BKS1 Radio Network

Artist Review: Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar likes to compare himself to Tupac Shakur. But Tupac wasn’t from Los Angeles and didn’t know his father growing up. By the time Tupac was 23, he had already been shot multiple times and begun serving a prison sentence. Lamar, on the other hand, was born and raised in Compton. His parents are still married. He’s 23, and so far he has dodged the almost inescapable bullets that dart through what he calls his “mad city.”  Enjoying this Kendrick Lamar Biography?  Keep reading!

Even so, Lamar seems to share Tupac’s soul; better still, he seems an evolution of it. The line between “Pac the Playboy” and “Tupac the Tortured Poet” was drawn with an indelible marker, but the sides of Lamar’s personality bleed into one another. The chorus of “P&P” (an ode to “Pussy and Patron” punctuated by a girl pouting, “Hey, what’s up, daddy”), for example, is cookie-cutter braggadocio. Its first verse, however, stacks a precarious tower of thoughts almost tipped over into rage by an incident at a gas station — and leaves him searching through his phone for a comfort he admits is temporary.

Candid vulnerability and a voice that sounds as though he’s just inhaled great mouthfuls of smoke (even though he abstains from weed) are why Lamar is on everybody’s lips. Last November, Dr. Dre (who was led to Lamar by Eminem’s manager) said out of the blue on Power 106′s popular morning show Big Boy’s Neighborhood that he wanted to work with the rapper.

By now, Lamar has not only worked with Snoop Dogg and Dre, he was snapped, paparazzi-style, sitting courtside at a Lakers game with the legendary producer. His buzz has ratcheted to such a roar that he’s considered a shoo-in for XXL magazine’s “Freshman 2011″ cover.

Read More Kendrick Lamar Bio here: www.kendricklamar.org

Special Guests: Trilogy

The Merriam Webster Dictionary describes a Trilogy: as a series of three dramas or literary or musical compositions that are closely related and develop one theme. We feel that this is the only way to describe these three multi talented individuals who have transcended lifes obstacles to unite and create a level of musical genius that the world has been longing for.

When you experience life’s hardships, disappointments and struggles, you have a tendency to depend on elements you believe are truly important as an individual. Three elements which have been key in the lives of these three extraordinary individuals are Love, Life and Loyalty.

Kira Bishop is not just another pretty face. She is the epitome of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Always trying to outdo her last performance, Kira is the embodiment of a true professional. With her drop dead good looks and her powerful yet sultry voice she is sure to tantalize her audience and leave them yearning for more.

Kira Bishop is Love.

OxPro, a true student to hip-hop and music as a whole, is constantly studying the art in an effort to enhance and perfect his craft. This emcee utilizes his life’s experiences and disappointments in a positive light by incorporating them into his lyrics. In an industry where art is supposed to imitate life, OxPro takes his real life experiences and translates them into true poetry.

OxPro is Life.

Jay-Will is the consummate artist. Always raising the bar with his musical performances, be it his hard-hitting production, his energetic rap vocals or his soulful singing. Jay-Will intertwines his real life experiences with his never ending love for music by always putting all of his heart and soul behind every performance giving his all for the listener.

Jay-Will is “Loyalty”

When you unite Love, Life and Loyalty the result is three unique stories which comprise this phenomenal Hip-Hop/Pop/ R & B juggernaut. Starr Media Group is proud to present to you TRILLOGY. The next level of music.

Artist Review: Xzibit

Xzibit is a name familiar to millions across the world. It belongs to a man who is as comfortable inside a recording studio booth as he is behind a television camera. He is a performer as likely to be seen on-stage thrilling listeners in Germany as he is on cinema screens in blockbuster franchise entries like XXX 2, The X Files: I Want to Believe and the upcoming 2013 film Code Name: Geronimo. Let him tell it and Xzibit is simply “a self made man from poverty.” A platinum recording artist first and foremost, “X to the Z” is also a superstar with a loyal worldwide fan base only a Hip-Hop icon could garner.

X first came to the attention of attentive Hip-Hop listeners as a member of the revered rap collective, The Likwit Crew. Founder and West Coast Hip-Hop veteran King Tee enlisted raucous group Tha Alkaholiks and newcomer Xzibit into the clique as original Likwit representatives. From there, the ferocious X unleashed his 1996 debut, At The Speed Of Life. Considered by many to be an underground rap classic, it spawned a definitive West Coast Hip-Hop classic, the cautionary “Paparazzi.” “That song still elicits a crazy reception from my fans,” says its creator. “It first blew up overseas, but ended up traveling everywhere. It’s a timeless record.”

With enlightened Hip-Hop lovers swarming to offer their approval, he swiftly followed the release with another Hip-Hop staple. His sophomore project, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz was lauded by critics and fans alike, and its lead single “What U See Is What U Get” spent an astonishing six weeks atop the charts on BET’s Rap City.

