August 31. 2010 by admin.

If you thought the sudden resurgence of 90 degree weather served as the catalyst that drew hundreds upon hundreds of spectators to Prospect Park this weekend, your observation is off by a long shot. Know Your History! August 29th commemorates the birthday of the late King of Pop: Michael Jackson, who would have turned 52 on Sunday. This year’s tribute (which was actually the 2nd annual “Brooklyn Loves MJ!” event) hosted by Mr. Absolut Brooklyn himself- Spike Lee, was everything last year’s festivities was and then some complete with DJ Spinna on the 1s and 2s AND a special performance by Snoop Dogg! Just imagine strolling through the park and stumbling upon a huge, open field on a beautiful summer day completely filled with MJ fans (young & old) singing and dancing to his many chart-topping hits. Imagine a slew of MJ impersonators cladly dressed in official MJ garb successfully attempting to moonwalk in the grass, freelance painters drawing images of the iconic megastar, all while droves of supporters, tourists and parkgoers alike chanted the infamous “Ma Ma Se Ma Ma Sa Ma Ma Coo Sa!” It was a wonderfully, organized and drama-free event that I’m sure MJ would have loved. Special BKBOYEEZ shoutout to Spike Lee for curating the event & to my fellow Brooklynites for behaving! #ImJusSayin… MJ would have been sooo proud.

Livin’ Off The Wall.
DRE.B.EZ

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August 2. 2010 by admin.

 BROOKYLN’s Wingate Park was more than packed tonight as thousands of people flooded the park floor for the Martin Luther King Jr. free Concert Series. Old school night was the theme and our borough president, Mr. Marty Markowitz, had a serious line up for us that started with Mr. Lodi Dodi himself- Slick Rick, Other People’s Property Takers- Naughty by Nature, and the original Queens of Safe Sex- Salt-N-Pepa. Read the rest of this entry »

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July 27. 2010 by admin.

We here at BKBOYEEZ.com have been commenting on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Summer Concert Series for about 3 years now, and I can personally say- I have experienced some of the music industry’s most spectacular talents and performers from right here in my back yard. Last night’s line up of course brought out what seemed like all of Brooklyn and the surrounding areas. “Now can you see me/ here on the edge.” Chrisette Michele has one of those voices that can stand on its own as a separate entity. The BROOKLYN native belted all her hits and some favorites of mine to her family, friends, and fans in the audience that gave her the love right back (looking and sounding as beautiful to us as her performance). But that’s just what we Brooklynites do, so that was no surprise. Read the rest of this entry »

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July 20. 2010 by admin.

Skipped Toni’s concert last night because you thought it was gonna rain? Here’s a sneak peak of what you missed…

DRE.B.EZ

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July 19. 2010 by admin.

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July 19. 2010 by admin.

Yesterday was the 10th annual MIHicon BBQ in Prospect Park and you know the BKBOYEEZ gathered up our fun and headed to the park for some socializing, networking, and personally- for the free food! There were hundreds- if not thousands of people BBQing, having a great time and trying to stay cool. I really wanted to grab this networking opportunity by the horns, but it was entirely too hot to run  or even walk to connect with people. If you were not in my path there was no way I would have seen you, so unless you were a part of the parade of eye candy- it just wasn’t happening. The beautiful people were definitely out, making it the cherry on top of the very very HOT fudge sundae (just being honest!)

‘Til next year!

KuTs

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July 12. 2010 by admin.

Dontcha love it when you’re sitting at home with no plans- wondering what everyone else is doing… feeling sorry for yourself- when suddenly, one of your besties calls you up to chill?! Well that’s exactly what happened on Sunday. I was at home recovering from the previous night all while having second thoughts about cutting off all my hair (…literally!)- wondering how in the world am I going to re-invent myself, when Raphie hit me up as she was heading to BK and wanted to know if I was down to check out Talib Kweli & The Roots at the Bandshell in Prospect Park?! Umm.. does a bear shit in the woods and wipe his ass with a fluffy white rabbit??? Hell yeah, I was down! So she scooped me up, I chugged a couple Heinekens on the commute & we caught each other up on love, life and how finding parking is Brooklyn can be such a B!@%H! Ugghh! Now fast forward to getting in: the line to enter the venue was ridiculous & you know we HATE waiting so thanks to Raphie’s friend- Amoy, she not only finagled us into the concert but also into VIP (…that’s just how we do!) If you’re a fan of Talib Kweli or The Roots you know when these dudes get together the experience is FAR from substandard, and from the crowd’s energy and overall response to the DOPENESS- the show was BANANAS!!! Take a look at MY Brooklyn!

