Entries tagged with: Yo Majesty

"There's a good reason why the new record is called Scars," says Felix Buxton. "Making it has been a grueling process. When we finished recording, it felt like we'd come out of a boxing ring." His bandmate Simon Ratcliffe nods in agreement.Basement Jaxx's new album 'Scars' will be released by Ultra and XL Records on October 6th. A little less than a month later the band will visit North America to DJ in a few major cities, including New York City of course. Tickets are now on sale for a November 7th gig at Santos Party House which doubles as FIXED's 5-year anniversary party.
'Scars' is full of guest appearances including Kelis, Maleka & Chipmunk, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Sam Sparro, Lightspeed Champion, Amp Fiddler, Yo Majesty, Yoko Ono, Paloma Faith, Lisa Kekaula, Jose Hendrix, and Jose James. All dates, the tour poster, the Scars (cover art above) tracklisting, and the video for "Raindrops", below....
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...

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.Videos of Shunda and Jwl in happier days below...
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
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.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).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]
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...
Yo Majesty

today in NYC
* Nightmares On Wax & the Mobius Band @ Bowery Ballroom
* Yo Majesty & Natalie Stewart of Floetry @ Highline Ballroom
* Mahogany, Cruel Black Dove & Soundscapes @ Santos Party House
* Black Swan Green, The Morning After Girls, My Best Fiend @ Mercury Lounge
* Gates of Heaven, Apple Deaf, Maricopa, Night Moves, The Binary Marketing Show @ Glasslands
Mike Patton of Faith No More was born today in 1968.
Stan Lee is being sued.
Music festivals offer fans the option of layaway tickets.
John Updike, RIP.
Michael Jackson making a Thriller musical.
Asobi Seksu's new video for "Me & Mary" below...
What else?
words & photos by Faith-Ann Young

A bleached-blonde, jolly, skinny (and hence nearly unrecognizable) Perez Hilton stepped on stage to Friday night (10/24) at Highline Ballroom ready to party. The bands he picked to play his party were performers who guaranteed a riotous, gossip-worthy show, from soulstress diva Sharon Jones to Yo Majesty's usually-topless, feel-good, with-attitude rap, to the catsuited were-you-a-stripper-before-you-learned-to-lip-sync? Lady Gaga. It wasn't as much about the music as it was the energy- and hence the MTV-loving crowd went wild.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings kicked it off in style and soul - (those Dap Kings are getting around these days. Members were also spotted performing on October 21st with Daniel Merriweather at Mark Ronson's Allido showcase and with the Phenomenal Handclap Band at the BV showcase that same night) belting, grooving barefoot, and inviting random chicks and drag queens onstage for a sing-along.
In between sets, the drag queens ruled the dance floor - grinding, teasing, flirting and pulling at each other's hair and fake tits.
Yo Majesty's rapper Shunda K and singer Jwl B performed with a dude in a kilt and a dude in a superman spandex ensemble while laughing, joshing and rappin' back and forth to the crowd's roars.
Next up: Semi Precious Weapons, who weave a precarious line between hard rock and fake eyelashes over heavy duty eyeliner. Lead singer Justin Tranter 'affectionately' calling everyone "you bitches" and strutting his wry frame around like a cracked out professional stripper. The rest of the band provided the perfect contrast, looking right out of AFI or some other alt-rock outfit. The overwhelming amount of eye-candy throughout the set distracted from the music, which was hard rock with lyrics like "It's not my fault I look cuter in a party dress" and "I can't pay my rent but I am fucking gorgeous." Sound bloody aweful? Musically perhaps, but if you let yourself get offended, you're taking life farrrr too seriously.
Last up, came Lady Gaga. People BATTLED for front row on this- I was nearly bitten by a teething, rabid female, who was wasted and ready to slit wrists to get to front row. The chick's got a furious fan club so if you haven't heard of her yet, listen up. A brief history: she performed in a bra onstage at Lollapalooza in 2007. Though the music was god aweful, her F*-all attitude got her signed to Interscope. They marketed her, fed her cat-suit and stripper boot addiction, got her featured in W Magazine, filtered her single "Just Dance" into all the clubs and had her perform late night at gay clubs (we will call this the Madonna-music strategy). So now-a-days, the chick's "hot" in the Britney-RIP sense: white space-suit with granny panties, a troupe of boy back-up dancers and tens of thousands of dollars in moving TV screens and superfluous stage props (a glowing crystal stick anyone?) It is unknown if she was actually singing or just lipsyncing throughout the set. The teenage mob was screaming too loud to hear.
The bottomline is Perez's party wasn't about the music. It was about fun- the patent-leather, glitter, sex-for-sale sort of fun. Which meant overall it was a success, since in the Perez world of guiltless shits and giggles, you only live once anyway, so alls well that ends in glitter and catsuits.
Fun Fact: Lady Gaga is now on tour with, and opens for, the New Kids on the Block who happen to be playing Madison Square Garden tonight (Monday, October 27) (after which LG plays a free in-store at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square). More pictures from Perez's party below...
Continue reading "Perez Hilton's CMJ party @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - pics"
DOWNLOAD: Yo Majesty - Booty Clap (MP3)

