DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Violens remix) (MP3)

Ted Leo @ Pier 54 in July (more by Chris La Putt)

Ted Leo is one of many the acts lined up for the space at 107 Suffolk St (alternately called The Suffolk, Flamboyán Theater and Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center) during this year's CMJ Festival. The space, which also has a "beach" bar, isn't unaccustomed to shows - it hosted Ponytail in April - but around this time of year its usually set up as a haunted house (now housed elsewhere).

Ted Leo (now on Matador) will be headlining a True Panther/Matador Records showcase at the Suffolk on Friday, October 23rd. The impressive lineup for that night includes Glasser, Harlem, Cold Cave (who just played NYC with Faust) and Lemonade (who have many other CMJ shows, listed below). It's one of the official CMJ shows there (full schedule is below).

That gig is one of two shows set up by True Panther - on Saturday, October 24th they're also putting on a show at Pianos with Restless People (mems. of Professor Murder/Tanlines who debut five days earlier at Santos), Janka Nabay (backed by Javelin), Glasser (backed by Tanlines), Delorean and Lemonade. Flyer below.

Ted Leo also has some other upcoming dates scheduled including a post-CMJ headlining gig at Bowery Ballroom

The Suffolk is also playing host to unofficial, non-badge, first-come, first-served parties. AAM has one on Thursday, October 22nd (10pm) with Surfer Blood, Air Waves, Surf City, Violens (Very Vest remix MP3 reposted above), Lemonade and New York Night Train DJ Jonathan Toubin (who has his own showcase at Santos on Tuesday).

Finally, it should be noted that The Suffolk has a "back room" and that will also be hosting shows, including a Japanther performance on Wednesday, Oct. 21st (Fool's Gold is also on that bill).

Schedules and flyers for all of the above shows are below...

Continue reading "The Suffolk = Flamboyan Theater = CSV Cultural Center = ex-haunted house -- Ted Leo, others playing CMJ there"

DOWNLOAD: Shunda K - Presents: The Best Eva Written...Outkast mixtape (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: Shunda K (feat. Jerzy) - "The Message" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shunda K - "Thee Woman's Perspective" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shunda K - Kollaborations (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: Shunda K (w/ Raspberry Cocaine) - "Who's Gona Stop Us Now" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shunda K (w/ Rosetta Stoned) - "STAND" (MP3)

"I've been da outcast all my damn life. Being gay & being raised in a religious household is not a great match. It's God HISSELF dats blessing me with everything I have from da knowledge to da wisdom, to da woman in my life & my career. Da devil is a liar!!!" -Shunda K

Shunda K with Yo! Majesty @ Highline Ballroom in 2008 (more by Faith-Ann Young)

First there were three MCs in Yo! Majesty: Jwl B, Shon B and Shunda K. By the time debut album 'Futuristically Speaking... Never Be Afraid' dropped late last year, Shon B had left the fold. Jwl B and Shunda K then fell out very publicly, suggesting Yo! Majesty was over. Now, this is where it gets complicated. In January, Jwl B did some time in a Florida prison, leaving Shunda K flying solo and claiming her partner-in-rhyme was sacked from the group. Then when Jwl B got out, ignored her and rejoined the tour, Shunda K quit immediately. Shon B returned to take her place. Confused yet? You're not the only one. [NME]

To update that, Shunda K has announced that Domino Records (who released Yo Majesty's album in October 2008) dropped her. And that she's released two collections of songs, Shunda K Presents: The Best Eva Written...Outkast mixtape and Kollaborations, a collection of...collaborations, both for free online. Those two collections, with MP3 singles from each, are linked above. More info is pasted below.

Shunda K has tour dates scheduled around the East Coast and in her homestate of Florida. Those shows include some dates with Peaches, including tonight - Friday, June 19th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with Peaches and Drums of Death (which is sold out).

Her ties to Peaches go beyond touring as well. Peaches appears on Shunda's new Kollaborations disc, and Shunda guests on the Peaches' song "Billionaire" off her new album I Feel Cream. A video of the pair performing that song in LA on June 6th, Yo! Majesty (without Shunda) tour dates (all in Europe), more album info, and all Peaches and Shunda K shows, below...

