tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60439391638631861182012-01-21T12:29:12.991-08:00I AM DOM JONESWho is Dom Jones? I AM. Singer, Songwriter, Emcee, Poet, and (obviously) BLOGGER. I love to make music and to write my opinion on it. The Bay Area has a beautiful, unrecognized musical landscape! Here's my small attempt to rectify that. To have your next project reviewed on this blog, please send emails to domjonesmusic@gmail.com!DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-61439964462780952982012-01-02T11:54:00.000-08:002012-01-02T12:35:28.708-08:00On Nu Dekades debut project: ERAganceI had my own perception of what this project would be like. I thought that it would have fantastic production (I knew they'd be getting beats from the amazing yet underrated Bay Area producer, Will Bracy). I thought that Ryan would carry K.E.V. with her forward flow, and that K.E.V. would find few moments to shine, with his seemingly fierce resistance to embrace any hip-hop existence outside of DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-934825690543427202011-12-29T18:19:00.000-08:002011-12-30T20:08:07.823-08:00Chris Turner Turns Oakland Out with the Romantic MovementAs I began to feel that chivalry had not only left the male mentality, but also his music, Chris Turner landed at 201 Broadway on a chilly Wednesday evening to quell my feelings of anguish with his soul, swagger, and showmanship. He gave his home town, Oakland, the gift of his experiences in the form of melodies and harmonies and a falsetto that would make the most bitter woman come to his DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-54506968903860336152011-12-21T19:54:00.000-08:002011-12-21T20:08:37.183-08:00Town Business: Why "The Motto" video Doesn't Represent The BayAll you Drake fans be quiet. You probably read the title and instantly thought, "She's a hater." Nope. Listen to my opinion before you make a judgement. Actually... idgaf if you make a judgement. It's my opinion. NOW:My first problem with the video is that when you shoot a video that you KNOW many will think of as homage to The Bay, you CANNOT simply drive across the bridge, stand in front of theDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-70998929352422896872011-12-16T21:38:00.000-08:002011-12-16T22:00:58.577-08:00On TK Other Realm of League 510's New Single "Let It Go"Based on this picture... clearly TK (Top Kat) is from another realm... he might even be from another lifetime. We're here today to talk about his single "Let It Go" from his forthcoming solo album "The Known Other Realm." If you need any background, TK is a member of Bay Area trio League 510, composed of three emcees also including Mr. Know-it-All and Mont Harper. The group has found some acclaimDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-38237104406762485342011-11-25T17:13:00.000-08:002011-11-25T17:30:11.185-08:00Tank's New Mixtape: Diary of a Mad ManTo me, Tank is one of the most sorely underrated vocalists in the industry. Not only did he pen ALL of the great songs on Jamie Foxx's debut album, Unpredictable, he has continued to prove his consistency in production, songwriting, and just all around musical passion. Well, Tank has a gift for all of us on Black Friday! He's released a FREEEEEEE mixtape. I was so excited to give this a listen, DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-88218613222072952082011-10-20T14:00:00.000-07:002011-11-26T17:24:03.654-08:00On Siaira Shawn's "Icarus (Who Is In Charge?)"<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-86261928343313594532011-10-11T22:23:00.000-07:002011-10-11T22:57:06.395-07:00**Album Review** I.D.'s CAMERAS AND MUSICI don't like most sampled beats. Let's just get that out of the way before I even start talking. I think most times it comes off as horribly dated, and I think that it had its place and time in music, and music has (or should) move on. There. I said it.I know I.D. as Ian. Ian is a weirdo. He takes pictures with hammers and says it's hammer time. He's hilarious and generally awesome in a totally DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-48141917159926122312011-10-02T10:02:00.000-07:002011-10-02T10:46:43.590-07:00On Damey's New Release -- Store RunDamey and I follow each other on Twitter... that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge of him. Recently, he tagged me a post linking me to his newest project. Usually, I don't pay attention to things like that, but for some reason, I clicked. I'm glad I did. Now I can tell you about a solid project coming out of the Bay Area.The intro starts off by sampling Curtis Mayfield's "Hard Times," DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-1520483600287483832011-09-12T21:05:00.000-07:002011-09-12T22:47:57.283-07:00Dom Jones' TOP FIVE