“When I talk about religion, sports, winning, losing, struggle, pain, prison, poverty, crime, women—these are the ingredients of OneBeLo, because those are my personal experiences,” he explains. “I’ve been a straight-A student, I’ve been a knucklehead, I’ve been a heathen, I’ve been a Christian, I’ve been a Muslim, I’ve been a criminal, I’ve been in the belly of the beast, I’ve been to the Mecca, I’ve been to Europe. I’ve been to the top, I’ve been to the bottom. I’m talking about everything.”

Lo was adopted in Pontiac, Mich., where his mother worked as a beautician and his stepfather worked at a plant. As a result, he developed appreciation for women, fashion, working with a variety of different people, discipline, and forgiveness. He busied himself with over a dozen different activities and attended church several times a week with his family. Life changed once his parents divorced when he was 14 years old. With lower supervision and more exposure to new things, he ran the streets with older kids until he went to prison days after his 18th birthday.

While in prison, OneBeLo read extensively and converted to Islam after seeing it wasn’t what he was told it was as a Christian child. He also formed the rap group Binary Star with his partner-in-crime Senim Silla. Despite domestic violence, murder and other drama out of his control happening back home, Lo handled his sentence without losing himself.

Upon Lo’s release, Binary Star hit the ground running. On their self-released debut Waterworld, they teamed up with future staples like Elzhi, J.U.I.C.E. and Athletic Mic League to exercise creative concepts and deliver substantial messages. Lo formed a production team with Decompoze, who he had recorded with in high school. Binary Star quickly sold out of their initial 1,000 copies as the album was praised as an “instant classic.” Though Lo had intended to rhyme anonymously as a solo act to revert attention to the music, he was often addressed as OneManArmy because of a line he used in a song. He and Senim Silla would later go their separate ways, and Lo compiled his Subterraneous Records crew—which consisted of Malaki The Most High, Decompoze, Kodac, Magestik Legend, DJ Phrikshun and iLLite—in January 2000.

Dub Sultan
Archer’s Mob
The Dead Yellers
Antoinette and the Cupcakes
Golden Grenade
Jessica Kilroy
The Boozehounds
Beta Max
DJ Luscious
DJ Bones

In 1995, Aceyalone launched a successful solo career. With timeless albums such as All Balls Don’t Bounce, Accepted Eclectic and the unique A Book Of Human Language Acey gained the respect of music fans and critics alike, proving himself to be one of the finest rappers of his time.

Corey Johnson, aka Sunspot Jonz, is an MC, producer,film and video director/producer and a founding member of the underground hip hop groups the Living Legends, and The Mystic Journeymen. He was born in Oakland, California, and in 1999 the Living Legends moved their base of operations to Los Angeles. He is known for organizing and hosting shows since the early 1990’s, including “Undergound Survivors” and “Broke Ass Summer Jam.”

Sunspot Jonz grew from the East Oakland soil that kills so many of its own seeds. Resilience, intellect, and the gift of gab allowed him to overcome more challenges in his youth than most people face in a lifetime. In the environment in which he lived, and so many of the homies died, Sunspot kept the original vision of Hip Hop alive, with a four track and dream, hustling tapes on Telegraph Ave., guerilla style, a warehouse livin’, Top Ramen eatin’ savage, sending a different message than all the other MC’s in the game. His life experience made him know that any human being can control their own destiny. Any human being can choose to ignore the negativity that society attempts to force upon us, and choose a different reality. Sunspot Jonz is a visionary.

As a director for Dreamzcape Sunspot has directed a Living Legends video in rotation on MTV and has a feature film SonnyDreamweaver set to release in 2009. Sunspot’s relentless search for new sounds, and desire to create new communities, reunited him with another kid that came up in the Bay Area music scene, Julian Brooks. Julian broke in to the industry, with ModSquad on TNT the same label that released Digital Underground and Tupac’s first album. They knew each other back in the day and re-united recently in Los Angeles. Julian had evolved a long way from the early 90’s MC and now a full fledged producer with a sonically diverse background from years in the industry Julian brought a whole new sound to SunSpot’s LA studio.