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July 28. 2009 by admin.

Finally, I made it to the to 27th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Summer Concert Series at Wingate Park in non-other than Brooklyn, New York. Having had already missed two concerts, I was uberly determined not to have this concert meet the same fate- especially because my all time favorite artist EVER Anita Baker was headlining along with (don’t sleep on this dude at all)- Charlie Wilson. I remember being really young and my mom always having the radio on WBLS- at that time Anita Baker ruled the airwaves. Her jazzy, melodic, piercingly clear tonation that made her stick out like a red door knob in a black room also made her a household name and one of the greatest voices of her time. She took me back to my younger years- whether good or bad, I was always comforted by the sounds of Anita Baker. Last night, Anita Baker was my chicken soup, and I had more than my fill. Wearing her signature look, from beginning to end I was caught up in the rapture as she belted out “Angel”, “Fairy Tale”, and “You Bring Me Joy”. I am still on a high and cannot go any further without first mentioning that I am officially a Charlie Wilson fan. With his rendition of “Let’s Chill”, “Baby I’m a Star”, and a Gap Band track or two from his previous days with them- he took the crowd from grooving in their seats to dancing on top of them. With three costume changes all involving something reflective, he proved that he came to give Brooklyn a good show and we received him with open arms. They were classic, left Brooklyn drunken with satisfaction and me thirsty for more.

Be Blessed…KuTTy

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July 12. 2009 by admin.

This weekend was undoubtedly eventful and all thanks to one of my favorite friends. You may already know “Free”… (and no, not the female who first hosted BET’s 106 & Park) but the worthless kind. The friend you don’t have to come out of pocket for. We started off by making a stop at a Brooklyn backyard alley BBQ (Yardie Caribbean style) full of drinks, food, and some of the wickedest tunes (Bend Ovah Gal!…) FREE was all over “Free’s agenda” and that was just Friday night. Saturday was all about work and recovery, which left Sunday to start in no other place but church. Bad planning moves got me to the last leg and the last hour of fun and House tracks at the Afro-Punk Block Party in Clinton Hills, Brooklyn. Dre and FaBid were there early taking it all in for me, so look out for more details and pics on the block party to come… We hit up Fort Greene Park afterwards, that hosts an event called Soul Summit every Sunday in the Summer, of non-stop rhythmic drum beats and DJ’s. There were hundreds of people housin’, loving, creating and in my opinion, it was one the best feel good atmospheres in Brooklyn and the best part- my friend “Free” was all over that event, too. Then we hit up Moe’s, Habana Outpost, my homie R****, and definitely had a happy ending (Ooooo weeee!). Dope meeting you Tiff (Shout out to B-more); Mel loved running into you (still glad I got the original & still can’t believe you’re back in BK!)

Be Blessed…KuTTy

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July 8. 2009 by admin.

