Savant aka Stanstro

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“Feel the flow” -Savant aka Stanstro

A flow like few others. Real talk. Go hit up Rakim… got it? Then Nas… ready? Now hit Lupe… ya wit it yet? Now you can lace up some Savant.

Lyrically, that could be the lineage. If your up on the latest ClearChannel bought, one-hit wonder sponsored dance song, or the latest ”Young-Dummy-Wack-Money-Dollarmillionaire”, content absent release, then Savant will probably make your head spin. No offense intended. Well maybe-some offense is intended, but not to you. So, if your up to the task than grab your Beatz/Soul and get plugged in, cuz it’s best when cranked up.

Now that we’re on the same page you’ll understand me a lil’ better. Savant, as a soloist, doesn’t really have anybody round here than is gonna sweat him. Not that I engage in the “best rapper” debate, but you can’t check him on his beats, lyrics, flow, crew or background. Now it becomes subjective.  BUT…. If you can’t get wit Savant then perhaps a little less iHeart is needed in your future. Need proof? Check any of his collab work and you’ll notice each of these worked with, giving Savant his props. Respect

Savant has not only worked hard on his beats + lyrics but has also done as much work staying well-rounded and focused on the things that go along with success. Performance, presence, crowd play, interaction and respect shown to others. His “Swag” is not all glittery-”Twilight” like some others so Savant could be mis-labeled as being low-key. Truth is… Savant doesn’t need gimmicks or fluff because he is already relevant. His style is honed and precise. The root of his swag is his intelligence and confidence, off and on the mic. In short, Savant is not only sure of where he wants to be but is doing what needs to be done to get there.

I’m a fan of many of his tracks but my current fav is ”The Lyricist Threemix“. So get on his webs and check the flow in full. Webpage, ReverbNation, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Make sure you tell him Sonny Flex from 8BarsOfFunk sent ya!

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

Alisha Peru

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“…If I can truly touch even just one person with my music, I’ll know that I’ve done something beautiful with my life.” - Alisha Peru  You can hear it in her lyrics and her voice. She means this. Alisha is an artist whose production is beyond what age & time traditionally reveal. She is as firmly planted in who she artistically, and appears to be on the right path. Upper-registry sometimes loses support, an occasianal crack or off-key slide is produced, but she very rarely strays beyond her range. Truth is – this type of result actually enhances her sound. I prefer to loop an artists songs at least 2-3 times, if  possible, but the limited offering of songs on ReverbNation & her website begin to overlap. I began to feel like the forgotten soundtrack songs of The Vow & The Notebook had invaded my headphones. Seriously though, melodramatic songs aren’t something I’m wired for over the long haul. Must be an XY chromosome thing. Whatever. Point is she’s got a smooth, almost jazz-like styling that is perfectly suited for a live show/concert. (see videos for examples)

Her “produced” sound is exquisite but don’t let that fool you into thinking she doesn’t have the goods. She is an artist and this becomes glaringly apparent if you can get to her live performance. Alisha’ talent is on full display with skills on the keys that match her all-out vocals.  More good news – when you go to see her next show, you are pre-qualified to use one of these adjectives for free!…Raw, Powerful, Gritty, Inspiring, Fantastic and/or Wow! Don’t worry about returning it. It’s my gift to you. Now I’m speaking without knowledge of Disney’s business practices, but I get the feeling this is what they wished their talent had turned into. Being that fame does not equal talent, Alisha would vocally blow all of their fails out the water. Grab any of their “starlets” and their best song and it wont stack up against any song of Alisha’. Lindsay Lohan-negative; Selena Gomez-nope; Demi Lovato-uh, uh; Miley Cyrus-hardly; Ashley Tisdale-BWAHAHA; Vanessa Hudgens-pfft. Basically, Alisha’ hard work + talent commands more respect artistically than any machine can produce.

Alisha has a bright future ahead of her. She’s a top 5 local female artist right now and is barely 17! Take the time to follow along and do yourself a favor and get out to her next performance. You’ll thank me on this. Show your support by hitting up her Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation and/or her website. You’re welcome.

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

Celena Santa Cruz

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“Here to stay & I don’t plan on going anywhere!” - Celena Santa Cruz

For Celena, the mantra above isn’t just bravado. This is an inner-motivational tool that helps her to overcome a well disguised shyness missed by most. Her dedication to her music is dominant throughout any conversation had with her. Try to convince her of anything other than fulfilling her dream and she’ll end up convincing you otherwise.