They decided to collaborate and create yet another genre of music, fusing Julian’s HipHop, Drum N Bass, Electronica, House, and alt. indie rock, with Sunspots signature pounding bass lines, melodies and lyrics and The Temper Twins were born. This new sound will make 2009 another year in a long line of profilic years. With three Temper Twins album’s set to release and two solo SunSpot Jonz album’s Fight Destroy Rock Volumes 1&2, eight music videos, MTV and other outlets will be sharing SunSpot’s vision and message with the rest of the world on a massive scale. With a full performance schedule, and several film releases Sunspot has never been more focused on continuing to create markets, and music, and filling the seats. Underground means against all odds. Sunspot Jonz is considered by many to be revolutionary and a pioneer.

Black Orchids Bloom. We do our hardest to play, write, and perform for people. The sounds come from the family as a whole, but the music comes from the heart and the feeling of every band members own personal experiences and influences. We all have had hard times, and good times, and put it to the tune. The product that is Black Orchids Bloom, is the product of a family every changing and ever striving to be better and more passionate with what we love: Music.

For Dub-Reggae rockers, Yellow Dubmarine, who formed in the fertile music community of the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas, the choice to take on the Beatles masterpiece, Abbey Road, was a simple one.

There was a natural vision for it, they explain, “It is more of a concept album, and we knew it would be the perfect place to start.

The resulting album, Abbey DUB, is an aural journey through the history of reggae with The Beatles as your guide. From “Come Together” through “Her Majesty,” Yellow Dubmarine finds new life in all of the legendary album’s 17 songs, keeping the heart of each tune present, but simultaneously re-creating them in an entirely new light.

Producer Kenny Liner of The Bridge, crafts a sonic landscape that in one instant recalls traditional Nyagbinghi drumming, before becoming a simple Rock-steady cadence which subtly evolves into a horn-laced, Ska groove full of Caribbean and Calypso overtones that gives way to a bass heavy Dub “riddim” that sways and bounces and gets everyone up and moving.

The decision to work with Liner was an easy one for the band, proclaiming, There is no one we would trust more musically or professionally with this concept than him.

The development of the identity of Yellow Dubmarine’s horn section as a strong singular voice and separate entity within the band helped create a wholly unique sound that allows the instantly recognizable tunes from Abbey Road to take on a whole new personality, a personality that is full of intoxicating, deep, danceable grooves.

Abbey DUB is a shockingly original take on the legendary album. Horns where there were once voices, a slinky groove where there was once none, and a smooth mellow essence that seems to find the long lost island-roots soul of Abbey Road. A blissfully exuberant, rock-steady, Jah-worthy celebration of the Fab Four, Abbey DUB is quite simply a chance to hear this much loved classic again for the first time.

Born and raised in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, Andre Nickatina has been a Hip-Hop/Rap luminary since the release of his critically acclaimed debut, “The New Jim Jones.” A favorite at public venues and on college campuses, Andre Nickatina continues to sustain a loyal fan-base, while engaging new supporters throughout North America. Nickatina’s classic stage show combined with his rare interviews, maintains his mystery and unique musicianship that has spanned two decades.

The longevity of Nickatina speaks for itself. An award-winning MC and producer (2005 Bay Area Artist of The Year / Album of The Year for “Bullets”), Nickatina’s vision has expanded beyond the 18 albums (and hundreds of thousands of sales) that he has executive-produced. Also, a diverse artist, Nickatina has gained critical acclaim for his work and vision as a filmmaker, with more than seven films to his credit as either a director, co-director, executive producer, producer or actor.

