Concert in your area for Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Electronic, and Country.
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Growing up in London, UK, Jay Sean was exposed to the melting pot of music that is present in the UK capital, initially finding an interest in rap and grimmest failed to break into the scene. Turning to R&B, Sean found greater success, singing to the label 2Point9 in 2003.
With his label mates, producer Rishi Rich and Juggy D, Sean recorded his debut single later that year. “Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)” became a huge success in the UK, peaking at number 12 in the Singles Chart. This breakout success prompted a major label deal with Virgin Records, with Sean dropping out from his studies to become a doctor as a result. His debut album, “Me Against Myself” arrived in 2004, reaching number 30 in the charts, alongside two top ten singles. The album also became a huge hit in India, going multi-platinum, helping to secure Sean a role in the Bollywood film “Kya Kool Hain Hum” (2005).
Leaving Virgin Records, Sean returned to 2Point9 for his second effort, “My Own Way” in 2008, which bettered the success of his debut, reaching number six on the UK albums chart. Alongside the album’s success, Sean also gained two Top 20 hits in the UK, as well as in Poland, Portugal, Romania and Bulgaria.
Desiring to break into the American market, Sean changed his sound and signed with the Cash Money label, releasing the single “Down,” alongside Lil Wayne. “All or Nothing” was released that year, followed by a Nicki Minaj collaboration on the single “2012 (It Ain’t The End).”His second release on Cash Money came after a year’s delay in 2013, titled “Neon,” which included guest spots from Rick Ross, Ace Hood and Busta Rhymes.
The rap-pop four piece formed in Miami, Florida, US in 1997 and made a point to transfer the bright and freestyle nature of the city into their music. Though their sound reflected the teen-pop qualities of acts like the Jackson 5 and Boyz II Men their style was anything, but innocent. They layered these saccharine sound nuggets with night club sleaze beckoning the obscene, but undeniably hilarious styles of Funkadelic and 70s era James Brown.
The group consists of brothers Spectacular and Baby Blue as well as members Corey Blue “Slick ‘Em” and Pleasure P; however, the group underwent several line up changes starting at the turn of the decade. One of the group’s founding members Milk B left in 2000 and Pleasure P was replaced by Mowet in 2007. Other replacement members included Ambition/4play, J. Long, and Lingerie. These members joined in the late 2000’s; however, they all departed from the group within a few years. Pleasure P pursued a solo career in 2007 and hit success with his 2009 album “The Introduction of Marcus Cooper”; however, he returned to Pretty Ricky in 2014.
Although the group formed in 1997, they did not put out their studio debut “Bluestars” until 24 May 2005. The album was released through Atlantic records and debuted on the US Charts at No. 16. Their 2nd studio album “Late Night Special” surpassed the success the group achieved with their first album, taking the coveted No.1 spot on the US Charts and striking gold status. Their sophomore release featured the 3 singles “On the Hotline”, “Love Like Honey”, and “Push It Baby”, the latter featuring Sean Paul.
Their 3rd self-titled album did considerably worse in sales as did its predecessors; however it did make it into the Billboard 200. This was their 1st album without Pleasure P; however, he returned to issue the group’s 4th studio debut “Bluestars 2”, which saw release in 2014.
During her free time in high school, Trina began writing rhymes until she caught the eye of Miami rapper Trick Daddy who offered the rapper a guest spot on his single “Nann Nigga” in 1998. The song became Trick Daddy’s lead single from his sophomore album “www.thug.com”, which reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, and exposed Trina to huge audience. Due to the success Trina signed with Slip-n-Slide Records who issued her debut album “Da Baddest Bitch” in March 2001. Although the rapper failed to maintain creative control the album debuted at No. 33 on the Billboard 200, and stayed there for 29 weeks.
Working alongside Missy Elliot for her sophomore album, Trina had complete creative control over the release, which was released in August 2002. “Diamond Princess” debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the singles “Told Y’all” featuring Rick Ross, “No Panties”, and “B R Right” featuring Ludacris. The same year Trina launched her own label Diva Enterprises, which later became DP Entertainment, and signed the nine-year-old rapper Lil Brianna.
Trina’s third full-length album “Glamorest Life” was issued in October 2005 and out-performed both its predecessors, debuting at No. 11 on the Billboard 200. The album was led by the single “Don’t Trip” featuring Lil Wayne, and aided by the single “Here We Go” featuring Kelly Roland. After signing with EMI in 2007, Trina released two mixtapes “Rockstarr Royalty” and “Baddest Chick 2: Reloaded” ahead of her fourth full-length “Still da Baddest” in 2008. Reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart, the album sold 47,000 in its first week.
