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Atlanta rapper and activist Killer Mike has been taking the internet by storm with provocative comments on public schools, Jesus, entrepreneurship and other topics lately.
You may know Killer Mike, aka, Michael Render, is one-half of the rap group Run The Jewels. But he’s also known to Atlantans as part of the Dungeon Family. He’s rapped on numerous projects with Big Boi, Outkast and the whole clique for over two decades now.
Killer Mike Interview: Videos you didn’t see
But Killer Mike has gotten much praise and adulation — and criticism — for what he’s said lately about public education vs. private education. His commentary on Atlanta Public Schools, and the confidence it gave him is a huge shout-out to public school education.
“I’m saying to put confident children into the world … We always love that copout of ‘I sent my children here to get a better education’ … Oh it’s a great education, the education don’t even teach you Egypt is in Africa, don’t teach you to be proud about nothing about yourself, it only teaches you to take tests well,”he said.
Killer Mike interview: Breakfast Club
Killer Mike also went on Sway Calloway’s “Sway in the Morning” show, where he doubled down on the education system and also spoke about religion.
“I want to sit down with President Trump on the next season of ‘Trigger Warnings,” he said. “I’m coming to talk to you about reparations, real reparations.”
Killer Mike also went on Joe Rogan’s show and discussed black Jesus and race. “I don’t think people trust the divinity in themselves. … Ithink we’re scared to turn off the lights and see something devine within ourselves because once we do that, it requires that we act differently.”
Read more: Trap music: Artists that have taken the trap genre beyond ATL
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There are many great relationships to look up to in Atlanta, but the city’s first couple is Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka’oir: The Wopsters.
Photo credit: Instagram If you’ve been keeping up with entertainment, you know that Atlanta, East Atlanta, specifically, has its own Brad and Angelina. Only this couple features a successful entrepreneur, Keyshia Ka’oir, and famous rapper Gucci Mane.
The Wopsters welcome baby Ice Davis to the world and Atlanta.
The couple made it official on Tuesday Oct. 17, 2017 in a televised affair at the Four Seasons Hotel in Miami, Florida.
Photo credit: Instagram Ka’ oir sells multiple products under her beauty line, including the Ka’oir Waist Eraser, which she credits for helping her slim down while maintaining her curves.
While Ka’oir’s business saavy is considerable, she’s been getting major props for maintaining the clean-living which has allowed Gucci Mane to stay svelte after losing 50 pounds in prison.
Jailed on a parole violation, Gucci Mane — real name Radric Davis — was supposed to serve 39 months, with a release date of March 2017. But he shocked fans last year when the much-thinner rapper debuted in Snapchat videos at his mansion he shares with Ka’oir.
Speaking to The Fader magazine, Ka’oir said that his social media debut was strategic, and everything happened the way she planned.
“When we got to Atlanta, we got off the plane on the runway and we had a private service that took us to our home. Then when we got home, that’s when I started posting on Snapchat. That was all my plan,” she was quoted as saying.
The couple can be seen at various Atlanta events, from Atlanta Hawks basketball games to private parties. Are they Atlanta’s first couple?
Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls
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Just as metal, just as hard and just as cool as those other guys, The Txlips are an all-black woman rock band based in Atlanta.
AtlantaFi recently sat down with them at Atlanta’s AfroPunk, which happened in mid-October.
The Txlips just released their debut album “Queens of the New Age,” which is available on Amazon and iTunes as well as various music outlets.
The Txlips were born when the group’s lead guitar player and vocalist “Guitar Gabby” helmed the background band for Atlanta rapper Diamond.
“The Txlips are a rock-and-roll black female band based out of Atlanta, but we are all from different parts of the United States,” Gabby said.
MoDrumma, the group’s drummer, said the band actually started off with her and Gabby. “Me and Gabby have been friends with years. We’ve crossed paths musically for years and one night she called me and said, ‘Hey, I’ve been asked to work on a music video for Diamond from Crime Mob. She was like, ‘Do you want to be a part of i?’, and I was like, “Sure, why not?”
MoDrumma said that’s when the idea of a music group arose.
