Warehouse Live with a vibrant blend of music and energy. The event transformed into a real-life extension of the popular Most Necessary playlist,  with an unforgettable evening of live performances from the hottest up-and-coming rap artists across the US.

Houston’s Rising Stars Shine Bright

The stage belonged to Houston’s next generation of emerging rap talents, as DeeBaby, KenTheMan, Mike Dimes, MONALEO, and That Mexican OT took their turns under the spotlight. Each artist brought a unique style and energy, captivating the audience with their show-stopping performances that left an indelible mark on the night.

Surprises Galore: Hometown Heroes Unite

Local fans were in for an unexpected treat as hometown rapper Paul Wall made a surprise appearance. He joined forces with That Mexican OT to deliver a spirited performance of their hit track “Johnny Dang,” igniting the crowd’s enthusiasm and reinforcing the strong connections within Houston’s rap community. The surprises kept coming as Maxo Kream and Sauce Walka, also from the Houston scene, made surprise appearances, adding their star power to the lineup.

Music, Food, and a Touch of Authenticity

Of course, a night out isn’t complete without delicious food. Spotify’s Most Necessary Live is delivered by offering Houston’s renowned Trill Burgers, infusing the event with local culinary flavor. The cherry on top? Hip-hop legend Bun B stopped by to show his support, adding a touch of Texas authenticity to the mix.

An Unforgettable Experience with Lasting Echoes

Spotify’s Most Necessary Live didn’t just bring music to Houston; it brought an entire experience. As the series continues its journey across the US, the echoes of this explosive showcase in Houston will undoubtedly reverberate, reminding us of live music’s incredible power to connect, inspire, and create lasting memories.

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Private Policy X Fun City Fashion Carnival

by Veronika Collins
written by Veronika Collins

On Thursday July 20th, 2023  I made my way to the iconic St. Marks street, to where all the trendy grunge and classic NYC street style originated. Private Policy has been a brand to watch for quite some time, and they’re finally having their moment to shine. Grunge is an aesthetic you can run from or embrace, as it pushed the limits of fashion. Grunge incorporates a lot of distressed details, heavy jewelry, mesh, and the ability to create what you want out of statement pieces you may have. Private Policy as brand stands for inclusivity, bold personality and full fierce expressiveness of their consumers who wear their clothing. That is why, with this new release, it expands even more of their chic and spunky collection.

Co founder and designer Siying Qu 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Siying Qu, Co founder and designer of Private Policy.  She informed me that their newest collaboration is with Fun City Tattoo. They are the oldest tattoo shop in New York City, they have seen all the NYC icons and legends walk through their door and created a strong community and culture, which is what Private Policy also stands for, which is what makes this collaboration so special. It is a collaboration of two edgy and authentic brands coming together to bring the culture back mainstream in NYC.  “We wanted to do something classic, black and white, and feature the designs by the artists, Diego, and have a Y2K but classic New York grunge moment. Our clothes incorporates a lot of utilitarian style, hardware, harnesses, and both of our vibes align perfectly” Siying Qu says. “The photo shoot we had was NYC themed, we brought it back old school New York with the basketball jerseys and that authentic downtown vibe in the park with the dresses and give it a real chill feel to it.”

Fun City had an amazing time with this collaboration because it incorporated a tribute to the original owner of Fun City Jonathan Shaw who is known for pushing the limits of fashion and ever further. Above is the collection and collaboration with tattoo artist and designer Diego on Private Policy’s clothing. The collection is up and available for sale, along side Private Policies previous runway collections and sample sale items. The pop up was such a fun event, the moment you walked in, you were greeted with a complimentary White Claw with mouth watering flavors, a carnival game where you can win a prize, and the stunning collection in the back. The collection was so soft grunge, edgy and unique. I wanted the whole collection to be my walk in closet.

Here are more pictures from the event:

Congratulations to Private Policy and Fun City for a beautiful pop up and evening, I am looking forward to what more they both have in store.

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Beignets and Bootays: Essence Fest 2023 Brought The Heat To New Orleans

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The NOAA Climate Forecast System predicted this year’s Fourth of July as a record breaking “hottest day” ever. While global warming could very well be the reason for this, we think it was just the residual heat from Megan thee Stallions performance at Essence Fest.

The annual Essence Festival was back in its home of New Orleans for another full weekend of fun events, performances and panels and more. Now, every year at Essence Fest is a good time but this year being the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop made it extra special. And the sweltering heat was no match for this year’s star-studded lineup.

Jill Scott, Monica, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, Ludacris, Ice Cube, Slick Rick and Janelle Monae are only a few of the artists that graced the stage at The Caesars Superdome Friday and Saturday night.

Friday night’s headliner Lauryn Hill killed her performance, despite her tardiness. The Grammy-nominated songstress stylishly strolled on stage adorned in an all-black fit with a massive pleated, ruffle top and showed us why she is and will always be one of the most defining musicians of our time. Fellow Fugees member and long-time collaborator Wyclef Jean also joined the star on stage. Comedian and actor Deon Cole kept the good vibes going through in between performances as the host for the night.

Saturday night brought even more energy. Missy Elliot gave a show-stopping performance with a nostalgic medley of her award-winning catalogue.