Changing his name from Dre Dog to Andre Nickatina in 1996, he transformed his career to a plateau that has allowed him to create and develop an entirely new fan base with his original flow, distinct voice and lyrical explorations that few other MCs have displayed an ability to achieve. His third album, “Raven In My Eyes,” marked Nickatina’s shift as an artist and expanded his audience to the wildly enthusiastic college crowds that praise him with regular sellouts from coast to coast.

In 2008 Nickatina completed a timeless masterwork that paired he and his friend, Mac Dre (R.I.P.) together with the new classic, “A Tale of Two Andres. ”

Nickatina’s business acumen is as sharp and honorable as his presence on stage. Nickatina’s vision as an artist has been admired by many of his peers as he is seen as one of the last Bay Area Legends who was not only present during the golden-era of Hip-Hop, but one of the few artists who has helped Hip-Hop grow and who has remained ultimately relevant with each successive album he has released.

Without saying so, Nickatina has had his finger on the pulse of what is raw, uncut and capable of capturing the mind and ears of listeners. Never one to follow or ride trends, Andre Nickatina is a rare breed of artist… one of the last original trend setters. Nickatina does not do what the people want… rather the people want to know what Dre will do next.

The Chicharones, formed at South by Southwest in 2001, are composed of songwriters Sleep and Josh Martinez. Since releasing their 2006 opus When Pigs Fly (Camobear Records/Bella Union), they have toured the world, collaborated with the who’s who of underground pop, released critically and commercially successful solo albums and become international celebrities. Much has happened in the four years since their last release “When Pigs Fly”.

“Chicharones – The Best Bar Band in America”

The Chicharones have toured the world together, solo and with live bands, and learned countless new tricks along the road. From Sleep’s magic tricks and quick change routines, to Martinez’s beer balancing and hi-kicking Elvis dance moves, they are buzzing everywhere with their insanely energetic live shows. Since adding live drums and bass to their live show, they can literally play with any other act and hold their own. Spin called the Chicharones “The best bar band in America” after seeing a 2.5 hour set at the Viper Room in Los Angeles. It’s easy to see why. Expect 5-part harmonies, a razor tight band, costume changes, syncopated dance moves, stage magic, standup comedy and the joyful interplay of 10 year veteran performers Sleep and Josh Martinez. And there’s also rap.

‘Josh Martinez, aka The People’s Champ’

Josh Martinez is one of the most diverse artists in the music game, surpassing the limitations of indie hip hop, inspiring countless copycats who admire his soulful singing and offbeat cultural references. He has written 7 solo albums and collobarated with everyone. In 2008, Martinez produced a musical masterpiece called The World Famous Sex Buffet (Camobear Records), starring Devin The Dude, Classified, Mother Mother, Moka Only and Pigeon John. With 10 videos, countless licensed songs, constant touring and a #1 record in Canada for three months straight, the People’s Champ is thriving.

‘Sleep, aka the Littlest Homie ‘

Sleep has carved himself a special place in the minds of Hip-Hoppers who want their music with heart. Sleep’s album Christopher (Up Above Records 2007) garnered universal praise and was voted “The best hip hop album of 2007” (LA WEEKLY). His new album, Hesitation Wounds, is a masterful opus, written with his characteristically brilliant cadences, sweetheart rhymes and every man observations over blazing future music soundscapes. Featuring Del The Funkee Homosapien, Masta Ace, Abstract Rude and others, and released by Sage Francis’ Strange Famous Records in spring 2009, it has already sold 5,000 copies and brought him the worldwide exposure and respect he so deserves.

The Paper Diamond sound has raw energy and the kind of dramatic anticipation only a seasoned producer can incite. Driving beats and bass grab on tight while deep, rich tones rumble under layers of spacey synthesizers, sweet melodies, and catchy vocals. One thing is for sure. The energy is high.

In keeping with the way of the future, Paper Diamond’s debut EP “Levitate” was made available for free download from PRETTY LIGHTS MUSIC and ELM&OAK RECORDS.