A$AP Mob (Photo courtesy RCA Records)
A$AP Mob released Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy, their second studio album, on Aug. 25 via A$AP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music, and RCA Records. The New York rap collective rarely perform together in one space, but A$AP Rocky, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Twelvyy, and others have joined forces for the sweeping Too Cozy Tour to play their new songs with a stop at Echostage on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
Prophets of Rage perform at 9:30 Club on Sept. 14, 2017. (Photo by Paivi)
Eleven minutes and thirty-eight seconds.
That’s how long it took before a member of the rap rock supergroup Prophets of Rage mentioned the President, first numerically (“45” — not four-five, which would be South African slang for male genitalia according to Johannesburg-born comedian and Daily Show host Trevor Noah), and then by last name and the acronym POTUS. Rap legend Chuck D muttered the surname and it was clear that the call to action against and the critiques of the current White House occupant weren’t going to end there.
Tokimonsta (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)
Jennifer Lee, better known as Tokimonsta, will release Lune Rouge, her third full-length album, on Oct. 6 via Young Art Records. She’ll be on tour at the time, and that tour will bring her to U Street Music Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Black Thought (foreground) and Questlove (background) perform with The Roots at MGM National Harbor on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. (Photo by Chris Castillo)
The Roots will soon release End Game, their 12th studio album, marking an extremely productive run for the house band for The Tonight Show. The nine-man ensemble, led by vocalist Black Thought and drummer Questlove, have been touring regularly lately, and they dropped by MGM National Harbor for an exciting show on Sunday, Aug. 13.
Dru Hill perform at the Soul Train Awards in November 2016 (Photo courtesy the band)
The recent resurgence in urban fashion trends, reunion tours, and contemporary music samplings indicate that the legacy of ‘90s RnB is as potent as ever. To complement the nostalgic resurgence, the contemporary effect of social media allows for the genre to entertain a new generation of fans and revamp chart-toppers for longstanding fans. As evidence of this, 20 years into their career, Baltimore “boy band” Dru Hill hosted fans on nearly a two-hour trip to their sensual and street catalogue at the Howard Theatre on Aug. 18.
A dancer in front of Lunar Stage at Moonrise Festival 2017 (Photo by aLIVE Coverage)
Boy, Moonrise Festival 2017 was a spectacle!
It fell on warm summer days, ideal for the festivities. Moonrise consisted of four stages, which often left attendees sprinting through foot traffic, and it took place over a two-day span in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, on Aug. 12-13. Here is our recap of the highlights!
Joey Bada$$ performs at MGM National Harbor on Aug. 2, 2017. (Photo by Chris Castillo)
Rapper Joey Bada$$ dropped his latest album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, the follow up to 2015’s B4.Da.$$, on April 7 via Pro Era Records/Cinematic Music Group. He also dropped by MGM National Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, to open for Logic on the Everybody Tour.