“So we went there, there were a lot of other musicians there and at that point, Gabby was like, ‘You know what, there are some bad females that can play some dope instruments. Why not make our own stuff together? So since then, we’ve been road dogs and that’s where the Txlips were born.”
Gabby said the group is a united entity, but like Voltron, they are individuals artists as well. “We are all different, with individuals backgrounds, and styles that come together to show how diverse black women really are.”
Dara Carter, a keyboardist and singer for the group, said she learned diverse musical styles from her father. “My dad was a major influence [musically], he listened to a lot of diverse music so I got to hear a lot of bands that most people haven’t heard of. I pulled a lot of my sound from bands a lot of people haven’t heard of.”
The Txlips are currently on their “Queens of the New Age” tour in support of their album. Next year, they’re slated to perform in South Africa. Look for them in a city near you.
There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
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On Tuesday, September 6, 2018, ATL Live on the Park went down with Shanti Das and Marlon Nichols and more at Park Tavern in Midtown Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. singer and songwriter Liv Warfield, who performed extensively with Prince, rocked the crowd.
The event was hosted by Lifestyle Specialist Kenny Burns and featured crazy tunes from DJ Bad, Quinn and Jukebox kicked-off the show with a unique blend of non-stop R&B, hip-hop and rock mixes.
Also gracing the stage were R&B newcomer and Grammy nominated composer J’Rell aka Rell’igion. Anthony David also performed as did independent artist Mylah, and veteran singer Algebra Blessett.
Read more: 5 really cool coffee joints to check out in Atlanta
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One Musicfest will have some of the biggest artists in music performing on its stages in September. The event is also looking to cast a big spotlight on new and emerging artists.One Musicfest is searching for one artist to perform during the two-day event.To enter, you must submit your music by July 31.Text to enter or visit https://onemusicfest.com/theone/
With H.E.R. in the fold in June, the ONE Musicfest lineup so far is Nas, Cardi B, Miguel, T.I., Jeezy, Big Sean, Kelis, Brandy, August Greene, Big KRIT, George Clinton & Parliament and more.
Read more: One Musicfest lineup is insane
“We are all super excited about OMF2018,” says founder Jason “J” Carter. “Growing into a two-day festival allows us to expand our roster, highlight more of the music that we love and give our audience an experience unlike any!”
Purchase your tickets today at ONEMusicfest.com. -
Adam & Kizzie joined together on a mission to give music their absolute best. Their music is a tribute to everything that is genuinely great about music. Without a genre-specific box to pin their music to, they are now affectionately known as The Originators of EEDO, their own non-genre genre.
Nick Rosen has made a name as one of the most sought after musicians in the southeast, performing all over the country with Col. Bruce Hampton, The Shadowboxers, Russell Gunn and more. His debut album Step Into the Light was released on Ropeadope Records in 2015 featuring appearances by grammy winners Oteil Burbridge and Saunders Sermons. His latest endeavors include opening for Justin Timberlake on his Man of the Woods tour.
Red Light Cafe: Adam & Kizzie & Nick Rosen
553-1 Amsterdam Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30306
$10 Adv – $15 Door
Doors @ 7 PM
Mon, June 18, 2018
8:00 PM – 11:00 PM EDT
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Calling all you music lovers in Atlanta: A music app is looking to cast people to star in a commercial in the coming days. Pay is $200 a day, according to project casting.
The scenes are slated to be filming on Friday, March 16 in Atlanta.
To audition for the upcoming music app commercial, check out the casting call breakdown below.
Music App Commercial Casting Call
IMMEDIATELY SEEKING! *VERY FEATURED* PLEASE SHARE
The following to work FRIDAY, 3/16 (TOMORROW). For a campaign for a popular music app. In the ATLANTA area. Must have FULL availability for the day. Locals only. Looking for outgoing, hip individuals!
