Case Study INSIDE THE BUSINESS
I ARTIST + MUSIC + RADIO
JANUARY | FEBRUARY FREQUENCYNEWS.COM
INSIDE THE BUSINESS
I ARTIST + MUSIC + RADIO
FREQUENCYINSPIRATION.COM
FEBRUARY
Radio One Supports Gospel with
THE
MARCH MADNEss!
DREAM
ROC ON
Epic Records has that
X
ARBITRON Urban PD Clinic
FRED HAMMOND
CIVIL
LOvE & GOspEL
FACTOR
RIGHTS
OCCUPY BLACK MUSIC?
• 2012 One Love Gospel Cruise • Philadelphia Gospel Music Conference
2012 What Would Today’s
SOUNDTRACK BE?
CELEBRATING OUR HIsTORY AFRICAN AMERICANS
feels good about
WHo INsPIRe
Preserving Our Roots
&GOSpel HiStORy
GO N
ew to the music scene, R&B singer Chrystian has already attracted the attention of and worked with many prominent and award-winning producers including Oak (Mario), popular Soundclick producer, Vybe Beatz, and The Jackie Boyz, who have worked with Jennifer Lopez, Cee-Lo and Mann, and wrote the platinum-selling song “Eenie Meenie,” performed by Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber. In May, 2010, Chrystian won the opportunity through BlazeTrak.com to fly to Los Angeles and work with platinum-selling, Grammy-winning production duo Midi Mafia, best known for their work on 50-Cent’s #1 single “21 Ques- Midi Mafia tions” and Fantasia Barrino’s “When I See U,” the third song from her self-titled album Fantasia. Since working with him in the studio, Midi Mafia have continued to mentor him and have described him as “the total package.”
“The total package.”
GO FAST FACTS
Hometown: Columbus, OH In 2011, Chrystian was signed to the growing record label NZBeersa distributed through Sony Red. First Single Off Debut Album: ‘Go’ Featuring Lil Twist Debut album, Genesis: Scheduled
for release in 2013.
have been compared Chrystian’s incredible vocal abilities Ne-Yo. with Usher, Chris Brown and talent as a singer, songwriter, Chrystian is a multi-faceted & dancing since 1st and dancer, who has been singing grade. More info @ www.Chrystianonline.com cynews.com on the Radio Single Available at www.frequen One DDS Music Server
RADIO CONTACT: Wayman Jones, jones.wayman@gmail.com
2 FREQUENCYNEWS.COM JANUARY 2013
LIFE
By Tanya LaNice
ACCORDING TO
with my imagination when it comes to writing and some is very personal. I just couldn’t do it any other way this time.
tell myself to take it a lot more seriously when it comes to writing and what you want the world to see.
Your song “Daughters” is a deep testimony. How is your relationship with your kids? How did you spend Father’s Day this year? It’s great but could be better. I need to spend more time with them. It’s always business going on. Music takes me everywhere and it’s a crazy life. I’m honestly tired of it and ready to be with them more. I spent the day before Father’s Day with my son and Father’s Day I spent with my daughter.
Life Is Good has gone to number 1 already overseas. You have a strong fan base – especially in NY. Do you sense that your fans are always anxiously waiting to hear from you? No. You never know. People grow up and some grow out of rap music as a whole. I don’t expect anything. I know there are still people around that are going to like my stuff. I never know how many people it can potentially reach. I feel like a new artist and I want to slow grind and build myself back up. Once you’re at the top there’s nowhere to go but down. So I’d like to stay in a great place and challenge myself and have it hard for me every time - that way it’s honest and you see what I’m made of.
Would you encourage your kids to follow in your footsteps musically? I wouldn’t encourage anything other than something I think is going to be positive. If they want to do Hip Hop, then they want to do Hip Hop. I want to encourage them to follow their dreams. I wouldn’t limit that to doing one specific thing.
“In a way, I’m a purist when it comes to my music. I stand up for it. I think that mostly stands out.”
Your current outlook captures a sense of growth. I heard you say that you have a realistic understanding that all that you’ve experienced was simply LIFE. How did you get to that point? I think I was just born not feeling like I was better than anybody else, but not worse than anyone either. I never had jealousy in me, not to the point where it hindered me. I was always the voice of reason around my crew. When people wanted to do crazy stuff and commit crazy crimes, I was the one that didn’t have the rage and anger. I felt like the way I feel am now. I always just stayed chill, especially in a crazy business where people are fake. I just stayed me. I have no problem with that. I don’t have to act like something I’m not. I never felt like that was a skill I had to work on. I felt like all I had to do was be me and work hard to accomplish what I wanted to do. All the other stuff doesn’t matter.
You have a lot of women that love and follow you. What’s it like to get that kind of attention and be one of the hottest “bad boys” in the game? It’s like anything else. Lots of people have lots of attention from females, especially in this industry. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m grateful.