Led by the single “That’s My Attitude”, Trina’s fifth studio album “Amazin’” was released in May 2010, and later spawned the hits “Million Dollar Girl”, “White Girl”, and “Always”. In 2011 Trina released the mixtape “Diamonds Are Forever”, which featured the singles “Ghetto”, “Waist So Skinny”, and “Can I”. The single “Beam” arrived in July 2012 featuring GunPlay, as well as the single “Bad Bitch” featuring Lolo Monroe and Shawnna.
Paul Wall is proof that being a street team member can pay off and then some. A hip-hop obsessive from an early age, his entry into the music business as a whole came when he was 14 years old and he started doing promotional work for Michael "5000" Watts' record label, Swishahouse. As he approached the end of his teenage years he began rapping himself, regularly collaborating with Chamillionaire and recording any raps that he came up with. At the end of 1999, he convinced Watts to let him and Chamillionaire rap on his radio show, and the resulting freestyle was so good that it essentially made both of their careers.
Their freestyle appeared on one of Watts’ mixtapes, entitled “Choppin Em Up Part 2”, and both rappers were formally signed to Swishahouse for future releases. However, after Slim Thug left the label Wall and Chamillionaire both left with him and they formed their own duo called The Color Changin’ Click. They began releasing their own line of massively acclaimed mixtapes and they eventually inked a record deal with Paid In Full Records, who released their debut album “Get Ya Mind Correct” in 2002. The duo split soon after this but both would go on to have massively succesful solo careers, with Wall’s solo success coming in 2005 with the release of his debut album “The People’s Champ”.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, knocking Kanye West’s “Late Registration” off the top spot at the same time. Its lead single “Sittin’ Sidewayz” was also a slow-burning hit, stalling at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was eventually certified Gold. He was the featured collaborator on Nelly’s 2005 number one hit “Grillz”, however, and ever since then he’s been one of the most beloved names in southern hip-hop. While he might not have achieved the success of some of his peers he’s still massively acclaimed by all who know him, and can blow the roof of any venue he plays in to boot. To this day, he comes highly recommended.
English performer Kamalkit Singh Jhooti, better known as Jay Sean, almost single handedly popularized Bhangra-R&B fusion. Once he dominated the Asian charts, he took the UK charts as well as the US charts by storm following the release of his “All Or Nothing” album. This gave him the opportunity to travel the world to perform for his millions of fans. Not surprisingly, Jay Sean is a great performer. His show sets blend together pre-recorded tracks with live instrumentation to give it a different, broader sound. His vocals are just as you hear them on his album leaving no evidence of major voice editing when he was recording his album. Highly energetic and extremely engaging throughout the entire show, he really gives the audience exactly what they are expecting and more. A complete flirt, he clearly picks out specific people in the audience and makes it so that he is serenading them. Throughout the hour-long set, he performed a majority of the songs from his “All Or Nothing” album, including all his hits like “Down,” “Ride It” and “Do You Remember.” He comes across as really humble for the opportunities that he’s been given and for the love and support that his fans give him.
For one reason or another, the southern hip hop sound that Three 6 Mafia helped to pioneer in their native Memphis never quite crossed over into the mainstream here in the UK; to be fair, though, the fact that they would often blend that approach with elements of gangsta rap and - ill-advisedly - the short-lived crunk fad might have had something to do with that, especially given that the latter craze emerged at around the time that the group would have been at their most commercially-viable, the mid-noughties. It was then, in 2005, that they won an Academy Award for ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp’ from Hustle & Flow; a year later, they featured on Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds, on ‘Chop Me Up’. Hopes of a rare Three 6 tour in the UK, are likely to have been dashed by numerous recent events, including Juicy J’s increasing focus on his solo career and the death of Lord Infamous late last year. The remaining members though - minus J - have reformed as Da Mafia 6ix and toured the U.S. to a fervent reception, with setlists largely comprising Three 6 classics; if they can make it over here, they might just prove to be the next best thing.
The name Pretty Ricky actually referred to a group, rather than an individual, but in case you’re disappointed that it isn’t actually a daft stage name, rest assured that there were plenty of them making up the actual group itself; try on the monikers by which the original lineup went by on for size - they included Baby Blue, Spectacular, Slick’em and Pleasure P, with the latter being the group’s key member. He left to pursue a solo career in 2007, shortly after the group’s second full-length album, Late Night Special, had followed in the footsteps of its predecessor - their debut, Bluestars - and gone gold in their native U.S. One more album followed P’s departure, a self-titled effort in 2009, but failed to meet with the same success without him; part of the reasoning behind that, of course, was simply that they couldn’t offer the same kind of live experience without P, whose charismatic presence onstage had made up a huge amount of their appeal. Rumours continue to circulate of a follow-up to Bluestars being released, despite the official line being that the band dissolved two years ago; without P, though, you don’t really fancy their chances of further success.