When I meet up with Celena I had no idea where she was musically or where she came from. Her tracks that I had listened to had consistent beats but at times the vocals seemed raw and other times she showed flashes of brilliance. Intriguing to say the least. For most musicians the two most common starting points are when they start coming into their own in high school ala “nurture.” Others are getting started shortly after getting off Gerber ala “nature.” Turns out she had a little of both but by any standards would be considered a late bloomer. For Celena, her time didn’t come until after high school.

Fast forward a couple of years and she’s being recognized by more and more people with every show. To me this isn’t what makes her note-worthy. Her desire to grow is what will propel her. In talking with Celena, I was taken aback, because even before I could offer my critique to her, she had already openly admitted what she needed to work on. All of these things were what I was going to point out. It’s rare to find an artists that is so self-aware and willing to accept doing whatever it takes in terms of self-improvement.

If you need that upbeat, party-anthem, joy-ride of a song then Celena is your girl. Celena’s sound is a hybrid of her influences – Pop, R&B and Soul all are contained within each track. Currently she is pursuing avenues of growth artistically and is dedicated to adding tools to the toolbox, so to speak. Keeping up with her won’t be easy though as she is actively performing an average of once a month. If your interested in the attending her next show, she has one this Sunday May 20th @ DV8 for the Bellezza Summer Lights, Camera, Fashion Show. Additionally, keep up with her on Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation & YouTube

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

Battleground City

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“C.A.E. = Christ Above Everything!” - Battleground City

Seems like such a simple mantra but with this crew it really is much deeper than that. Consider the tragedy and tribulations that fill a daily news line and each member of this crew has come face to face with personal challenges that would’ve had them as “just another stat” and this proclamation takes on a much bigger meaning. Triumph for them is fleeting for each moment brings a challenge. This is true for every one of us, yet it’s because of these things, that these guys have decided to set themselves up for judgement by proclaiming Christ out loud. Having been there, done that, temptation is everywhere and I tip my hat to them. Respect.

Musically you need a compare/contrast and I know this so, If Anointed & Gospel Gangstaz blended into one group, that would get you about half-way to Battleground City This is the best group mash-up proclaiming Christ since everyone shared the stage at the just past Dove awards. Having heard the group perform live I’m not just guessing on how hard their songs hit. I’m “testifying.” One of my favorite tracks is “Prayer For My City.” It was a direct emotion filled response to the Tucson tragedy that shook the city on 1-9-11. In short, the track is powerful. ‘Nuff said.

Battleground City is constantly working on all aspects of their craft. Flow, lyricism, beats, relevance and most importantly outreach. Shredding the stage at DV8? Again you say, sure why not? The most effective ministry is beyond the walls of the church. Fact. Work has already produced two compilations, “City of Ashes”, and each member is working on solo projects while staying united. “…iron sharpens iron…” had this group counted in.

The worlds measuring stick for Gospel music and it’s reach into mainstream society is… “How does it rate versus what’s on the radio today?” Well as hard as Wu-Tang repped the streets of NYC, Battleground City reps The Word. As a critic I have to say at worst this crew breaks dead even against anything mainstream. Period. Beats-Check! Lyrics-Check! Flow-Check! Add in that the message in these songs is above anything else you can find right now and these tracks might rank ahead of anything currently on the radio. Check out On My Face for another banger.  Truth be told, you’ll be better off for listening.

So do yourself a favor and get with BGC on Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation & YouTube.

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

JW CTE

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“Don’t let it stay a mistake! Get humble & stay grindin!” - JW CTE

This is the inner mantra that drives JW. If you know his story than it would explain a lot on how he is where he is and indicative of how far he will go. Truth is, JW has no ceiling apparent. Next Sean Combs music mogul? Perhaps. Maybe he will take up the torch from Jermaine Dupri ushering in a new era of a “Grade A Hustla” straight from the south. Get at him if you doubt me. All the tools are in the toolbox it’s just a matter of time.

If you could mix the delivery of Trick Daddy, with the subtlety of Big Pun and the aggression of the Wu-Tang Clan, you’d come about half-way to creating “The Total Package” aka JW CTE. Music aside he will not fit in the box labeled rapper or artist. He is a student of entertainment, promotion, advertising and is completely focused on accomplishing all of his goals. In talking with him I came away with one word… “Driven.”