It took a little while for me to come off my high after the stellar performance Janelle Monae gave Brooklyn earlier. I took that time to walk around the park, observed the skateboarders & BMXers in their element, and stood in awe for about 10 minutes in front of this massive art exhibit. These masterpieces were larger-than-life, vibrant, creative and fit in perfectly with the Afro Punk vibe. So dope! Basking in wonderful weather in the midst of beautiful people & buzzing artists, you can’t help but want to meet a few new Brooklynites. Between mingling with fellow Afro Punkers, running into my Boyee Digo for a chat about This Life We Live, and praying the skaters & bikers didn’t break their necks (yo! them dudes were ’bout it -no helmets on!), it wasn’t before a matter of time they called up the next artist. Now this dude here… let’s just say I respect his craftsmanship! Saul Williams is a well-known poet, writer, actor and musician who’s been in the game for quite some time. He’s made guest appearances on the UPN sitcom, Girlfriends, had a lead role in the ’90s flick- Slam, and I’m almost certain I’ve seen him bring down the stage on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. So obviously when he was called to the stage, his real fans rushed to see it. The crowd started off a bit light in the beginning, but before the end of his set- Afro Punk Skate Park was at capacity, again! He was LIVE. It was a little TOO CLOSE for comfort, but a DOPE show to say the least. (P.S.A: Some people really need to introduce themselves to deodorant). Energy was flowing, the crowd was grooving. Classic Afro Punk! Check it out and tune in for more from the Afro Punk Festival…

DRE.B.EZ

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July 7. 2009 by admin.

As I entered what most Brooklynites know as the B.A.M. (Brooklyn Academy of Music) parking lot on the corner of Lafayette & Flatbush, I was eager to walk thru the crowd of onlookers in what was now transformed into Afro-Punk Skate Park! There was literally hundreds of spectators awaiting the night’s headliners, dudes soaring through the air off of high ramps (Xtreme Sports style, of course!) on skateboards and BMX’s, vendors selling and giving away merchandise and hundreds upon hundreds of feet of vibrant artwork to adore. Luckily for me, I got there just in time for them to introduce Urban alternative singer/songwriter, Janelle Monae! The crowd went APESHIT as she and her band gave us about an hour of off-the-wall, energetic sets complete with percussive climaxes and billows of smoke. She was truly a sight to see! She warmed hearts with her tribute to the late King of Pop singing “Smile”, completed a 10 minute uptempo tune all while painting a portrait onstage (…literally!), and just when you thought she was spent- she did her signature crowdsurf! I was astonished by her energy and totally pleased with her soaring, yet amazingly controlled vocals. If you’re not up on Janelle Monae- get into her. Tune in later to see more on Brooklyn’s Afro-Punk movement…

For more of Janelle Monae at Afro Punk ‘09, click the link below.

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July 6. 2009 by admin.

Although I’m still recovering from the chaos of my Fourth of July weekend, it wouldn’t be complete without supporting the annual Afro-Punk (AP) Festival in Brooklyn. I literally stumbled across last year’s 4th annual AP Block Party and vowed that I wouldn’t miss the following year’s festivities. Well guess what? The Summer season has come around full circle, and the last thing I wanted to do was make myself out to be a liar! The Afro-Punk Festival is more than a series of free (yep, FREE!!!) outdoor concerts, but it’s more like a cultural movement! It highlights the alternative Urban skate & BMX subculture that has become ever so popular, showcases the work of deserving artists through Music, Art and Film, and this year- they’ve chosen to honor the success of acclaimed American film director, producer, writer and actor- Spike Lee. 

While the majority of their events happened over the course of the Independence Day weekend, be sure to check out the official Afro-Punk Block Party on Sunday July 12th to culminate this year’s festivities with an array of live music including special performance by John Forte, DJ Rich Medina on the ones & twos, DIY fashion, craft vendors and so much BK eyecandy you won’t want to leave! Starts at 1pm and ends at 8pm on Clinton Avenue between Myrtle & Willoughby. See you there!

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April 16. 2009 by admin.

Thanks for riding with us into Day 3 with Brooklyn’s own singer/songwriter, Kayla Bliss. We bid this edgy, young artist farewell as Twitter has just notified us she’s planning a trip to Miami. Not for long we hope- but we do encourage the fact this songbird is spreading her wings beyond the streets of Brooklyn. Be on the look out for her mix tape hittin’ streets soon as well as a mainstream single due out early this summer. She’s truly on the move and that’s what we love to see. The BKBOYEEZ would like to shout out Kayla Bliss on her debut album and we wish her continued success on the road to stardom. We hope you remain humble and true to your craft, but most importantly, we hope you stay REAL! As we end this journey down the Roads to Bliss, we’ll leave you with a brief Q&A with Kayla Bliss and the video “It’s Not Cheating” from her debut album. Until next time…

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April 15. 2009 by admin.

