Full info under the hood. Great to see so many people in the industry coming together to put on this event. 100% of proceeds are going to the Red Cross. See you there!

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UMAC Partners with Harbourfront’s KUUMBA for
Black History Month Celebrations

For Immediate Release
February 2^nd, 2010

(Toronto) — UMAC, The Urban Music Association of Canada, is kicking off Black History Month with its first event of the year duringHarbourfront Centre’s annual Kuumba celebrations. Urban X-Posure: SoWhatChuSayin’? takes place at The Harbourfront Centre on February 13th, 2010, and is a multi-platform event focused on Hip Hop and Spoken Word being actively used as art forms for social change. It’s a day where consciousness in rap music and spoken word gets rewarded – literally!!!

Full press release after the jump!

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RUNNING FOR A REASON is a non-profit organization started by Jully Black, Shaun Campbell and Desmona Cole, dedicated to enhancing the physical health of adults and promoting children’s fitness education. The proceeds of its initiatives are used to support health organizations making a difference in the fight against issues such as Juvenile Diabetes, Obesity, Eating Disorders and Cancer.

BLACK 2 BASICS (B2B)

Singer/Songwriter Jully Black has created a fun, full-body workout that will quickly make you sweat and burn those extra unwanted pounds. Just 21 minutes long, Black 2 Basics was designed to encourage women and men with busy lifestyles and little time to spare to honour their bodies by being active and doing something positive – with you, for you. Partial proceeds from the sale of Black 2 Basics will be donated to support health organizations dedicated to the enhancement of Children’s Health and the fight against Juvenile Diabetes and Obesity.

B2B for Haiti is an event geared towards lending our health for those in need. All throughout the day we will have phenomenal instructors leading great fitness workouts. Jully Black will also be personally leading her new 21 minute full body workout B2B every couple hours.

OUR GOAL: To raise $20,000 for Red Cross Haiti fund, by bringing people together to get active and have fun as well as provide a healthy and positive way to give back and offer hope to those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

To Donate directly to the Red Cross to benefit HAITI go to http://www.redcross.ca/running

A great initiative coming from one of the hardest working singers in the city!

February is Black History Month (BHM), symbolically a time for reflection and acknowledgement of the historical achievements of the Black diaspora. During this time we get an influx of info about the notable pioneers of the past, but kudos to Up From The Roots and Six Ah We Arts Collective for paying homage to the pioneers of the present with their “Black Present: A Black History Month Celebration Of Excellence” initiative.

5 members of our city’s on-going urban legacy: Trey Anthony (Da Kink In My Hair); Dr Jay (Soca Therapy); Dameion Royes (Big It Up); Luther Brown (DoDat) & Dwayne Morgan (When Brothers Speak, The Makings Of A Man) will be honoured at this event taking place this Sunday @ Revival (783 College St).

We got sooo much present-day pioneers and history-makers in our midsts that we take for granted.

Good to see some local recognition happening.

“Show respect while they alive that’s love, that’s peace, that’s hats off to the white glove!”

– Kardinal Offishall “We Gon Go”

More info after the jump.

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These kids got SKILLZ!!  Catch the oh so soulful and spoken word poweress, Sun aka the realSUN and some seriously talented youth from the Jane strip as they hold it down with T.Dot heavy hitters and community instigators Saidah Baba Talibah, Rich Kidd, DJ L’Oquence.  Tomorrow, 52 McCaul: 3:30-6:30 and oh yes, rice and peas will be in full effect at this catered and family friendly event.

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One of many charitable fundraising events put together to help Haiti. Tonight (Thursday January 28th) @ Wet Bar (106 Peter Street).

For Immediate Release

LINKAGE MOVEMENT LAUNCHES MONTHLY SHOWCASE OF EMERGING URBAN CANADIAN ARTISTS

TORONTO – January 25, 2010 – Linkage Movement is a collective of artists, driven and determined to provide a platform to a thriving niche of urban talent across Canada, starting with Toronto. Linkage Movement is launching their monthly showcase FYI (Follow Your Instinct) on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Harlem Restaurant, 67 Richmond St. E. Toronto. FYI will feature the best of Toronto’s emerging urban artists backed by the 4-piece “Movement Band”.FYI is open to urban artists, vocalists, and rappers, who have auditioned for Dwayne Dixon, newly appointed Vice President of UMAC, The Urban Music Association of Canada. Selected performers have the opportunity to rehearse with the Movement Band to further develop their art of performance. Performers can vary each month.

More details after the jump!

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The Toronto Urban Music Festival (TUMF) has created Urban Music Week, celebrating Urban Music, Urban Arts and Urban Music Industry Conference.

TUMF is presented by WORD Magazine. It continues to showcase the best in urban music and culture since 1997.

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Bilal, K-OS, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Divine Brown, Dwele, Jully Black, Jaguar Wright, Melanie Durrant, Gary Beals, Michie Mee, Royce Da 5’9, J Live, Butta Babees, Eternia, Masia One, Citizen Kane, Saukrates, El Da Sensei, Wordsworth, Dan-e-o, Jeff Hendrick, Dwayne Morgan, Rochester, J-Diggs, Cali, Ayah are among the many talented performers who have taken the stage at TUMF over the years.

Toronto Urban Music Festival Incorporated is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the best in Canadian and international urban music and multidisciplinary talent and providing professional developmental opportunities via conference workshops, seminars and master classes.

WORD Magazine, the soul of urban culture, is the presenting sponsor of the Toronto Urban Music Festival. WORD is now in its 15th year of publication and is available free of charge in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Southern Ontario, and other select cities. Visit www.wordmag.com for more information.

Hit the jump for a list of events and live performances happening this week.

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In this lecture (the second of a [Time + Space] 3-Part Lecture Series with Director X) the focus will be on Artist Performance In Front of the Camera. Director X will be giving a lecture + workshop with live video shoot demos. Under Director X’s guidance, artists, directors and industry participants will learn how to: develop performance skills, creatively direct performers, create the right visual style, develop their cinematic visions, improve their craft and industry presence, and take their works to the next level. This is also an exciting opportunity for us all to learn from the music video industry leader.

Should be dope! Full details after the jump!

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Here’s a good way to kick off the decade if you wanna take in some up-and-coming talent out of the city. All the info is below as well as a promo video under the cut!

Frosted Lights: Saturday, January 2nd, at the Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina, @ College). Frosted Lights features performances from up-and-coming Toronto hip hop and R&B artists Smash Brovaz, T.Ana Cole, Scott Jackson, Gifty Singh, The Scientists, G-Dub, OG, Made Wade, Lisa Banton, Jay Birch, Walker, and Crossword.

Everyone’s out for those flashing lights but it’s the hip hop ciphers happening right here under our own **FROSTED street LIGHTS** that host some of the realest talent out there. We’re bringing the cipher to the stage. With solo and collaborative hip hop and R&B performances that will make you proud to be a supporter of Toronto talent. On the first Saturday of the new DECADE, make sure you get down to the Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina, at College) for FROSTED LIGHTS.

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