BKS1 Radio Network

This Edition of LIVE In The Vocal Booth Show we rate and review along with YOU the listener Ruben Studdard's new release "Letters From Birmingham"

Here is our rating system:
5 Stars: It's blazing hot – on fire
4 Stars: It's a hot song – pump it up
3 Stars: It's alright-good song
2 Stars: Thanks for the album cut-what's next
1 Stars: I won't tell nobody about that if you don't…lets keep that a secret

Ruben Studdard | Letters From Birmingham

On today’s ever changing musical landscape, the definition of R&B fluctuates as much as the rolling hills from the steep pitches and flat meadows of Birmingham’s Red Mountains. Generation Y looks to rhythm-driven artists Ne-Yo, Trey Songz and Usher as the personification of soul while many Baby Boomers insist that only the raw, melodious sounds of soul men like Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye are the real deal. Ruben Studdard is the uniquely perfect combination of both schools of music and he brings both exciting dimensions to Letters From Birmingham (Shanachie-March 13, 2012). This alluring concept album about the ups and downs of modern romance is the project Studdard has longed to make his entire career. With it, he surely sets the standard for modern day soul troubadours and boasts stunning performances that range from an angelic falsetto on love songs like “Today” to hard-hitting dance floor grooves like “Turn You Out” that show off a raw vocal edge.

It’s been almost a decade since Fox Television’s “American Idol” television talent competition crowned Studdard its 2003 winner after he pulled 24 million votes and became a household name. In the years since, the Velvet Teddy Bear (as Gladys Knight nicknamed him for his smoothly soothing vocal style) has produced a string of gold and platinum albums, toured as Fats Waller in a national stage tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’, appeared on various television shows, toured in the comedy drama “Heaven I Need A Hug” with Robin Givens and played a pastor in the Trace Adkins film, “Lifted.” Along the way, he’s also picked up Grammy and American Music Award nominations and turned out now classic urban radio hits like “Sorry 2004,” “Superstar,” “Make Ya Feel Beautiful” and “Change Me.” He also scored a #1 Gospel hit with “I Need An Angel.” Letters From Birmingham is Ruben’s most personal set of music yet and he’s hoping his vast fan base will enjoy and be surprised by the album’s twists and turns.

Tonight's Topic: It's Hard Out Here For a Cop

We hear about the drugs, the crime, the gangbangin' in the hood, but few of us think about the police force that is dedicated to bringing those crimes to an end. What does life as a detective entail? How connected are they to the neighborhoods they serve? Do they really care about the criminals they hunt down, or do they think most of them are destined to end up handcuffed in the back of their patrol cars. Tonight, BKS1Radio has the pleasure of interviewing Detective Sargeant Kenneth Reid of the Plainfield Police Force. This veteran is going to open up about crime in an urban neighborhood from a law enforcement's perspective. He'll go in-depth on topics such as the current state of gang violence, and expose the details about the vast cases of abuse and missing persons that are happening in our own backyards. Get your questions ready and keep an open mind. We're in for a treat...tonight, on "Live in the Vocal Booth".

Live In The Cipher brings you another up and coming MC from NYC. Join us as we introduce you to Fokis as we rate and review his latest release A Vintage State of Mind. Here is more about Fokis in his own words from www.fokeezy.com.

Fokis Bio:

An innovative force, Fokis continues to forge his path towards success through the frontier of a technologically advanced world.  Born William Heredia to Dominican parents, Fokis was raised on New York City’s Lower East Side of Manhattan.  It was during these formative years that Fokis developed a love for music and a work ethic that placed him amongst hip hop’s hardest working entrepreneurs. Fokis began rhyming at an early age and later began to produce beats of his own.  Seeking to enhance his career, Fokis pursued formal training as a recording engineer later opening his own recording studio Krystal Clear Recordings.  There, Fokis has recorded and mixed records for many artists including Kool G Rap, Trife Diesel, Mic Geranimo, Bubba Sparxx and Rahsaan Patterson.