Do the booty clap...
Continue reading "new Yo Majesty produced by Basement Jaxx, a CMJ show"

A Banker Street nightclub recently condemned by the local community board has now been shut down by the Department of Buildings -- but club lawyer Ken Fisher says the club has fixed whatever led to the failed inspection.One of the angriest neighbors of all, Miss Heather (PICTURED ABOVE IN A DUNG COSTUME), runs the website NewYorkShitty.com. It is on that website that she runs through the the July 31st community board meeting where she presented evidence of why she thinks Studio B is a horrible place. One of the pieces of "evidence" she presented was a set of pictures and videos from a Yo Majesty concert that took place at the club. As you know, at least one member of the female lesbian rap group goes topless during their performances. They do so for reasons of good...City documents did not reveal the specific offenses that caused Studio B's closure, but the Department of Buildings did on July 31 revoke the club's permit to host large crowds indoors, effectively shutting down the venue.
Fisher was steadfast about Studio B's readiness to reopen when, and if, Department of Buildings inspectors make a return visit. "All of the concerns have been met and we're waiting for further inspections," said Fisher, a well-connected former city councilman.
As a result of the closure, Studio B shows between July 31 and at least Aug. 19 have been relocated to different venues.... [Brooklyn Paper]
"I got stretch marks, and I'm fat, and I'm wildin,' " Jwl B [of Yo Majesty]., whose real name is Jewel Baynham, said in a phone interview. "But your boy 50 Cent does his show with his shirt off. Why can't I? God made me who I am, and I'm comfortable in it. I want people to know you don't have to look glamorous to be an inspiration." [IHT]Kind of shitty then that Miss Heather saw fit to include Yo Majesty in her case, even if it wasn't the actual pictures that led to Studio B's closing and even if Studio B is keeping Miss Heather (and 'punk rock veteran' Caryn Rose who also blogs about it here) up at night.
Why exactly did Studio B close (besides the loss of cabaret license and whatnot)? MissHeather and one of her commenters also may have the answer for that. Not surprisingly, it looks like the rooftop garden opening was not a good idea.
Last Friday's show was moved to Southpaw. Keep checking Studio B's calendar for future changes. The above photo was taken by heartonastick in Coney Island.
DOWNLOAD: CAZALS ~ Somebody Somewhere (Lifelike remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Does It Offend You, Yeah? ~ Epic Last Song (Lifelike remix) (MP3)
Lifelike

Lifelike has been floating around the FOTP world for sometime now. We first heard him on that remix of Ercola ft Annie and have been in love with his Frenchness ever since. His Presets remix made it onto our last mixtape. Lifelike reached out to us recently to let us know he is going on tour, and sent us the rare tracks linked above.
First is the Cazals track. A solid late night song that makes me feel like the sun is never coming up and I do not care. The winner of the two is the Does It Offend You, Yeah? anthem. A steady ooohhss and ahhs lead to a basic hand clap beat that just ramps and ramps that explodes into hugs and sunshine and summer and everything that is good about music and dancing with pals.
Lifelike plays this Thursday night in Toronto. Does It Offend You, Yeah? will be at Coachella this weekend and then they'll eventually make their way to NYC where they're playing Highline Ballroom and Southpaw - both shows with Yo Majesty. All dates for everyone below.....
Continue reading "Lifelike, Does It Offend You Yeah?, MP3s, remixes, tour dates"
by Klaus Kinski
DOWNLOAD: Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart (MP3)
Trail of Dead (CRED)

On Thursday (Oct 18, 2007) I (Klaus) went to the Highline Ballroom for the first time to check out the Thunderheist/Yo Majesty/Trail of Dead/Islands/Enon/The Octopus Project CMJ showcase. Unfortunately I was only able to stay for Thunderheist, Yo Majesty, and Trail of Dead but these three acts packed such a punch that I left very satisfied.
Thunderheist (CRED)

I have to start by mentioning that I've never been to the Highline, but I was pretty impressed with the quality of the sound and the sightlines. It did have an all-too-polished, almost sterile look and the numerous security guards on hand made it feel a bit confined, but overall I dug the place. Thunderheist was up first at 8pm sharp and blasted through an absolutely phenominal set to an unfortunately empty and impotent room. As an old fart, I'm not prone to too much movement at shows these days, but this two-piece's agressive vocals, overwhelming stage presence, and superb beats almost had me moving. There was a 5-minute period in their set when I felt that the wind had been taken from their sails, and I thought they might be one of these bands that tend to start strong and fizzle out. However, they cranked it right back up and ended the set with a bang.
Yo Majesty (CRED)