Pay rate: $200/10.African American girl
Ages 10-15
SUBJECT: GIRLAfrican American Woman
Ages 26-35
SUBJECT: MUSICAfrican American Woman
Ages 50-75+
SUBJECT: COOLSUBMIT ASAP:
Name
CURRENT photos
Age/height/weight
Sizes
Location (city, state)
Contact numberFor minors: (MUST be submitted by parent/guardian)
Parent/Guardian Name
Child’s Name
Child’s Age/height/weight
Sizes
Location (city, state)
Parent’s contact number -
It’s been nearly two years since Prince’s death, but his timeless music has been playing nonstop ever since, thanks to The Revolution his most famous band.
The Revolution came to Atlanta Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018 and tore the roof down at the Tabernacle.
The whole gang, including Dr. Fink, Bobby Z, Wendy and Lisa, played hit after hit. Mint Condition frontman Stokely even moonlighted as lead singer on a few of the songs, including “Kiss,” “Party Up” and “1999.”
On acoustic guitar Wendy Melvoin did a stirring rendition of “Sometimes It Snows In April,” her voicing shaking from grief throughout the performance.
Prince’s old band The Revolution DESTROYED Atlanta last night. Doves cried! #concert pic.twitter.com/al7Unb5Qk4
— ATLHAPS (@atlhaps) February 25, 2018
Talking to Fox 5 Atlanta, bassplayer Brown Mark says he knew the music they were producing in the 1980s was good, but did he think it was special?
“No, I didn’t know it was something special. Because from the day I joined Prince’s band, recording was an everyday thing,” he told the TV station. “I mean, they had the full-blown studio in the rehearsal facility, and anytime we would get on a hot groove…[Prince ] would say, ‘Roll the tape,’ you know? So, constantly recording everything that we did.”
Alot of people don’t know it, but Prince first rose to prominence with a band called The Rebels, made up of several of the Revolution members. It featured Matt Fink and Gayle Chapman (keyboards), Bobby Z (drums), André Cymone (bass) and Dez Dickerson (guitar).
In the book The Rise of Prince: 1958-1988, Alex Hahn says the Rebels project took center stage right after Prince’s sophomore album was recorded, “The next task was to improve the strength and cohesiveness of Prince’s live band so that Warners would authorize a tour in support of the second album.”
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The East Atlanta Santa is promising to gift the city with another one of his contributions. Local Rapper Gucci Mane says that he is bringing a feature-length film on his life to the big screen.
“#TheAutoBiographyOfGuccimane is coming to a theatre near you #DirectorGuccimane #1017Films,” he tweeted recently. The movie will be based on the book of the same name.
The Autobiography of Gucci Mane chronicles the rapper’s rise from local artist to mainstream phenom. The book goes into detail about the rapper’s struggle with drug abuse, especially lean (codeine). Here’s an excerpt:
“My own habits with the stuff had gotten bad. Over the years, there had been times when I’d gone too hard with the X pills, but that had always felt recreational. With the lean, I’d developed a dependence. It became something I needed. My life was moving fast, and this drink helped me slow everything down. I was now on the road nearly every weekend, which meant long bus rides of smoking weed and sipping lean to pass the time. I just wasn’t as outward with my usage as a lot of other rappers were with the Styrofoam cups because I was still on probation.
In the beginning, lean had been something special, a vice I enjoyed. An indulgence. Now it was something I required to operate. My fame was at an all-time high, and these pints helped me calm down and relax in situations where I would otherwise feel anxious, like a big performance or a radio interview where I knew I’d get asked about some shit I didn’t want to talk about.
Is that not the stuff of movie or what? Gucci will no doubt have to confront his demons in the film, such as his time in prison and checkered relationship with fellow rapper Waka Flaka Flame. But all of that should make the flick a bestseller, just like the book.
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About three years ago, you simply couldn’t miss Scott Bradlee’s influence on modern music. His rendition of “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore put him on the collective radars of everyone looking for new music.
Since then, his ragtime twist on R&B standards as well as today’s pop music have been stretching the boundaries for what was audibly pleasing to downright funky.
Now he’s bringing that nostalgic style to Cobb County. On February 14, Bradlee and band will tear the roof off the sucka. The Postmodern Jukebox, Founded by Bradlee nine years ago, is big on social media as well, garnering more than 450 million YouTube views and over 2 million subscribers.
Here’s how to see them in Cobb’s Energy Centre.
