Rhythm Kitchen is a rock and soul band based in Savannah, Georgia, comprised of Antar Ellis on vocals, Eric Curl on guitar, Rigel Crockett on bass and Tanner Dugan on drums. Influences include Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, David Bowie and TV on the Radio.

Ellis, originally from New Jersey, and Curl, originally from Maryland, formed the band as a duo in 2009 before expanding to include bass and drums.

A Rhythm Kitchen show is comprised of slow gravy that brings lovers close and chunks of funk that fill the dance floor. Go to facebook.com/pages/Rhythm-Kitchen/135387572090, for more information, videos and show dates.

Erin Elise ,an artist from Los Angeles CA, who migrated to Savannah Ga for college. She. started off writing and performing spoken word, but is now focused on creating a distinct voice in the musical world. Say hello to Dave her right hand man (guitarist/ bass player/producer) and be prepared for the journey of sound they take you through, where the destination is the land of the sonically dazed.

http://www.reverbnation.com/EliseBee

https://www.facebook.com/ErinEliseb

@ErinEliseB

RJ and The imagiNATION is the first urban animated band ran by African Americans, blending 30s cartoon style flavor with progressive hip hop and neo-soul. The main band members are:

RJ AKA Gadget: Lead Vocals, Keytar

DraguhTrak: Synth Bass

Rudy Rock: Piano and Synthesizers

Drumm Kidd: Drums (what else

The band consist of a 2D Character on a screen, Animatronic Puppet on percussion, and real musicians! They have a new single entitled “Little 1s” to release this May along with a music video. The album is to release this summer.

Facebook: facebook.com/rjadntheimagination

Twitter: @rjandtheimagination

Website: rjandtheimagination.com

“Don’t you think it’s time we think about the future? Whether our children are gonna be winners or losers?” – excerpt from The Mind by KRS-One

It really is bigger than Hip-Hop for Jacksonville, Florida’s aspiring emcee, songwriter and recording artist, Jasonplusone, who is out all of the hats that he wears a child of God, father and educator, first. The Florida Memorial University graduate’s aim is to combine his passion for educating today’s youth with his love for music and Hip-Hop culture, to create a sonic explosion that reaches far beyond the inner-city high school classroom that he teaches in every day. This desire was evident in his release of the Ghost of Trayvon Martin, in memory of Trayvon Martin, the 17 year old African-American teen, who was gunned down by a neighborhood watch vigilante in Jasonplusone’s home state of Florida. As an African-American man, with a young son, the emcee was especially affected by the murder and has been vocal in his call for justice. Jasonplusone’s ultimate goal is to use music and education to build a network of academies that would allow minority and inner-city youths to discover and hone their artistic skills, utilizing primary academics, while correlating it to Hip-Hop culture. He also envisions entering the political realm to advocate on behalf of said youths to effect change for generations to come. Jasonplusone’s passion and dedication to educating future generations stems from his upbringing in Jacksonville, Florida, having been educated at an HBCU, where he received a Bachelor’s in Education and the social ills and inequities that he has been exposed to growing up and as a math teacher at a inner city high school.

Fittingly, the words he lives by is, “Do the math, add it up. Everything happens for a reason.” Which is not only pertinent to his profession, but to life. As an emcee, Jasonplusone mixes raw, witty and thought provoking rhymes over beats from some of Southeast Florida’s dopest producers and beat makers. He is inspired by a wide range of Hip-Hop emcee’s and artists and counts Stalley, Big KRIT, Jay-Z, Mos Def, Paten Locke and Stillwater as some of his favorite artists. He is also a proud member of The Black Chain Gang (BCG) collective of artists which includes, Alias, Jay Kai and Mr. Al Pete, just to name a few. In 2011, he released the critically acclaimed single Dazed & Perks with producer, Absalom. And he is currently working on his debut album, First Coast Flights as well as BCG collaborative efforts, The Same Old Different Mixtape and Born Better. Jasonplusone has graced the stages of some of Jacksonville’s premier venues like Poppy Love Smoke and Lomax Lodge and is set to make his first appearance at the Savannah Urban Arts Festival in Savannah, Georgia in April of 2012.

Twitter: Follow @JustJasonPerry

For more contact and booking information for Jasonplusone visit: http://www.reverbnation.com/jasonplusone

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Fl, Takia Dickens always knew she was different. On numerous occasions Takia would sing solos in church and was scared and it was obvious. Her voice would crack and her body would shake. She eventually let go of singing.

