Al King

To say Al K!NG is complex is too obvious and requires too little thought. All humans are complex. The thing is, sometimes, there’s some question about whether or not Al K!NG is human. He looks, acts and sounds like he was adopted by Mr. T and Elvis Costello… from Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory and babysat by Basquiat, waiting on his folks in an after-school program led by Afrika Bambaataa and some nameless Shaolin Master of a 1000 Flows.

On his 22nd birthday, a little more than a year after first appearing in public doing Turbo’s broom dance from Breakin’ 2, the always-silent-off-stage star posted a picture of himself, professionally shot but as a spur of the moment goof, arms folded and chest puffed out with an indian headress. He then asked, “Who wants to party with the K!NG, you worms?!”

That’s par for the course with him.

But it’s not just the way he dresses, walks and talks, or even a comment about his preternatural talent, It’s the fact he has all that and he comes from a place as country as Twiggs County, Georgia. His meaningful lyrics over heavy bass, synth and strings had to develop somewhere deep within. It’d be easier to believe his spaceship crashed in the woods out there than to think he’s been holed up in the middle of rural Georgia this whole time.

Then you get to know a little more and for a moment, though it’s hard, you look past the music.

Born in Atlanta, GA, he was raised in Macon, GA by a father who, as an old school B-boy, was rhyming and throwing up graffiti in New York when he was Al’s age. His mother is a self-taught fashion designer. AL K!NG is one that values creativity above anything else. So much that he’s his own fashion consultant. Art played a huge role in his life growing up. While in High School, AL K!NG started producing music at home and breakdancing every chance he got while in school. Now, he does the art for his shows, breakdances during his sets. He even put together album art for his EP, as well as the one for Jersey native, Floco Torres, with whom he’s made “Social Collision” (released July 25 2009) and numerous indie acts.

So there’s much more to AL K!NG than just another guy who wants to get rich in the “game”. While he’d certainly welcome fame and even wants it, AL K!NG is really chasing the logical ends to his creativity. He is an artist at the start of his career, just now really getting the grasp of what he can do. Like he’s about to pull out of driveway now that he’s got a handle on how the stick shift works. AL K!NG understands the true meaning of “limitless creation“.

He’s in pursuit of art and that, more than anything else, will determine where he ends up. It won’t be the love of bling…

Booking Contact: partyinthearcade@gmail.com

Artist Track: Listen and Love It: Arts and Crafts by Al King

Artist Myspace URL: http://www.myspace.com/ALKINGmusic

Support Local/Regional Artist: BUY THE MUSIC:

J-Rell

J’Rell A name can make or break an artist in the oversaturated music industry. An artist name is often the difference between getting a shot or being dismissed as whack off the top. In today’s music industry it’s a rear discovery to find a recording artist who truly epitomizes the word “MUSIC”, but in artist/producer J’Rell that’s exactly what you will find in him. Jerell Anthony Moore born November 18th,1986 of New Haven ,CT started his musical journey at a young age. Inheriting his musical talents from his family, J’Rell started playing the piano and drums at the age 6, and later at age 12 started playing the organ at his Grandfather’s church. Becoming the youth musician at the age 13, J’Rell learned the discipline of musicianship . This landed J’Rell a opportunity to perform in front of a crowd of 20,000 at the Madison Square Garden for the McDonalds Gospel Fest . He started recording in the year 2000 performing his first single “ Make Love.” He quickly became recognized as a heavyweight in the art of performance doing open mics and beginnings to headline shows in the northeast region. In the Year 2004, J’Rell wrote and produced on his mother Jennifer Johnson freshmen cd “Journals Of a Worshipper ” alongside world renown guitarist Jonathan Dubose Jr. Moving to Atlanta, GA to start his career he teams up with his god brother Cam to form the group Next2U under the label Reigncheck Entertainment. The group grew a very close relationship with Hot 107.9 radio personality J-Nicks whom promoted the group under his label Proof Entertainment.,“ these guys are official showcase killers” says J-nicks. J’Rell had written and vocal arranged every song recorded by the group Next2U, songs like “ The Baddest , All Over You, Dip It Low, Enter My Room “ just to name a few which put him in a position as a leader in the duo. Also wrote songs for producers such as Justice League(She Got It 2Pistols/T-pain, Maybach Music Rick Ross , Bury Me A G Young Jeezy, Livin The Life Prime), Dj Montay (Walk it Out Dj Unk) , CoolRuck, MecoTheGreat (Buy You A Round Verse Simmonds) , Blaq Smurph (4 Letter Word Raheem Devaughn). J’Rell performed alongside Da Fam ShoNuff Records, Cash Camp Sony BMG, Dg Yola Da Great Asylum Records, Young Capone So-So Def . Which puts him on a pedestal that he can hang with the heavy weights of the game, “ I just feel the beat and let it ride. A great man told me once that my gift will make room for me and place me in front of great men. I‘m just realizing that at that moment my gift had place me in front of one and I didn‘t even know it, that man’s name is Tyler Perry lol ,” says J’Rell. In 2010 J’Rell is moving forward in his career as a solo an artist and plans to make a major impact in the industry. His newest single “Leaving With Two” Is expected to move through the southern eastern region very fast with an infectious hook that the industry heads call an UNDENIABLE RECORD, all J’Rell can say is UN HUH !!!!!!! Make way for da kid… He’s COMING OUT SWINGING…..