His passion and commitment to success literally placed him on the “Road to the Riches.”  Early in his career, Fokis developed and produced an online reality show based on his own experience as an independent hip hop artist seeking to secure a record deal within a year’s time.  Consistent with reality, the “Road to the Riches” did not result in Fokis signing a record deal.  Not deterred, Fokis went on to release several albums collaborating with various established artists such as Joe Budden, Olu Dara (Nas' father), Deemi, Joell Ortiz and various producers such as Focus...(Aftermath Ent.) Charlemagne and Dahoud Darien.  Through his persistence, Fokis independently distributed over twenty thousand compact discs and digital downloads combined.  Projects like the “20/20” EP exclusively produced by Focus of Aftermath and “The Appetizer” LP with Punchline of eMC were well received by his fans.

Fokis has toured the United States, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic and performed as an opening act for Common, Busta Rhymes, M.O.P. the Beatnuts and many more.  Through his experiences, Fokis has developed a relevant broad appealing style and sound that remains true to the core foundational elements of Hip Hop with a commercial appeal.  Though achieving success distributing his own music, Fokis realized in this era it would take more than pursuing a career as a recording artist to rise to the level of success he sought to achieve.  As his experience with the business side of the industry grew, Fokis seized upon the marketing facet of the industry and opened his digital media company Loyalty Digital Corp.  Through Loyalty Digital Corp, Fokis has worked with various artists to develop, record and mix musical compositions and successfully market them online.  In no time Fokis managed to develop a strong and diverse client base for Loyalty Digital Corp. 

Working with that network, Loyalty Digital Corp. successfully produced and released two installations of “A Walk Through MySpace,” a musical collaborative effort of worldwide independent artists banding together to create a stronger market for their careers.  Loyalty Digital’s success with its marketing campaigns resulted in multi platinum producer Ty Fyffe reaching out and together they developed an online competition called “Raw N Uncut” which enlisted hundreds of entrants.    Fokis and Loyalty Digital’s many achievements have been recognized by not only many established industry members but also featured on various industry websites such as HipHopDX, NahRight, 2DopeBoyz, DubCNN and HipHopGame.  In his own words Fokis states that he is “a dreamer, a visionary, and a grinder with a capital G.”

MC's call in 646-233-1302 and spit your hot 16, let the hip hop world hear your skills! Follow us on twitter: @LiveInTheCipher and like our facebook fan page: Live In The Cipher Show

To believe or not to believe, that is the question. Do you believe none of what you hear and half of what you see or do you trust in someone until they prove to be untrustworthy? When you hear about the next celebrity or politician in the media is your view point instant or do you do more research? Do you believe most people are straight and narrow or do you believe most people are full of it?

Join the Live In The Vocal Booth team as we discuss truth and lies! Do you go by the mantra "Believe non of what you hear and only half of what you see" Call in 646-233-1302 or chat live with our chat rebels. Let us know your thoughts.

One of the most challenging parts of any divorce, separation or break-up from a long-term relationship is getting along with your ex. In some cases, after you´ve divided up your possessions and worked out other financial and practical matters, you can wipe the slate clean and never look back.

If children are involved, though, this is not usually an option. You have to learn how to get along, be adults, and let go of your resentments -- not only for your own well-being but for the sake of your children. Now, if you´re thinking your kids can´t tell that you´re harboring feelings of resentment, anger or betrayal toward your ex because you mask it so well on the surface, think again. Children respond to who you are and how you feel more than how you pretend to be.

In time, and as you begin to release naturally, your feelings of resentment against your spouse will melt away. While this will make getting along with your ex much easier on you, the most important thing is the impact it will have on your children. They will definitely appreciate your openness to your ex, and in turn will develop a deeper, more open relationship with you.

If anyone you know is currently going through a divorce or break up and they have children, do pass the show info along to them so that they, too, can benefit from this show topic as well.

Let's Get It On With Relationship Coach Sadie! Only on BKS1 Radio.

If you missed the live show press play