X’s mainstream breakthrough came courtesy of one of Hip-Hop’s most memorable guest verses. Appearing on Snoop Dogg’s atmospheric “B Please,” his brash aggression was a perfect partner to Snoop’s laid-back drawl. With an integral assist from X, the single became one of Snoop’s most successful in years. The X-Man’s talents clearly impressed the track’s producer, the legendary Dr. Dre. He soon offered X a spot on his epic Up in Smoke Tour. Joining a bill that included the aforementioned Dre and Snoop, Ice Cube, and the controversial Eminem, a captivating, show-stealing X was introduced to thousands of thrilled concertgoers night after night. “That tour was a turning point in my career,” acknowledges X. “I was rocking capacity crowds in arenas across the country, and everyone was feeling what I brought to the table.”

Read More Xzibit Bio: www.xzibit.com

Special Guest: Nina Foxx

Some refer to Jersey City, NJ as "Wall Street West" because of its industrial areas. To Nina Foxx its simply home. Born Felicia Pryer, Nina Foxx grew up on the harder side of JC. Being an only child can be pleasurable for some, but for a young Felicia it had its flaws, the biggest being not having anyone to share life's ups and downs. For therapy, she started to amass her thoughts and daily life activities in a journal. This played a major role in what would later make her the H.B.I.C.

At the young age of 11 years old, Felicia relocated to Florida forcing her to start over leaving Jersey City a distant memory...for now. Unaware that she was about to uncover one of the biggest pieces to her life’s puzzle, Nina adapted to her surroundings swiftly. At 13 years of age, not only did she learn to play various instruments but also how to read music, another crucial piece to her puzzle. This would teach her how to transform her daily entries in her journal into a melodic flow.

For Nina Foxx, High school was where she could showcase her talent. Instead of eating food at lunch time, Nina would get full off of the energy of her classmates who would double as her audience. It was in the cafeteria that she and a few friends would spit bars back and forth, entertaining the crowd until the bell sounded off. Her love for music also influenced her to join the varsity marching band for the Dillard High School Panthers as well. As thing were going good, December 1997 would find Nina and her family back in Jersey City. This would open her eyes to a whole new world. The daily entries in her journal would become more candid and vivid. By age 15 the streets would become Nina’s new BFF, labeling her not only a bona fide hustler but also a Gangstress.

Now in her twenties Nina Foxx has accumulated knowledge from both the streets and the industry. She has taken what she’s learned from both to overcome many obstacles. Graduating at the top of her class for Audio Engineering and Production, she not only has the biggest buzz from a female artist in Jersey City which is rapidly spreading across the tri-state, but she continues to make herself relevant through not only her own music but through the music of those she mentors.

Nina Foxx released her long awaited mix tape, New Breed Of Female: 16 Bars and Hooks!, which is now available on itunes.com and datpiff.com. She has been featured in the 13^th issue of Grindahz Magazine www.Grindahz.com and is featured as the only female rap artist on Big 7, one of Jersey’s Elite exec’s, mixtape titled Time2Grind hosted by DJ Kay Slay, which was released in March 2011. Tune in every Wednesday, on BKS1radio.com where Nina Foxx was a co-host of the Hip Hop segment, Live in the Cipher, reviewing the latest hip hop releases as well as covering hip-hop news and related topics. She has since moved on to promote her solo career but still remains part of the bks1 family. For bookings, features, media, music links and audio engineering contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Follow on twitter @DAREALHBIC201.

Artist Review: Machine Gun Kelly aka MGK

There's nothing like someone who has lived your story and Ohio's MC MGK resilience has become a beacon of hope for thousands of kids across America. Penning rhymes about everything from addiction to family issues, MGK is a symbol of relentless perseverance to his fans and the MC is about to begin the next chapter of his already successful career.

Born Colson Baker in Houston, Texas, MGK lived almost a dozen places, including Egypt, before moving to Denver, Colorado with his father after his mother began a new life with a new man.

"I don't have a relationship with my mom, she left when I was nine years old," says MGK.

In Denver, the Bakers lived with MGK's aunt. Though the father and son had each other, they couldn't lay claim to much else. As his dad fought depression and unemployment, the young MC split his time between wearing two school outfits and being bullied by the neighborhood kids.

"I used to stand out because I was tall and I couldn't really fight back then," says MGK. "Then I got tired of getting beat up so I started fighting people with my words instead."

In seventh grade, MGK found solace in rhyming after watching DMX's "We Right Here" video.

"DMX is a huge influence on me because neither of us have siblings so we had to fight a lot of dark shit by ourselves," says MGK.

And though he "wasn't popular at all," the lanky kid was good at battling his middle school challengers. Later, while attending Denver's Thomas Jefferson High School, his father moved to Kuwait to work for the army and left MGK behind to live in a neighbor's basement. It was then the teen began experimenting with drugs and recorded his first demo tape.

"It was terrible, but I thought it was cool," says MGK, with a smile.

Read More MGK Bio: www.mgklaceup.com

Special Guest: Samaya “SoRayre”

Samaya "SoRayre" Wilkins, is a songwriter/ rap artist, who is blasting through music waves, and blazing a hot trail, merging unique R&B melodies, with complex metaphoric rhymes, oozing with Hip Hop sex appeal. She plans to emerge on the urban music scene, unexpected, unsigned, and with no remorse. Now at the age of 23, SoRayre has composed lyrics and melodies for over 18 years, and has discovered the most effective outlet of her music to be, MC-ing.