Artist Track: Listen and Love It: Leaving Wit 2 by J-Rell

Artist Myspace URL: http://www.myspace.com/therealjrell

Support Local/Regional Artist: BUY THE MUSIC:Contact totalmgmt1@gmail.com

Floco Torres

Kevin ‘Floco Torres’ Williams Jr. got his name from a childhood friends grandmother who noticed how “skinny” he was growing up. When she passed away he decided to take her last name “Torres” and create a brand that would influence people to inquire before they judge(Black Man-Spanish Name). At the age of 22, Floco has created his own hollywood called “Psycadelphia”, won two indie awards for that said hollywood and his music movement in general, created a fan base from his hometown Willingboro New Jersey all the way down to Macon Georgia, and continues to make his mark as one of the next influential entertainers/entreprenuers/inspirations in the industry. Born in Willingboro, New Jersey, he grew up five months at a time in places from New York to Pennsylvania, with a few years in the South thrown in for good measure. He’s in Georgia now, visiting family and building a base in the Southeast as he’d been doing back home. It’s been a little culture shock to say the least, but standing out just fuels the fire.

In an area dominated musically and culturally by mainstream country and thug rap, he’s a dude channeling a variety of influences, not only in his music but also in his very walk. That’s drawn a lot of attention from folks who feel just as isolated by their upstream efforts for individuality. They identify because he uses sarcasm and self-denigrating humor to defend the big gaping wounds on his shirt-sleeve heart. And they flock because he funnels it all back through a passion and intensity on the stage that matches the lyrical wit and charm in his recordings.

There are moments when, in the throes of a crowd-rousing chorus, you think he could be an old school soul singer, pouring it out like there’ll never be another performance, like there are generations of mixed-up sorrow and satisfaction that he’s got to unleash. Then, just as impressively, he starts a chuckle and the whimsy returns, playfully eschewing objectification, telling all the ladies in the crowd, “I’m not trying to be rude/I’m not lookin’ at your boobs/I’m just checking out your sneakers.” (from the song “Chicks With Kicks” featuring Al K!NG).

He’s just a dude being himself as best he can, navigating the gauntlet of simply being alive. Just like everyone else, except he’s recorded 300 songs in the process. His ambitions are no different than most folks: he wants to make a living and be able take care of his family. He labors in the studio and on the stage. There isn’t a blueprint for what he’s doing, but he stays on top of all his options, anchoring a seat in the bookstore, combing over magazines and researching changes in the world around him, keeping his toes dipped in several different cultural ponds, and looking for an opportunity to reach more people. If his gut and that growing throng of fans are right, he won’t have to spend as much time figuring out a way to reach people as he will being able to just enrich the ones who’ve already found him.

Artist Track: Listen and Love It: Hot Like the Sun, by Floco Torres

Artist Myspace URL: http://www.myspace.com/flocotorres

Support Local/Regional Artist: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/FlocoTorresYoungFame

SUAFRadio Interview with Floco Torres-3/21/10