Named the most consistent female rapper of all time by XXL Magazine, Trina has had a successful career in the music industry. She has been celebrated for many years and was even ranked number 27 by Complex Magazine in their Top 50 Best Rap Songs by Women. From a young age she began writing rap songs, when her career finally took off after being noticed by the Miami rapper Trick Daddy in 1998, she later went on to appear in one of his singles. The popularity of the song meant she finally got signed to a record label and went on to work on her own debut album. Her first album was released in 2000 called 'Da Baddest Bitch', the album only made it onto the Hip Hop Songs Chart but wasn't hugely celebrated as she had hoped, it may have had something to do with the awful album name. Her second album however called 'Pull Over' did a lot better and her career grew following it. She has performed on stage with many singers and rappers over her career. It's refreshing to see a female rapper on the stage with some big names for once; she is a refreshing presence in the rap industry. She’s a natural on stage too, she knew how to get the fans in the mood by shouting out to all the girls in the audience and demanding everyone's hands were in the air as she bounded around the stage in rather impressive high heels. She had a lot of cheeky banter as she rapped about her tight jeans and wiggled her behind to the huge crowd, I've never been a huge fan of rap music but I have endless appreciation for Trina as one of very few women making it to stardom in the industry.
Probably Paul Wall’s single most prominent piece of mainstream exposure to date came via Kanye West’s now-classic Late Registration joint ‘Drive Slow’, and in many ways, that’s fitting; Wall’s style of flow and general approach to his rhymes is laid-back, restrained and well measured. It’s actually in stark contrast to his appearance; with his diamond-studded grills adorning his teeth and baggy clothing, he looks more like some kind of millionaire skater kid than a rapper, but that’s just one of the contradictions that makes Wall’s music so intriguing; his deep, casual delivery is one of the most arresting in rap’s recent history. He’s continued to write and record over the past decade, remaining a favourite with the critics, even if his commercial performance hasn’t matched up to that. Last year’s #Checkseason saw Wall debut a dramatic new look, having lost 100lb since 2010; his signature style remains, though. It’s the same when he performs live; he doesn’t bring the same kind of flashy behaviour that so many of his peers do, but he’s so subtly arresting as a performer, it doesn’t matter - he’s one of the most underrated rappers on the live circuit today, with fans waiting with bated breath for a UK return.
Hailing from New York, Shawn Mims known better as Mims started collaborating with Harlem’s Cam’ron in early 2000 and it wasn’t long before he was discovered by Quincy S/Duq Entertainment and was featured on a Canadian compilation entitled ‘Private Party Collector’s Edition Vol. 2’. His popularity in Canadian charts stirred a considerable buzz as he then caught the attention of Grammy Award winning American Hip-hop/rap producer and composer Blackout Movement, the beginning of a fruitful working partnership and leading to notable guest appearances. After releasing his debut single ‘I Did You Wrong’, Mims began gaining popularity in his own territory. With the struggle of not being able to secure a record deal, Mims took it upon himself to start his own venture in the form of American King Music with the help of Cory Llewellyn, Erik Mendelson, ILLCee and GP. In 2007 he released his first official single, ‘This Is Why I’m Hot’ which entered the R&B charts at number one and featured on his debut album ‘Music Is My Saviour’. Performing in packed out sweaty clubs, Mims has created an intense following through his infectious energy and electric atmosphere which he effortlessly conjures. His low key performances in intimate settings emphasises the party atmosphere as the crowd go wild for ‘This Is Why I’m Hot’ as he’s joined by guest performers. Mims doesn’t need a stage to own the crowd, whether it’s standing on monitors, bar tops or into the crowd he without a doubt keeps the party atmosphere well and truly alive.
For reasons best known to himself, Warren Anderson Mathis chooses to go by the frankly ridiculous alternative moniker of Bubba Sparxxx when he’s recording and performing hip hop, but it doesn’t seem as if the general public have held it against him down the years; over the course of a career that, in earnest, has now spanned more than two decades, Sparxxx has enjoyed top ten success on the U.S. singles charts with ‘Ms. New Booty’, which reached number seven, as well as receiving significant radio play with tracks like ‘Deliverance’ and ‘Ugly’, too. To his credit, he’s put a genuinely fresh spin on the kind of southern hip hop sound that seemed to really take off in the early to mid noughties with the likes of Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire and Mike Jones, and brings an energy to his live shows that is visceral in quality; whilst his lyrics aren’t always entirely serious, there’s an aggression in Sparxxx’s delivery that certainly appears to demand he be taken seriously. His latest album, Made on McCosh Hill Road, dropped just this June, so expect worldwide tour dates to follow sooner than later - Sparxxx is certainly well overdue a return to the UK.