Next up was Tampa's Yo Majesty and they absolutely blew my mind. The DJ kicked things off solo, spinning a fantastic up-tempo beat to get the crowd in the mood for what was about to begin. Then Shunda K & Jwl. B came out and tore into a set that was explosive, aggressive, and relentless. By this time, the room had filled up a lot and Yo Majesty completely had us all in their power. And as has happened in the past, toplessness ensued. I cannot recommend them enough; see them live, buy their records, download their tunes, just do yourself a favor and acquaint yourself with them. I am so glad I did.
The third and final band up was Trail of Dead. People nowadays seem sort of wishy-washy about how they feel about Trail of Dead. Some people think they've still got it, others think they're not as good as they used to be. But last night's set of anthemic, powerful tunes put them back on my list of bands one must see live. In addition to being totally on top of their game, they were so goddamned loud my shoes came untied.
----
RELATED: Islands played this show and the BrooklynVegan party at R Bar. Yo Majesty didn't play R Bar, but did play Irving Plaza the next day. Thunderheist played the BrooklynVegan afterparty at 205 on Saturday night. Trail of Dead play Bowery Ballroom on November 23.
Sorry to everyone that showed up to see Yo Majesty play at R Bar yesterday! I realized Yo Majesty hadn't shown up about 30 minutes before they were supposed to go on (which was actually after they were supposed to go on because we were running late). I quickly tracked them down and found out they weren't coming at all - a huge miscommunication somewhere in the chain of people they work with. Oh well. It worked out fine anyway - we were running an hour behind, and Islands were the perfect way to finish up the party that had been going for eight hours already anyway.
Yo Majesty did play the show they were scheduled to play later in the night at Irving Plaza (the Fillmore) though. That's the show Jefferson went to see, and he took this picture....
Superman (Yo Majesty) @ Irving Plaza, NYC - Oct 19, 2007

Islands @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - Oct 18, 2007 (CRED)

Catch Islands again in NYC TODAY (Oct 19) (and tomorrow).
Actually, Islands going on right after Yo Majesty today, and Yo Majesty also played with them at Highline last night.
Thunderheist played last night too (and Trail of Dead & Enon)
DOWNLOAD: iLiKETRAiNS - The Deception (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney Bobby (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (Beige remix) (MP3) (via)
DOWNLOAD: Yo Majesty - Kryptonite Pussy (UMYO Remix) (MP3)
iLiKETRAiNS & Islands


As you know, I'm throwing a total of five shows during CMJ this year. The first is Tuesday night October 16th - an official showcase that you can buy tickets for. The second is the very next day - a 2-floor (whole club) FREE day party at Pianos on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
The third party is Friday October 19th at R Bar - a new-ish bar & venue on the Lower East Side that features fancy red decor, large photos of Debbie Harry on the wall, and stripper poles. It's going to be awesome.
Friday October 19, 2007No badges needed. No money needed. Just get there before it fills up. 21+, Drink specials, DJ's, and more details to be announced soon.
12:15 iLiKETRAiNS (Beggars Banquet, more @ MySpace)
01:00 Fatal Flying Guiloteens (Frenchkiss, more @ MySpace)
01:45 Other Passengers (more info)
02:30 Health (more info)
03:15 Mika Miko (more info)
04:00 Yeasayer (more info)
04:45 Black Kids (more info)
05:30 Saturday Looks Good To Me (more info)
06:15 Islands (more info)
07:15 Yo Majesty (more info)
And to make it more like Disney World, characters from Kaiju Big Battel will be hanging out in the bar area to entertain you, pose with you, strip with you, whatever with you. Kaiju Big Battel are also doing their own show at Warsaw in Brooklyn on November 9th.