Singers in the Bay AreaHONORABLE MENTION: DELTRICE - twitter.com/Deltrice09I can't make a list with vocalists and not mention Deltrice. I've loved her voice since I first saw her on Missy Elliot's "Road to Stardom." She has a fantastic voice, and I hope she finds much success. If I had to offer any feedback for Deltrice, it would be that her production makes her music suffer sometimes. With such an incredible voice, DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-5199009651536325512011-09-05T12:30:00.000-07:002011-09-05T18:55:53.795-07:00Why Drake is now Becoming One of my Favorite Rappers...I couldn't stand Drake at first. I was like... "Why are you forever singing mid-verse?" Then, when he came out with "Find Your Love," I thought... ARE YOU A RAPPER?! Lately, I've been really listening to Drake. He has something that most rappers lack. He lives somewhere alone in the genre of hip-hop right now, making him one of my favorite rappers. It's crazy... It's almost like I'm addicted to DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-4143570645596530912011-08-03T16:30:00.000-07:002011-08-03T16:45:11.350-07:00***STAR QUALITY ALERT*** --That guy named 1-OAK****STAR QUALITY ALERT****I've long been a fan of Honor Roll Crew's resident male vocalist 1-OAK (one of a kind) since hearing him sing the hook for a Bay Area rapper waaaaay back in the day. Later, when I heard his remake of LoveCats, originally done by The Cure (an INGENIOUS move that showed his diversity), I was SOLD.He now offers us his newest single called "Rewind." What do I think? It's DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-39692609574351900972011-01-19T11:52:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:30:28.223-08:00The Bay Music Scene is ON FIRE! :: Beat Roc & BeyondBEAT ROC & BEYONDThe Beautiful Landscape of the Bay Area Music SceneBeat Roc's "State of Mind" Beat Roc is a musical genius. PERIOD. His production far surpasses the novice ear, an innovation that I think deserves recognition and applause. Journeying into the shoes of an emcee with his new EP "State of Mind," Beat Roc is well on his way to legendary status, as not just a "Baymous" face, but a DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-13402942076062307392011-01-08T11:55:00.000-08:002011-01-08T12:43:00.707-08:00::Artist Spotlight:: RANDEVYN = REAL MUSICRANDEVYN=REAL MUSICAn Artist SPOTLIGHT! by Dom JonesMost folks don't know that I lived, for seven years, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. YUP! I'm a California girl whose parents forced her to take a seven year sabbatical in the sticks. It was during this time that I met an organist/vocalist who would become an artist that I have looked up to and admired for many, many years. That artist is DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-58593579582195631482010-12-27T16:01:00.000-08:002010-12-27T16:44:43.920-08:00On My New Mixtape CHAMPION: The Who, What, When, Where, and Why.MY NEW MIXTAPE "CHAMPION"The Who, What, When, Where, & WhySo, I've been hearing. "When are you gonna put something out?" for a loooong time now. "CHAMPION" came to me as an idea for a full rap mixtape. Really, just to encourage myself and other emcees (who happen to be able to carry and birth children) to beast as hard and stand up to the male emcees. I wanted to make some good music. HOWEVER! DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-8401002604238343712010-12-05T22:16:00.000-08:002010-12-07T16:02:39.555-08:00::ALBUM REVIEW:: Random Abiladeze: SKILL BEFORE SWAGGER:::::ALBUM REVIEW:::::Sacramento Emcee Random AbiladezeSKILL BEFORE SWAGGERI met Random Abiladeze years ago, when I was still deep into the poetry scene. He was a poet/emcee ripping it in Sacramento with his Wu-Tang-esque rap crew Neighborhood Watch. I have always felt that Random Abiladeze was a solid lyricist in both mediums he traffics, so I was excited when I had the opportunity to review hisDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-40750979073183590342010-10-07T13:23:00.001-07:002010-10-14T01:17:29.494-07:00Album Review: SandMan's The Art of Dreaming :::::::::::ALBUM REVIEW:::::::::::The Reality of "The Art of Dreaming"When I got the advanced copy of this album, I didn't know what to think. I think that SandMan is talented, but I also know that his former rhyming partner from The Attik, Do DAT, had not fully reached me with his solo debut, "Oakland In Blue." In this review, I MUST remind everyone of The Attik. They were a DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-75165015454746635592010-10-01T11:21:00.000-07:002010-10-05T10:42:30.760-07:00::::::MONDAY SOUL:::::DO BELIEVE THE HYPEA review of Monday Soul (September 27, 2010)First of all, let me start by saying that The New Parish is a beautiful venue that I have had