N
as is back and has momentously positioned his feet on Hip Hop ground with the release of his 10th solo CD, “Life Is Good”. A perfected collaboration of beats, mixes and genuine lyrics infiltrate this project as he deals with his past, present and future. Nas has truly evolved and taken a stance that declares prolific maturity with a raw yet truthful outlook on life. He is in his prime as an artist and he’s boldly taking the craft of Hip Hop to another level.
Looking back on your past relationships, would you ever consider getting married again? If so, what attributes do you look for and prefer in a woman? I look at Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, President Barack and Michelle Obama. Married people amaze me. I love the ones that stick together. I am a family guy but I had bad times. I would love to be married again. I like the subtle things. I like smart women, strong women. That’s what I really like.
It’s been 18 years since the release of your debut project Illmatic. You’ve evolved from declaring “Life’s a B*tch” on your first release to now declaring “Life Is Good.” Talk about the peaks and the pits during the past 18 years. It’s really so much I can start with. So much I can get into. It’s like a book. I wouldn’t know where to start. I’m happy to be alive and happy to be here. My passion for music is still here. All the things that happened to me, happened around me, all the things I made happen, and even all the things that didn’t happen - I just appreciate life. Why did you get so personal on this CD with “Bye Baby” and other tracks? I always like to do things that are about me being creative
What makes you happy? Seeing others happy. Making accomplishments. My children. Love. Food. My favorite food is grilled seafood.
What would the Nas today now say to the young Nas of yesteryear? I would tell the young Nas don’t worry about anything. Everything’s gonna be good. Keep doing what you’re doing. I would tell the young me to do it better because so many people are now listening and will be listening to your material forever because once you release material, it’s out there forever. I would
What’s next for Nas? I basically have reached a place that I haven’t seen done in Rap and I’m just trying to take it all in and see which way God will direct me. I’m going to enjoy entertaining with this album - see where it takes me and ride the waves. There are so many different interesting things happening today with technology and everything. I’m just looking at the future and walking with it. FREQUENCYNEWS.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012 25
24 FREQUENCYNEWS.COM AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012
Divine Dozen
The 2
by Tanya LaNice
012 was a great year in the Gospel Music world with fresh, anointed music dominating the airways for many artists. They toured, worked special events, made TV and radio station appearances and had their music in great demand! Although so many more can be included in this list, we are taking a look at 12 of Gospel’s hottest acts for 2012. Take a look…
Byron Cage This Grand Rapids, Michigan native has truly tapped into the power of Praise and Worship with the 2012 release of his CD, Memoirs of a Worshipper
Music is your passion and your life. What would you say has been the loudest and most consistent message you have sent through your music over the years? In a way, I’m a purist when it comes to my music. I stand up for it. I think that mostly stands out.
Your daughter’s mother, Carmen, wrote an alleged tell-all book with some pretty unnerving statements. Were you ever upset about the book? I was disappointed but I wasn’t surprised. It went along with her character as a person. Some people just don’t get it. They don’t appreciate life and don’t appreciate God. They’re selfish and angry. Born that way and gonna die that way. It’s a shame that some people are alive but really will not have lived one day in their life.
Dorinda Clark Cole Charles Jenkins While Pastoring thousands at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, he found time to produce and score big with his #1 hit single “Awesome”.
She’s relevant, personable, and her singing and preaching are touching hearts from ages 9 to 99. Dr. Cole’s latest release, “I Survived”, is a must have CD.
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise
Kierra Sheard She’s a rock star for Jesus and with her own style and radical ministry, KiKi is turning the hearts of youth all over the world to Christ!
James Fortune & FIYA He overcame the odds and has become a Gospel favorite – proving that the power and favor of God is real in his life…and through his music.
Always delivering a message of hope and victory, JJ Hairston’s ministry and music is reaching the masses from generation to generation.
Mary Mary When it comes to blessings, Mary Mary is telling everyone to “Go Get It!” Talented and energetic, their ministry seems to be reinvented with each CD release.
Fred Hammond Earnest Pugh Audiences are hearing him hit octave ranges like never before as he tours singing his hits “I Need Your Glory” and “Rain On Us”
His music is smooth and real – just like his personality. He has a celebrated ministry declaring love and reconciliation between man and Christ…and man and woman.
Karen Clark Sheard With a powerful ministry and incomparable vocals, First Lady Sheard truly owns the rights to her untouchable signature runs and unbelievable echoes….echoes… echoes.
Tamela Mann Pure worship pours from the pure heart of this vocal powerhouse. Her smash single “Take Me To The King” has become a personal ballad of Christians across the nation.
VaShawn Mitchell He entered everyone’s hearts and homes with this single “Nobody Greater” and he’s back with a brand new CD released in 2012 called ’Created 4 This’
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Radio One New York, N.Y. The Frequency News Frequency Inspirational Frequency News and Frequency Inspirational are the official magazines of Radio One, one of the largest radio networks in the country, with more than 53 stations and a stake in the TVOne cable network. Squire provides complete editorial design services for both titles, as well as advertising design for record labels who advertise on Radio One’s new media channels. In this capacity, Squire has designed ads for some of the industry’s top talent, including 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj and others.