We’re back with this month’s featured artist: Kayla Bliss. If you tuned in yesterday, you would have known that she’s easily the next BEST songwriter coming out of Brooklyn, but we want YOU to be the judge! Ride with us as we journey with her down the Roads to Bliss. Sounds euphoric, dontcha think? …Not sure what that means? Well look it up- and look HER up while you’re at it!

Kayla Bliss’ debut album- Roads to Bliss, is exactly what the title projects. From the time we hit play on the stereo- it felt as if we were instantly taken out of Brooklyn and teleported onto a tropical island touched by soft breezes and irie vibes. If you listen really closely we’re sure you’ll notice how much her sultry tones instantly drew you into the stories she told. As you run through the tracks, you’ll also learn some of the many facets of Kayla Bliss. On the reggae tune “Hear My Cry,” she sheds light on the epidemic that has continued to plague single woman worldwide- regardless of their age or ethnic background. She sings of the struggle a young 18 year old girl endures as she tries to better herself, raise a child, and deal with an absentee father. Not only is it a great message song of encouragement for women who are living this life, but it also teaches young girls about the ill reality of teen pregnancy and the life situations they should avoid at all costs. Read the rest of this entry »

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April 14. 2009 by admin.

It’s that time of the month again- where the BKBOYEEZ scour the streets of Brooklyn in search of the next burgeoning artist on the rise. We brought you a lyrical emcee last month and now this month we proudly present to you an extremely gifted singer/songwriter that’s not foreign to Brooklyn either. Going by the name of Kayla Bliss- this budding artist is in our opinion right up there with the likes of Keri Hilson, The Dream & Ne-Yo when it comes to lyrical content. Growing up in Flatbush, Brooklyn under the strict influence of Jamaican parents, it wasn’t until their unfortunate separation- a vulnerable time of uncertainty in her life- where she turned to songwriting as the primary outlet to purge her emotions. Even during her impressionable teenage years, Kayla Bliss had the insight and maturity level to write songs the average person would only expect of an experienced adult. Regardless of how sophisticated the subject matter- she made you believe in her unforeseen accomplishments and helped you overcome your fears, she became that “battered and broken” woman clinging tightly to that lost love, and never without an addictive hook or melodic undertone. You can credit her early success to The Brooklyn Youth Chorus, of which she was a devoted member- thus exposing Kayla Bliss to different musical genres outside of mainstream favorites, sight singing, music theory as well as the opportunity to perform at some of NYC’s greatest landmarks, including Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. Whether you call it the “luck of the draw” or sheer talent, it was a combination of these integral performances at these well-renowned venues and her drive to continue doing what obviously came naturally to her, that spawned the artist we now know and have grown to love.

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March 25. 2009 by admin.

For our final selection in our Woman’s month series, we’ve decided to celebrate the life and achievements of two influential women who were taken from us all too suddenly- but not without leaving an impact. We’ll start off with the late and dear rose from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn- Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979- August 25, 2001)- known to us all as just, Aaliyah. Introduced into the world of music by R&B’s artist, R. Kelly- it was her amazing physique, warm smile, incredible dancing ability and overall star quality that just did it for you! Remembered for classic albums like One In A Million and Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number, produced by Timbaland & Missy Elliott, young Aaliyah- only in her mere teens was able to win over the hearts of the music world and the top fashion gurus behind Victoria Secret and Tommy Hilfiger. On top of the world and on top of her game, she successfully completed her third self-titled album, Aaliyah. At this point she already had TV and movie credits under her belt including Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned, but a tragic plane crash led to her early death. Attempting to return to the states after finishing the music video “Rock The Boat” off her junior album, Aaliyah’s private plane reportedly crashed shortly after takeoff about 200 feet from the runway. At the age of 22, she would have gone on to churning out more hits and co-starring in more motions pictures but her sudden death forced producers to either find a replacement for the roles they created for her, or just scrap going forward with the film altogether. Eight years after her death, her legacy still remains throughout the world of R&B. Read the rest of this entry »

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