the pleasure to visit for shows a couple of times. Each time I go to an event there, I always wish that the full potential of the venue could be reached. Monday Soul is a weekly event that has received much acclaim from both artists and DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-31070189698139913292010-09-18T21:56:00.000-07:002010-09-18T23:34:29.706-07:00A Review of Co-LAB #3: A Dom Jones PerspectiveSo, I was pretty pissed because I was a few minutes late and missed Sandman, who was only given a seven minute set and was put at the very beginning of the show... but we'll talk about the structural issues I had with this show a bit later. When I arrived, there was another rapper beginning his set. I said wassup to some folks, and then after said rapper left the stage, I set in to watch Mic G, DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-63887850219871857052010-08-15T22:08:00.000-07:002010-08-16T00:00:37.364-07:00::ALBUM REVIEW:: Oakland In Blue -- Do D.A.T.::::::::::ALBUM REVIEW:::::::::::As I sat down at BUMP Records with Do D.A.T. to discuss his debut LP, OAKLAND IN BLUE, I felt extremely nervous. Not only is DAT like family to me, he is also someone that I have looked up to musically for YEARS. So I tried to take a Socratic stance, and just ask some leading questions. "What do you think of Oakland in Blue, DAT?" I tried. NO WAY I was getting offDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-87175577691378975002010-08-03T00:04:00.000-07:002010-08-03T00:47:51.737-07:00Learn to Respect the King: Why Will Bracy is THE Producer SavantHe's this mysterious figure that you hear about constantly, but unless you know him... he's pretty elusive. So who is Will Bracy? He's the producer who is taking over the Bay Area scene with his versatile, musical production. Working with artists such as Do D.A.T., Isis Genisis, Mic G, Nu Dekades, Sean Bo, Krystle Azul, League 510, Siaira Shawn, Bambu, K.E.V., and even more artists who have yet DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-47639948045454891342010-07-23T15:19:00.000-07:002010-07-23T16:29:34.625-07:00Ryan Nicole's DIS'ONANCE: A Preview of SymphonyTHE POSE ABOVE IS INSTRUCTIONAL. THIS IS WHAT HER COMPETITORS MIGHT AS WELL DO: SMILE AND THROW UP YOUR HANDS. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE HOLDING A TOWEL... THROW THAT IN, TOO.Let me begin this review by simply stating the obvious: Nicki Minaj SUCKS. All of us know it. All emcees, women and men included. However, it's difficult to win a debate without a tangible, relevant opposition. Ryan Nicole has DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-65448307741148913992010-06-19T16:48:00.000-07:002010-06-19T18:01:59.807-07:00The Win Behind the Lense::The Photography of Ian Davis"Don't blame the camera, blame the person behind the camera," says Ian Davis of the unrealistic expectations of technology, while ignoring the aptitude (or lack thereof) of the photographer.What did I think when Ian decided to start taking photography seriously? I WAS PISSED!!!! Hey... don't jump to any conclusions; I was just used to him as I.D., the rapper... I.D., the producer. I couldn't DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-37081606651899409832010-05-04T10:58:00.000-07:002010-05-04T11:37:21.778-07:00Do DAT's OAKLAND IN BLUE: The most anticipated album in the Greater Bay AreaNo matter how many ciphers or battles an emcee participates in, the most essential battle in which each one is trying to emerge the victor is the battle with self. To make that first project, to polish it, to perfect it, and what's more to RELEASE it. Davin Anthony Thompson, known to his followers as Do D.A.T., has accomplished just that. I could go into how heartbroken we all were to see his DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-50697135418658774112010-04-18T18:52:00.000-07:002010-04-23T13:55:12.177-07:00Can Big, Black, Broad, and Powerful coalesce with BEAUTIFUL??? (In Music, Business, and Beyond)Is she alluring or is she a joke?Is She Exceptional or the Expectation?AND WHAT OF HER????I don't know what my endeavor in writing this is. Just that... well one of my most honest friends said that my appearance (that being physical beauty, dress, hair, weight) will all effect my success. He said I was gonna have a hard time of it...I already am. That statement wasn't the beginning of my hard DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-73441178418238444622010-02-12T13:59:00.000-08:002010-02-12T14:32:02.380-08:00Do D.A.T. :: "The Bridge" Bridges the GapQuintessential Emcee.That is the thought that comes to one's mind when considering Do DAT. He has always been the prevalent force in whatever capacity he chooses to navigate the genre of hip hop. I ask you now to have a listen to the first single