Look no further than “Arrogant” to view the swag. I don’t like using that word but in JW’s case it is appropriate. He knows Section 8, government cheese, kool-aid that had colors not flavors cuz the sugar was in short supply. Brash, over the top, harsh, conceited are all words that his haters will throw out there about him. He won’t deny it. Ask him what drives him and he’ll point to all of this as his motivation.

JW has seen the ugly side of human nature even in himself. He dealt with a heavy issue a few years back that could’ve made him just another statistic. Instead of staying knocked-down, JW got back on his hustle but with an entirely different mindset….”Beat the odds.” Taking care of the business at hand is built around staying balanced. Never to high, never to low and always moving forward. Being that he is a father also, the motivation to suceed is all around him. The South has got another smash artist on it’s hands and his name is JW CTE.

Stay up wit JW via his Website, Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation, YouTube and SoundCloud.

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

Kava Kreation

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Part 2 of 2

Next up was another Arizona band with Island roots that run deep. Although this group happens to feature a close-personal friend of mine, I’ve never pulled punches when critiquing his performances. Real friends, keep it real!

Precision is not a word often used in reggae/island genre but this group immediately brings that to mind. The exacting melodies and harmonies were above most any group reggae or otherwise. The flow of their groove elevated the mood and seemed to disappoint the crowd when the show was over because no one wanted the jam to end. The thing about this group is that they are traditionally island influenced and literally hailed from an island such as Hawaii or New Zealand.

If you plan on hitting up a Kava show soon, give them room to perform. No joking. They number in the hundreds. Okay now I’m joking, seriously though they put about 10 members on the stage and travel really well. The Kava Nation brings out fans by the car load and all are very supportive. That type of support doesn’t happen by accident. This group is on to something and I wish them the best of luck in continuing to grow as artists.

Performance wise, with that many members on stage it can be hard to get organized. I did notice the stage was on the smaller side and only being creative can help. The band is fronted by a quartet of complimentary singers and is backed by tremendous musicians. Balance is critical for a group this size and I never felt that they found it on this night. I’m used to a traditional staging of background singers to a side leaving room for growth through a set and a chance for instrumentalists and vocal solos to take stage-center.

Again, the stage was working against them and might have been the smallest they’ve ever seen. If they could add anything to the group it would be some female voices. A true alto/soprano would broaden the range and give them a new sound that would help to distinguish them from the rest. Especially considering the real island background Kava has. The amazing fact is this group is so new and has some serious backers behind it. The Kava that flows is legit. Mahalo!

Follow Kava on their Facebook, Twitter or their website.

The entire night was terrific and I’d do it all over again if I had the chance. Consider each group on its own is good enough to carry a night by themselves and it stands to reason why you’d be remiss to miss their next show. So do yourself a favor, become a fan and don’t miss out on the fun!

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

This post is a re-posting migrated from the previous site shut down due to being mislabeled as spam.

SKITN

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Part 1 of 2

Awhile back I had a chance to enjoy the performances of, not one but two, reggae/island groups. The location was The Hut located on 4th Ave near downtown Tucson, AZ. Which if you’ve never been, then you’ve obviously never been to Tucson. The Hut itself is a near perfect location for a Reggae jam complete with its own replica Tiki-Head figurine doubling as an entrance.

First up was SKITN, a well-known group that has been playing together for almost a decade, and it shows. The entire set was clean, smooth and melodic. It felt like a group that has been touring for years and knew how to play to an audience. Not sure if anybody else noticed but the dance floor continually built with dancers at every song. It seemed like gravity increased its pull from center-stage. Anybody not already grooving became part of the dance floor by the end of the set.

I was fortunate enough to get a copy of their CD which ran around in my car for almost two weeks straight, before lending it to a friend. Bad call on my part because I haven’t seen it since. Thankfully, I was smart enough to rip it to my phone. Several of their songs became instant favorites, which is a big deal for me because I like to take my time to get a varied sampling of a group before I commit to calling songs “favorites.” Somehow this group has a knack for making everyone like them quickly and “Late Night Drive” became an instant front-runner. If you’re already a fan then “Rescue Me” will surely please you as well.

I have no doubt that next time I’ll be taking a few friends with me to enjoy the experience. I appreciate SKITN’ professionalism and artistic talent and wish them the best. If you’re interested, than make sure to get to The Hut on Saturday, March 10th for their next show. Maybe I’ll see ya there! Make sure you show love for SKITN by hitting them up on iTunes, ReverbNation, Facebook and MySpace.

BeEasy!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Sonny Flex

This post is a re-posting migrated from the previous site shut down due to being mislabeled as spam.