Hosted by Abbot Elementary star Janelle James with sounds by the legendary DJ Spinderella, Sunday night’s concert included performances from several artists like Remy Ma, Salt-N-Pepa, Mia X, Eve, Angie Martinez and Megan Thee Stallion to help commemorate Hip-Hop 50. Rapper and New Orleans finest Lil Wayne surprised fans with an impromptu but, nonetheless, epic performance.

Wizkid and Tems brought Nigeria to New Orleans and linked up to perform 2022’s song of the summer “Essence.”

But Big Boi, Ludacris and Megan Thee Stallion took the cake (no pun intended) for our favorite performances from the weekend.

Big Boi had everyone on their feet as he rapped along to his iconic OutKast hit “The Way You Move” in his standard long, fur coat. Ludacris gave us hit after hit like “Move Bitch” and brought out Lil Jon for their 2000 collaboration “Bia Bia.”

And last but certainly not least, Sunday night the Houston Hottie Megan Thee Stallion had every cheek in Caesars Superdome shaking while dozens of fans joined her on stage for an iconic twerk battle.

Tons of events and panels took place, some simultaneously, at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center where dozens of vendors from fashion to beauty were housed for the weekend. Guests could purchase from their favorite black owned businesses all under one roof.

Popular beauty and lifestyle company BeautyCon made their return to the beauty scene after a four-year hiatus and with a new owner — Essence Ventures, LLC. BeautyCon is an annual event made to highlight new trendy products in the industry, with the help of makeup influencers, celebrities and fans. It’s safe to say the company is in good hands as they plan to introduce a whole new BeautyCon experience for everyone to enjoy very soon.

What better way to make a comeback than at one of the largest festivals in the U.S.? Guests were able to stop by the BeautyCon booth and listen to singer Coco Jones and Shea Moisture President of Beauty & Wellbeing Cara Robinson Sabin recall their experiences in the beauty industry as black women.

Oprah Winfrey, Taraji P. Henson and Danielle Brooks all came together for a special conversation surrounding the legacy of the 1985 coming-of-age film The Color Purple. Winfrey, Henson and Brooks all play a major role in the upcoming reboot of the film set to release later this year on Christmas Day.

Vice President Kamala Harris even joined the fun as she spoke on a panel for a conversation on the fight for reproductive freedom and the socioeconomic development of the black community alongside Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen.

Other panel speakers included Dominique Fishback, Tyler James Williams, Michelle Williams, YoYo, Roxanne Shanté, Jacob Latimore and Kim Whitley.

 

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EntertainmentMusic

Bronx Artist to Watch: Gudda Babby

by Lenique Vincent
written by Lenique Vincent

With household names such as Cardi B, J Lo, French Montana, Swizz Beats and the legendary Notorious B.I.G; it’s safe to say the Bronx, New York is responsible for some of the most influential musical artists. Sharing the same birthplace as Hip-Hop may have greatly shaped the many musical talents that continuously emerge from the “boogie down” Bronx; which is the case of up and coming rapper GuddaBabby who credits the nitty gritty borough for fueling his craft.

Taking influences from Notorious B.I.G, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Drake and more; GuddaBaby released his first studio record “Mhtl” on December 22,2020. Since, the Bronx native locked into the studio to record his latest project, “Life is Beautiful.” The Knocktural was able to conduct an interview via email with GuddaBabby, to get some insight to the story behind the artist.

Q: What’s the story behind your stage name?

A: GuddaBabyy steams from the slang, “Gutter Child.” Growing up I spent a lot of time in the streets, or in slum areas. Growing up in a low economic station I kind of adapted to the lifestyle that came with it. However, as I got older, I started to lean towards the more positive things in life. I could never forget where I Came from . I’ll forever be a GuddaBabyy.

Q: When did you start making music?

A: I started making music around 2015 during high school, however, I never took it as seriously as I do now until around late 2019. Once my first studio recorded track “Mhtl” hit all platforms, I just kind of took off from there .

Q: Tell me about your latest project? How did it come about? What’s the main message behind it?

A: “Life is beautiful,” my first studio project released on March 20, 2023. It was inspired by the events that took place within the three months of me actually focusing on my craft.I took about three months to actually focus, plan and execute the mission no matter what was going on in my life. Three months of dedication opened doors for me I never thought I’d walk into. This project was everything I felt, went through and did within that time span and I just wanted to share it with everyone.

Q: Drill is so popular right now, how do you keep your sound and image unique?

A: With the drill scene taking over mass majority of the industry, I do my best to stay versatile and have unique schemes, punchlines, metaphors, and sounds. As far as my image goes, I like to keep it calm, clean and not too extra.

Q: How do you hope your music will contribute to the NYC music scene?

A: I wouldn’t consider myself a Drill artist, however, I hope my music can contribute to the NYC drill scene to inspire, uplift, motivate and relate to my supporters. I pursue music to let everyone know: no matter who you are, you can do whatever you want. You just have apply the pressure and don’t ever quit!

Supporters can stream Gudda Babby on Apple Music and YouTube! He will also be releasing a single titled, “Don’t Know,” on his birthday July 6.

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Exclusive: The Knockturnal Talks With Cast Of New Biz Markie Documentary ‘All Up In The Biz’ At Tribeca Film Festival

by Aurora Fowlkes
written by Aurora Fowlkes

Calling all Hip Hop aficionados! The Tribeca Film Festival recently hosted a worldwide screening of ‘All Up In The Biz’ – an enlightening star-studded documentary paying homage to the late and great iconic rapper and beatbox wiz.

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