off of his forthcoming debut solo album OAKLAND IN BLUE, "The Bridge," featuring San Francisco emcee Melina Jones. Go ahead... listen.What did you hear?DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-6480600689497096342010-01-18T20:00:00.000-08:002010-01-18T20:34:00.143-08:00The First CO-LAB at The New Parish: A Dom Jones PerspectiveI must say... I had my doubts about this show. My friends performing in it were scratching their foreheads with their index fingers long before show day. So I went in with no expectations, where usually I'd be pretty sure the show was gonna be clean. I absolutely LOVE this venue. I think that it definitely is conducive to having larger shows and great for live band performances. There is plenty DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-8186958595664766812010-01-08T18:29:00.000-08:002010-01-08T19:24:04.844-08:00Five who spit Fire: Poets to WatchAlthough I've taken a step back from poetry in recent years, I still write and will occasionally perform a poem. These five reflect the fire, fervor, and fantastic fury with which poetry once captured me and is beginning to again. Watch out... You ain't ready.MeilaniCLAYI met Meilani in 2005 at Youth Speaks' Bringing the Noise for MLK... I had recently bought John Legend's debut album and was DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-20107495888744266172010-01-07T13:32:00.000-08:002010-01-07T14:25:52.680-08:00Musings on the musical stylings of the SandmanMy introduction to Sandman aka Elefante was during his career in the legendary bay area hip hop trio, The Attik. It wasn't until after the group tragically disbanded that I ever heard him sing. My first time hearing him was sitting in on a studio session where he was recording some solo tracks, and to be completely honest, my first thought on the singing was "Eh... no." I frequently have this DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-68638596967832894612009-12-07T00:33:00.000-08:002009-12-07T01:04:51.868-08:00::Artist Spotlight Part 2:: siairaSHAWNThe music industry is inundated with singers who CAN'T sing right now, who don't write their own material, and who are all around assembly line artists As a musician and specifically as a singer, this pisses me off. I am constantly searching for someone who is not only original, not only has prose and lyrical potency, but who is TALENTED and who is pushing the boundaries of what music can become.DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-77512626620331437072009-08-10T20:32:00.000-07:002009-08-10T20:50:40.313-07:00Artist Spotlight :: DO D.A.T.Oakland In Blue is a look at the man through the lens of his town. The beauty, the struggle, the chill days, the cold gov't, the resilient community, the drug wars and drug lords, the children, the elders... Oakland... in shades. I invite you to come out and listen to the forthcoming album of the incomparable DO D.A.T. as he steps forward into inked light.DAT has been an integral part of Bay AreaDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-33235201816990996762009-07-09T20:15:00.001-07:002009-07-09T20:29:24.283-07:00Growth and the Emcee... Thanks, KlassiqI've always thought that sometimes to grow, we gotta move on. Being an emcee who is a female it's even more vital to my survival to GROW... and constantly get better. In this documentary, Talia Taylor aka Klassiq, gives a deeper view into the struggles of women who rap. I appreciate the fact that she made this, and encourage everybody to give it a view and then really think about what it's sayingDomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-85603507237149805902009-06-27T02:24:00.000-07:002009-06-27T02:32:42.670-07:00How Definitive is Peace?When I did this piece, I was in a certain space. I had certain friends, I believed certain things. And seemingly... there was a high level of CERTAINTY that these things would remain. Looking back, almost everything that seemed certainly cemented has been uprooted in some way. There is a weird ebb and flow where my fear of change is concerned. Sometimes, I'm all gung ho for it. Sometimes, I'm DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6043939163863186118.post-33438493049184424002009-04-30T01:11:00.000-07:002009-04-30T01:26:52.523-07:00When Solitude Becomes a Liability..."...but I don't want to be alone..."We've all heard this. I think that solitude can become a liability, if it is forced upon someone. And I used to really really REALLY care about people to the point that I felt my life's mission was to help others above my own needs. This mindset kept me surrounded by people, pillaging the resource rich land of my mind, spirit, heart, and eventually my body. DomJoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07346325618810169037noreply@blogger.com0