Personal life altering events is what initially made Takia pick up the pen and start writing. She wrote her life events and feelings at that time. It wasn’t until a year later and thanks to a post made on Facebook by her now mentor, Moses West that she even thought about the idea of performing her poems in front of an audience. Never the less she gathered up the courage to perform not only in front of an audience but Mr. Talaam Acey himself. She then saw a Facebook post from Cuban for an event called The Cypher. She wasn’t quite satisfied with her first performance so she wanted to give it one more try. However the response she got from the audience, made her want to come back again, and that’s what she did, and that’s when the star was born.

She got the name Kia Flow from her father. Ms. Flow as many people like to call her began to perform at various open mics, only wanting people to hear what she had to say. Once her support system (long time friends) died down she realized that it was time for her to get out on her own and make these people know who Kia Flow was. She knew that support from her friends was appreciated, but in order to see if she really had the talent, she needed to go to these open mics by herself and see what true reaction she would get, and that’s what she did.

Now you can find Kia Flow performing at various open mics around town. Anything from The Cypher to Artis(Tree). She has performed at Black on Black Rhymes Jacksonville, Expressive Thoughts, PInc Expressions, Neo Soul Saturday, The Poetry Spot and she has even been dubbed The Queen of Cometry at none other than Cometry. She now performs with various artists and bands whenever given the opportunity. Bands such as EvenStill and Free Quincy (founded by her dear friend Ill Clinton) where she also sings back up and some lead vocals. She was also inducted in the Give Love Ent Street Team by The IGive.

She also host Venus Vs Mars at Dejavu Lounge and starred in the local stage play Blak.Woman.Dynamik-ReBoRn as Nashelle which was written by Jana Morae Bradley.

Kia Flow continues to perform through Jacksonville throughout the state of Florida. Her EP “Just use it as a Coaster” will be debuting in April and she is currently working on her internet radio show “The Kia Flow Show”

Nobody gave sOuL (aka sOuL from the O) permission to make his brand of Hip-Hop, and he likes it this way. With Miles Davis, 80′s PSA cartoons, and Public Enemy as influences, he finds expanding boundaries the natural thing to do. His latest release “The Unspoken Word” is a 7 track EP that’s part story, part social commentary and choice beats. Sparked by the murder of a local transit rider by police and the need to escape the expected rap narrative, “The Unspoken Word” was born. From the call of solidarity in “I Am You”, the outrage in the psychedelic “Copx”, to the twilight insomnia of “Black Mahogany Frost”- sOuL’s album succeeds in being as outwardly political as it is introspective, and futuristic.

Boombastic, the latest video release off of sOuL’s album “The Unspoken Word”, directed and produced by Woodstock, the 3rd video in a series shot exclusively on an iPhone 3Gs! Boombastic resonates the feeling of being true to one’s self in the search for what’s real. Backed by a driving beat, vintage boom boxes, and the evolution of what would bring us the mixtape – Boombastic is vintage, contemporary, classic.

BOOMBASTIC VIDEO: http://youtu.be/KHj5aR8sWVM

FREE DOWNLOAD of Boombastic available here:

http://s-o-u-l.bandcamp.com/track/boombastic

WEB: www.11525.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/soul11525

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/sOuL11525

BANDCAMP: http://s-o-u-l.bandcamp.com/album/the-unspoken-word

The collaborative team of SeeSAW (See Savannah Art Walls), Megan Luther and Francis Allen proudly announces the City of Savannah Site and Monument Commission approved multi-site installation of Candy Chang’s Before I Die.

Before I Die is an interactive public art project created by New Orleans based artist and urban planner Candy Chang. For the project, a wall is painted black with chalkboard paint and stenciled with a matrix of lines stating, “Before I die I want to _______”. Passersby are invited to fill in the blank using chalk provided at the wall. According to Ms. Chang, “the wall becomes an enlightening way to get to know your neighbors and discover what matters most to the people around you.” The first installation of Before I Die was executed in 2011 in Chang’s current home of New Orleans. The power of the project has resulted in subsequent installations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Kazakhstan, Portugal, England, and an upcoming version in South Africa. The project has been featured in Oprah Magazine, NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams, and The Atlantic called it “one of the most creative community projects ever.”

As a host city, Savannah will set a new precedent for Before I Die by being the first location to welcome multiple sites. The Savannah locations include 1100 East 31st Street (31st Street & Waters Avenue), and 109 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Each wall will be installed the weekend of April 7, 2012 and will stay up through May 7. 2012. As stated above, Before I Die will be in conjunction with SUAF 2012, which runs April 15 – 22. With the encouragement of local artist Jerome Meadows, co-organizers Megan Luther and SeeSAW (James Zdaniewski and Matt Hebermehl) felt the juxtaposition of both locations will provide an honest cross-section of the values and dreams of people visiting and living in Savannah.

