After 25 years in the game, a living legend returns to hold down the Festival.

For the third straight year legendary VJ and Hip-Hop pioneer Ralph McDaniels will serve as host of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.
Uncle Ralph, as he is also affectionately known, has been hosting the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival since it moved to Empire Fulton Ferry State Park in 2006. More than just a host Ralph has been an ambassador for the Festival. "A student of Hip-Hop will know that you cannot underestimate the importance of Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box. He saw the need to archive and document our culture before MTV, and before YouTube. Without him I am not sure Hip-Hop as an art form or as a business would be the multi- billion dollar industry that it is. We are his children and the Festival is a continuation of the trailblazing spirit manifested by Ralph and all of our other elders," Wes Jackson, Festival Chair and

Executive Director.

Uncle Ralph is also celebrating 25 years of Video Music Box, his groundbreaking music video show. In the 80's, Video Music Box was the only place to see music videos for much of New York City. Before Yo MTV Raps!, or 106th and Park there was one game in town, Video Music Box. Video Music Box gave Ralph the platform to help launch the careers of Jay Z, Black Moon, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS ONE, De La Soul, Leaders Of The New School and more. In addition to continuing to host and produce Video Music Box, Ralph also hosts "The Bridge" on WNYC. "The Bridge" focuses on classic videos and interviews from legendary groups and artists.

The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival takes place July 10th - 12th Ralph McDaniels will be hosting the Main Day at Empire Fulton Ferry State Park on July 12th
Tickets are available at Fat Beats NYC, Halcyon in DUMBO, Brooklyn and via www.brooklyn bodega.com, the Festival's home site.

NG Records Presents "Set tha Stage On Fire" Hip-Hop and R&B showcase sponsored by Rap Fanatic Magazine on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at Don Hills (511 Greenwich St. @ Spring St.) in New York City.

The winner-take-all showcase will feature 10 talented underground artists from the NY-NJ-CT tri-state area. Artist will be judged on by reps from The Source, XXL, Sirius Radio and N.A.N. TV.

 
Fans are in for a treat. These artists will be spewing flames and hitting high notes. There's going to be music for the playa and hustla in you, sensual tunes for ladies and gentlemen, and – of course – lyrics with substance.

 
Headlining the night is NG Records recording artist T-Eazy. The Brooklyn-bred emcee will be performing songs live off his new mixtape "Tha Future in Tha Present." Save the date in your PDA or mark it down on your calendar, but don't wait to long to buy your tickets because there going fast. 
 
Email SetThaStageOnFire@gmail.com for artist booking or tickets.
 
Tell a friend,
 
The Beast 

Here's some Jim Jones & ByrdGang video for you of them at their album listening session

Showing that the west coast is so much more than just sunshine, gangsta lyrics and scandals at USC, California group Custom Made seize the right chemistry to deliver a note worthy album that would catch many east coast rap patrons off guard because of their ability to showcase rhymes that taper on lyrical while riding over cool beats.

Signing to independent label Babygrande in 2006, they spent decent time in studio to prep 16 tracks that show their growth from their debut album “LA State of Mind” released in 2004. In mist of all that, they worked the streets and online with mixtapes, leaked tracks and support from LA radio DJ – DJ Warrior. Poised now to connect with a weary Hip-Hop community that has seen it’s fair share of issues over the past couple months, their sophomore album Original Dynasty drops May 27^th and is a slice of the future in what the game needs in a new face, talent and talk. 

Breaking the mold for min, it’s time we recognized another side of music that sheds light on Hip-Hop as well. Through the combination of Rock, break beats and Hip-Hop, New York City’s own The Metermaids find balance and inspiration to deliver good music for their many fans. 

In 2006, the group catapulted themselves on the map and left stones unturned. Taking the route of the college tour circuit, they immersed their collective forces to becoming on of those special groups with talent and has crazy buzz because of word of mouth and hardnosed guerilla marketing on their behalf of course. Today, the guys are more fine tuned, better equipped with awesome publicist and are ready to release their newest album called Nightlife. The album features 14 tracks and drops June 10^th. For an ideal of what these guys are all about, go to their Myspace and website.

www.myspace.com/metermaids
www.metermaindsnyc.com