Born and raised in New Jersey, from the gritty streets of Newark, to the quiet suburbs of Piscataway, SoRayre's music, showcases her versatility, edginess, vulnerability, and humility; with a sense of humor for the witty and the wise. After enduring open adoption, physical and sexual abuse, homelessness, drug addiction and single-parenthood at a young age to say the least, SoRayre's music and the grace of God, have been the constant positive therapies throughout her struggles.

"I feel my music has the potential to be relatable to the masses. Any person who's ever struggled, and had a dream, with the determination to achieve and conquer, with dignity and humility, could feel my music. That's why I love fashion from the 80's, and music from the 90's! It was fun, tasteful, and soundful! Even with rap, it was something to be heard, and a story to be told. Whether it was about love, or respect. It was okay to sing or spit how you felt, respectfully and tactfully. Now and days it's all raunchy; who's the cockiest, who get the most women, who get the most money. Its all repetitive.. no message of realism. And I'll honestly state, sometimes, Im in the mood to ride that wave. But, sometimes Im not. I just do what I feel is right, for me, to say, in the moment Im in."

And that's exactly what she has set out to do! In every line, in every song.

Her greatest musical influences vary from Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston, to Drake and Kandi Burruss.

Her best friends would describe her as a crazy, smart, ambitious intellectual. Her younger sister would paint the picture of a rude, aggressive bitch. If you could only know SoRayre through her music, how would you describe her?

Her debut mixtape, Osama SoRayre, is due to be released Spring 2012. For more SoRayre exclusive interviews and news visit TheKnobodies.com, Facebook and Twitter @SamayaSoRayre.

Live in the cipher team brings you Lupe Fiasco's latest release Food and Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 for our interactive rate and review process. Lupe is well known for his lyrical ability and critically acclaimed projects he has already released for his fans. Lupe has stated his beliefs on the Political process in America, which has drawn the attention of Comedian D.L. Hughley among others. Agree or disagree with Lupes political stance, lets see if he can deliver the quality music he is known to produce. Taken from www.lupefiasco.com here is what Lupe has to say about himself:

About Lupe Fiasco

The greatest art is the purest art. Six years, three albums: the lyrical dissertation Food & Liquor (2006), its thematic successor The Cool (2009) and controversy-drenched LASERS (2011). Now, Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album.

Much more than a mere sequel; instead, equal halves American history documentary and honor roll rap skill exhibition.   Your average Hip-Hop album features a tall guest list and short stack of truth. F&L2 offers a welcomed imbalance of features to facts.

"What I've learned is not to take anybody's advice. If you rely solely on your fans, it sets you up for the downfall on the industry side and if you rely on what your label is saying, it will disconnect you from your fans." -Lupe Fiasco

Special Guest: Songwriter/Rap Artist Samaya "SoRayre" Wilkins

Samaya "SoRayre" Wilkins, is a songwriter/ rap artist, who is blasting through music waves, and blazing a hot trail, merging unique R&B melodies, with complex metaphoric rhymes, oozing with Hip Hop sex appeal. She plans to emerge on the urban music scene, unexpected, unsigned, and with no remorse. Now at the age of 23, SoRayre has composed lyrics and melodies for over 18 years, and has discovered the most effective outlet of her music to be, MC-ing.

Born and raised in New Jersey, from the gritty streets of Newark, to the quiet suburbs of Piscataway, SoRayre's music, showcases her versatility, edginess, vulnerability, and humility; with a sense of humor for the witty and the wise. After enduring open adoption, physical and sexual abuse, homelessness, drug addiction and single-parenthood at a young age to say the least, SoRayre's music and the grace of God, have been the constant positive therapies throughout her struggles.

"I feel my music has the potential to be relatable to the masses. Any person who's ever struggled, and had a dream, with the determination to achieve and conquer, with dignity and humility, could feel my music. That's why I love fashion from the 80's, and music from the 90's! It was fun, tasteful, and soundful! Even with rap, it was something to be heard, and a story to be told. Whether it was about love, or respect. It was okay to sing or spit how you felt, respectfully and tactfully. Now and days it's all raunchy; who's the cockiest, who get the most women, who get the most money. Its all repetitive.. no message of realism. And I'll honestly state, sometimes, Im in the mood to ride that wave. But, sometimes Im not. I just do what I feel is right, for me, to say, in the moment Im in."

And that's exactly what she has set out to do! In every line, in every song.

Her greatest musical influences vary from Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston, to Drake and Kandi Burruss.

Her best friends would describe her as a crazy, smart, ambitious intellectual. Her younger sister would paint the picture of a rude, aggressive bitch. If you could only know SoRayre through her music, how would you describe her?

Her debut mixtape, Osama SoRayre, is due to be released Spring 2012. For more SoRayre exclusive interviews and news visit TheKnobodies.com, Facebook and Twitter @SamayaSoRayre.