Savannah Before I Die co-organizer Francis Allen states, “The interactivity of this project is its essential element. This is social activism at its most basic—a first person anonymous expression to yourself and to your community of what you want out of life. The responses reveal the nature of our community’s hopes and aspirations.” Allen goes on to add, “You don’t have to write on the wall to be moved by it.”

SeeSAW acknowledges that the opportunity to locally install a public art project with such international acclaim is a true sign that Savannah continues to grow in relevance as a destination and incubator of contemporary culture.

The Savannah Before I Die team encourages the estimated thousands who interact with the wall to….

“Be Profound, Not Profane.”

For more information on how to follow, participate or help please use these helpful links:

Email – info@savannahartwalls.org

Twitter – follow hashtag #BIDSAV

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/BeforeIDieSavannah

SeeSAW – http://www.savannahartwalls.org

Kimberly Gunn is an awesome and unique gift to the body of Christ. Her dynamic and anointed voices carry the power to sooth and encourage the hearts of people everywhere. A native of Waynesboro, Georgia, Kimberly began singing at the age of eight. Singing became her therapy as she faced challenges with self esteem and seasons of despondency. Now, her testimony of overcoming low self-esteem, insecurity, and fear is conveyed through her music and worship. Her music has the power to heal the broken-hearted. She also has a passion to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is her earnest desire to please God.

To accompany her purpose and vocation in life, the vision of Kimberly came to pass with the release of her debut EP project entitled “Desires” on December 1st, 2010. This Contemporary Christian music CD serves as a testament to the desires in Kimberly Gunn’s life.

Kimberly Gunn currently serves at the Temple of Glory Community Church in Savannah, GA under the leadership of Bishop Matthew M. Odum where she faithfully serves on the Anointed Mass Choir and as a worship leader for the praise team. She is a proud and lovely wife of Elder Matthew Gunn, whom she serves alongside in ministry. Kimberly is enrolled at Liberty University pursuing her Master of Worship Arts Degree.

Web: http://www.kimberlygunn.com

Birmingham, Alabama is a city often associated with America’s murky racial past. Lately, its historic streets have found themselves to be impromptu battlegrounds in a seemingly never-ending urban war. It is from this environment that an artist unlike any other that has ever come from “the Magic City.” Terrence Merkerson, known to the world as T*Merk, is quickly rising as the premier lyricist in a city, a state that has been patiently awaiting it’s opportunity to show that it is really about on the world stage.

Those familiar with Alabama’s music scene have known that T*Merk has been making noise for several years in the underground. He has been likened to contemporary heavyhitters such as Common & Nas while garnering praises for wielding lyrical sensibilities so unique that it has audiences from Birmingham to Australia clamoring for opportunities to hear his music.

“Merk recalls more the classic rhythm and style from other greats such as Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Notorious [B.I.G.], sometimes Jay-Z.”

- RJ Frometa, Skope Magazine

“A mix of Digable Planets and Common (back when he was Common Sense), with a hint of De La Soul, T*Merk is in a different lane from many in the hip hop genre these days.”

- Senseitional, I Am Entertainment Magazine

“T*Merk is Lupe Fiasco, meets The Last Poets, meets Common with a hood edge. He is a musician, poet, artist, and craftsman.”

- The City Gritty Magazine

The Academy of Rhetoric, Theory, & Sound’s (The A.R.T.S.) flagship artist, “the best is yet to come from this Southern artist” (Danielle Canada, Hip-Hop Wired), with the future not just being now, but RIGHT now!

Twitter: @CuzMerkSaidSo

Website: www.onesheet.com/CuzMerkSaidSo

Video link: http://youtu.be/z7OlgcUMCYY?hd=1

Based out of Savannah, GA this hard working band is funk infused with mixes of R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and Soul. A truly eclectic musical experience that gets the crowd going and makes the audience demand more.

Leslie presents powerful vocals and emotional performances, every word is emphasized and every note is a hit. What is wonderful about this lead singer is that it does not matter if it is a cover song or one of her original tracks, you are going to get the best out of Leslie no matter what! Nickel Bag of Funk has been around since 2005 and has had the pleasure of being featured on the Jesse James’ cult TV hit “Monster Garage” on the Discovery Channel, full-page features in The Savannah Morning News, The Florida Times Union, South Magazine, Savannah Magazine, Creative Loafing, Connect Savannah, and InTheLoop.com. They have performed personally requested features for movie star Sandra Bulloch and best-selling author Dr. Bertice Berry. They are also featured in the new movie What To Expect When You’re Expecting starring Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock, Cameron Diaz, and Jennifer Aniston.

A Nickel Bag of Funk has been voted Savannah’s Best R&B/Funk Band 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011 by the Connect Savannah Reader’s Poll.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anickbag

Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/anickelbagoffunk