It’s rather remarkable that in a city as diverse and cosmopolitan as Miami, a listening room like the Luna Star Cafe has become an anomaly. Over the past two decades, folk, blues and Americana artists of all stripes have embraced it as a place that spotlights more subtle and divergent…
While the Miami bass heyday of 2 Live Crew and company is over, its sound slowly fading into the past, there is a new generation of Miami rappers trying to give the city something else to shake to. South Florida native Yung Gordon is among them. “I grew up in Opa-locka,…
If, perhaps on Family Feud one day, you find yourself face-to-face with the category: Former jobs of folk musicians, you might yell at Steve Harvey things like English teacher, health food store cashier, or, most likely the number one answer, pot dealer. But Keith Johns, a former physicist, would prove…
A few days ago — and I won’t say where — I went to a South Florida rap show. The smell of cheap marijuana filled the venue, kids with backpacks and DSLRs crowded the front of the stage, and the DJ played someone’s unmastered track straight from Soundcloud using an…
Earlier this year, Jamaican born artist Sizzla Kalonji joined a handful of other Caribbean artists — including Aidonia, Elephant Man, and Beenie Man — who were cleared to return to the United States. Back in July, Sizzla, who was born Miguel Collins, took to Instagram to inform his fans that…
Though Bro Safari is a DJ name that connotes all kinds of stereotypes of the EDM scene, Nicholas Weiller told the New Times he didn’t put too much thought of social criticism into his handle. “I didn’t intend to call myself Bro Safari for a long time. I had a…
Steven Machat is a bit of a know-it-all. However, in this age of politicians who put their gut “feelings” first and discard facts like fast-food wrappers, he might be the ideal leader for a new political enlightenment. Last September, Machat threw his proverbial hat into the U.S. Senate race to…
Last month when the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in collaboration with Heineken USA, began their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise money to restore Miami Marine Stadium, they promised donors two tickets to a yet to be announce concert. Yesterday, the mysterious artist at that concert was finally revealed: ScHoolBoy Q…
Drake is perhaps the only rapper on this planet who walks such a thin line between cool and sad. Often, sometimes within the same song, he’ll brag equal parts about bedding women and getting his heart broken by them. When cracking open a new Drizzy album, there’s always a moment…
This isn’t good. The S.S. Groot — David Grutman’s $1.7 million VanDutch yacht, a black beast that looks less like a boat and more like a spaceship one would take to travel to a planet reserved for very important aliens — is broken. Normally, this would be just an inconvenience,…
With his epically massive ‘fro, it’s pretty hard to miss Arremer Jack (AKA Allen Rodriguez) at the Electric Pickle. But once it hits your ears, you definitely can’t miss the exuberant and decidedly soulful signature sound he’s brought to the club’s downstairs lounge as the resident DJ since 2014. Suffice…
After a long day of work, I checked my Twitter timeline to see it completely flooded with Kanye West retweets. “21 PABLO STORES WORLDWIDE THIS WEEKEND LOCATIONS HERE,” the Tweet said at 6:05 p.m., causing a complete frenzy, and starting dozens of arguments as to who deserved the title of…
The Miami hip-hop festival, Rolling Loud, will get a change of location for its third year. Since Dope Ent. founders Tariq Cherif and Matt Zingler created the event in 2013, the two-day hip-hop music festival, which was born and raised in Wynwood, has developed a strong following throughout its short…
In 2000, a record emerged onto the scene asking a simple question: Who Is Jill Scott? 16 years later, we’ve got an idea. One part neo-soul, one part hip-hop, and another part deep poetic verse, the answer was a timeless talent. “I’m Barbara Streisand and Bette Midler’s child” was how…
Rubén Blades is a national treasure in his native Panama. One day soon he may also be the country’s president. The 68-year-old activist, actor, musician, politician, and Harvard-educated lawyer has already cemented his legendary status in the pantheon of great songwriters and vocalists in both his home country and throughout…
Jay Sean isn’t the type to look back nostalgically at his past successes, though he’s had many. His driving force is his search for the accomplishments that still await. His latest single “Make My Love Go” — his second collaboration with Sean Paul after 2009’s “Do You Remember” — is…
It’s impossible to discuss disco as a cultural movement without bringing up “Disco Demolition Night.” An ill-fated and ill-conceived promotion designed to stimulate faltering White Sox ticket sales. The event promised 98 cent tickets to any fan who brought a disco record to Comiskey Park in Chicago. Said records would,…
Miami’s rap stars have taken freestyles to a whole new this week level. DJ Khaled’s former artist Nino Brown fired back at Trick Daddy’s viral threats with his own freestyle, and Trina put her spin on Drake’s single “For Free.” Meanwhile, Zoey Dollaz transformed a social media challenge into his…
Back in April, a line wrapped around the block when Drake Tweeted a random address in Wynwood. After over an hour of waiting in line, we learned it was all just for a T-shirt. When Bieber was in town in July, he took over a space at the top of…
The Degeneration party series is back this Saturday, August 20, at the bar at 1306, and this time it comes with a pretty sweet deal. Local promoters Stephany Torres and Lauren Palma are saying goodbye to the very cruel and sticky Miami summer with a series of dance parties bumping everything…
Concerts and festivals aren’t cheap. Sure, the base cost might be $15 or $20, but that’s before legal Mafia and entertainment oil barons — AKA Ticketmaster — adds on their ridiculous fees service fees (Really? a $66 fart insurance fee?). Then there’s the cost of transportation, food, drinks, hotels, etc…
There aren’t many Miami bands that reach the decade mark. Luckily for all of us, Modernage is one of them. The rock outlet formed by guitarist Xavier Vazquez, guitarist/keyboardist Garcia Freundt, bassist Izzy Silva, and drummer Alex de Renzis have been composing tracks together since 2005. Many locals over the…