Continue reading "Shunda K (ex-Yo! Majesty) no longer on Domino, two free LPs (download), and tour dates (MHOW w/ Peaches)"

This is Carrie the personal assistant for Jwl. B. I have seen in several articles and blogs with incorrect information. Jwl. B. is still an active member of Yo Majesty. So the rumors that Shunda K. are spreading are 100% FALSE! Jwl. B. is incarcerated and will be released soon. I would like to state that in the court of law she is innocent until proven guilty. I cannot comment any further on her case because it is pending at this time. Shunda K. is currently touring without Jwl. B. until Jwl.B. can rejoin her on the tour. Shunda is 100% aware of this and has kept in contact with myself and relatives of Jwl. B. expressing her concern about Jwl. B. but in the media she has shown no concern for her bandmate and has given false information.

Domino records is currently preparing for Jwl.B.'s return to the tour. Although it is a known fact that Shunda and Jwl. B have had personal problems on and off stage it is totally unacceptable that Shunda K. is using the media to elevate her solo career and ruin the image and reputation of her bandmate and the name Yo Majesty. This stands in the way of the integrity of the group and it ruins her credabilty in the public eye. Domino records is aware of Shunda's false allegations yet they have offered no comment.

Carrie Yates
Personal assistant

Videos of Shunda and Jwl in happier days below...

Continue reading "a letter from Carrie Yates, Jwl. B's personal assistant"

DOWNLOAD: Shunda K - Free Alpha (MP3)

"Yo Majesty" @ Highline Ballroom - Jan 27, 2009 (by Village Slum)

Shunda K, aka one half of Yo Majesty, has been busy lately. To quote an email I was CC'd on before the current "Yo Majesty" tour...

Im looking to set up Shunda K afterpartys' after each YM show date as an attempt to promote my solo career and also give other acts an opportunity to promote themselves as I dont mind sharing...da stage dat is. All of the dates thus far are below, let me know where you can help. The venues Im looking for should be able to hold at leat 150-200 persons'

The tour is now underway and "Yo Majesty" played Highline Ballroom in Manhattan on Tuesday (1/27). The Shunda K afterparty was at Europa... ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT...

"Yo! Majesty was supposed to be embarking on a world tour that would push the critically hailed lesbian Christian rap duo out of the underground once and for all.

Instead, half of the Tampa, Fla.-based group, singer/rapper Jwl B, is behind bars in Florida on an assault charge and apparently out of the crew for good.

"It's unfortunate for her, but for me it's actually a burden off my shoulders," rapper Shunda K (also known as LaShunda Flowers) said of her longtime partner's recent incarceration. "It started being ridiculous the things she was doing. It's actually divine intervention. I'm not sad. I'm relieved."

Shunda K says Jwl B, her partner in rhyme since 2001, has crossed one too many lines - personally and professionally - and is out of the group. But the drama is not stopping K, who started the duoin 1998 - she performs Wednesday at Harpers Ferry in Allston.

"Now Yo! Majesty can be what it's supposed to be," she said, "and that's a relief for the people, instead of coming to a Yo! Majesty show and you're feeling the tension between Jwl and me on stage. I just thank God for what's going on."

K, an openly gay Christian, says life on the road with Jwl has been difficult, with disputes over money, creative control and women sometimes erupting into physical altercations. [Boston Herald]

So I guess that means Shunda K played Highline Ballroom on Tuesday, and Europa too. In case you're wondering, Jwl B is the topless one jumping in the air, and that harmonious holiday picture was just posted to their MySpace for Christmas (which was a little over a month ago).

More pictures from the Highline show (now with only men taking their shirts off) @ Village Slum. More tour dates (lots of them) (mostly billed as Yo Majesty) (and some Shunda ones) below...

Continue reading "Jwl B is in jail & out of Yo Majesty... Shunda K & friends played Highline Ballroom & Europa?"