No word yet on whether I'll be able to make the Darren Mabee kissing booth happen.
DOWNLOAD: Ghostland Observatory - Sad, Sad City (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Spank Rock - Lindsay Lohan (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Earl Greyhound - SOS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Apes - What We Do Best (MP3)
Ghostland Observatory @ ACL, 2007 (CRED)

I couldn't believe it when Ghostland Observatory was headlining (and sold out) Bowery Ballroom, and I couldn't believe it even more when they were the biggest thing ever in the world at Austin City Limits this year - they headlined one of the stages (right before Bob Dylan played on another stage) on the last night of the festival, and you couldn't get within a mile of them - they are HUGE (in their hometown of Austin at least).
I sort of got into them for the first time there too - even though I was tired, couldn't get anywhere near them, etc - I felt like under the right circumstances - it could work out between us....He can sing, and it's definitely danceable. (ok, I like them, I'll say it)
Tickets are on sale for an October 19th CMJ Ghostland Observatory show at Webster Hall.
Over the summer, Spank Rock and Ghostland played the same party at McCarren Pool. Spank Rock likes to dance on top of computers. Spank Rock is also playing CMJ. October 19th @ Irving Plaza:
* Spank RockIs it safe to assume that the theme of this CMJ showcase is related to the fact that all the groups have at least one African American musician in them? Whatever it is, it's hot. No tix yet.
* Noisettes
* Yo Majesty
* Earl Greyhound
* Santogold
* The Apes
Yo Majesty are also playing Highline Ballroom with Islands and Trail of Dead. Yo Majesty are also playing an unannounced BrooklynVegan party.
Ghostland & Spack Rock tour dates below....
Continue reading "SPANK ROCK & GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY playing CMJ ++++ 2007 Tour Dates & whatnot"
DOWNLOAD: Deerhoof - Kidz are so small (MP3)
Tickets are on sale for my CMJ showcase (Oct 16th @ Bowery Ballroom).
Kill Rock Stars is holding their CMJ showcase at the Gramercy Theater in NYC on October 17th. Mika Miko, Marnie Stern, The Mary Timony Band and Xiu Xiu are on the bill. Deerhoof is not on the bill, but they are giving away an entire album of MP3s for free (one of those MP3s is above).
Enon, Islands, Octopus Project, Thunderheist, Dengue Fever and Yo! Majesty are all playing the Kork CMJ showcase together at Highline Ballroom on October 18th. Tickets are on sale for that sick bill.
Enon are also playing playing with Love of Diagrams at Knitting Factory in NYC on November 17th. Tickets are also on sale for that. All Enon & Deerhoof tour dates below....
Continue reading "CMJ, Kill Rock Stars, Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof & Enon Tour Dates"
NYC concert venuue Knitting Factory is running a special right now - $5.00 off your concert ticket if you buy your tickets via text message.
That seems like a pretty good deal to me, but not even necessary if you want to stop by the first installment of "Blogger's Delight" tonight (Mon Sept 10, 2007) - that's because it's free....
Blogger's Delight is a free party every Monday in the Tap Bar of the Knitting Factory. Each party, a new blog curates the night and invites bands and DJs they love to play. Get ready to get psyched!That's right - it's free. And who is curating the very first Blogger's Delight tonight? Well, it's none other than Slap You in Public's David Bruno (aka DJ David Bruno aka BrooklynVegan dance writer extrordonaire). The band he has playing are from France, and their name is Adam Kesher. Read an interview with them over at David's site (where you'll also find the flyer for this show).
And, if you're looking for something to save $5.00 on, might I suggest Yo Majesty on September 27th, or how about Circle and Oneida on September 22nd.
Previously
* Has anyone texted for tickets yet? + YO MAJESTY
* Neil Hamburger playing Knitting Factory
a man ordering tickets in Central Park - date unknown

Since June 5th...
The Knitting Factory’s ticketing-by-text service is powered by the ShopText mobile commerce platform. With just a credit card, a text-enabled mobile phone and an email account, registration is simple. Whenever concertgoers see a Knitting Factory concert listing with a ShopText logo, they can purchase tickets directly from their mobile phone by simply texting the event’s unique show code to the number 467467. After checking out, the concertgoer receives a secret PIN to confirm all future purchases with a text message. Alternatively, a concertgoer can first register and create a secure ShopText account via online at www.shoptext.com. All transactions are completely secure.So for instance, if you wanted to get tickets to one of the Meat Puppets shows, you would use the code MEAT1 or MEAT2. If you wanted to see Yo Majesty on September 27th, then you would use the code YOMAJ.
Yo Majesty played Brooklyn this past weekend...
a woman ordering tickets (front row) @ Studio B - June 22, 2007 (CRED)

More pics by Surgery below...
Continue reading "Has anyone texted for tickets yet? + YO MAJESTY"
DOWNLOAD: Yo Majesty - Club Action (MP3)

The booby flashin' babes of Yo Majesty have three NYC shows coming up. They are supposedly the "special guest" at Sutra Wednesday (LATE) night (May 30), and they open for CSS at Irving Plaza on Friday. On June 22nd they're back to play Studio B in Brooklyn. All tour dates, and a video interview where Beth Ditto of the Gossip interviews Yo Majesty, below...
Continue reading "YO MAJESTY - 2007 Tour Dates & FREE SHOW? (+Beth Ditto)"
