Several Cincinnati-based artists and institutions are up for Ohio Hip Hop Awards, an annual event that honors the statewide Hip Hop community, culminating in a music conference/awards ceremony Sept. 17-19 in Cleveland. The event spotlights everything from MCs, DJs, break-dancers and graffiti artists to labels, radio, venues and promoters.
Among the many Cincy Hip Hop nominees are DJ Skinny Fresh (Best Club DJ category); Buggs Tha Rocka (Best Male Artist and Lyricist of the Year); D-Maub and recent BillboardK-Drama (Best Holy Hip Hop Artist); WIZF (Best Radio Station); WIZF’s DJ Dimepiece (up for Best Commercial Mixshow DJ and Best Club DJ); DJ/producer/artist Hi-Tek (National Noisemaker of the Year); the Hi-Tek/Talib Kweli collaboration (aka Reflection Eternal), Revolutions Per Minute (Best Album); 2009 “Best New Group” winners Beat Gang (Best Single, Best Group, Best Video and, with DJ Drizzle, Best Mixtape); Beat Gang’s B. Luck (Best Graphic Designer); and Elmwood Place club Dirty Jack’s (Best Live Venue). charter
Other Cincinnati-affiliated nominations include the WAIF radio programs B-Boys Underground and The Crank It Show (Best College Radio Show); Crack Sauce (Best New Group and Best Mixtape); Crack Sauce’s J-skillz (Lyricist of the Year); Mz. Nicky (Best Female Artist); Casual T (Best Turntablist); and Remedy (Best Spoken Word Artist). Two Cincy group efforts are up for “Best Collaboration”: “Cincinnati Cypher,” featuring Guape Kamp, Crack Sauce, Young Deuce, Play Back Kingz and Kool Ken, and Beat Gang’s “Cincinnati Riot,” featuring a slew of local guest MCs.
Head to
to see all of the nominees and vote for your favorites and also check out ohiohiphopawards.wordpress.com for videos of (and interviews with) several of the nominees. Voting ends Sept. 13.More Local Notes
• Bootsy Collins has assembled a major party to pay tribute to his late older brother (and musical companion) Phelps “Catfish” Collins, one of the most influential guitarists in Funk history, who passed away on Aug. 6. This Saturday at Covington’s Madison Theater, Bootsy hosts “The Catfish Nation Celebration,” featuring appearances by Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbusters”), Reggie Calloway, Freekbass, Wilbert Longmire, drummer Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, John Mayer Trio), bassist Brian Hardgroove from Public Enemy’s touring band and many others. Recorded video tributes from Parliament/Funkadelic’s George Clinton, Dr. Cornel West, Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band and others will also be screened. The all-ages, 8 p.m. show is free to attend; reserved balcony seating is available for a $100 donation to The Catfish Nation Musician’s Fund, which was set up to help musicians’ families with funeral costs. For more on the show and how to donate to the fund, go to www.bootsycollins.com.
• Several area bands are teaming up with the local chapter of the United Way to present a benefit concert this Friday at the Southgate House to raise money to help with the clean-up in the oil-stricken Gulf Coast. Rock Together: Indies for Gulf Coast Relief kicks off at 8 p.m. and features performances by The Mayors of Super Awesome Town, The Day Fish Band, Kelp, Chakras, One Eyed Ruby and The Guild of Calamitous Intent.
• Cincinnati-based African musician Baoku Moses presents his fourth “Cincy Unity Jam” Saturday at downtown’s Blue Wisp Jazz Club. This installment of the quad-annual event — organized as a means to “bring people together to celebrate peace in unity through music and art” — features a wildly eclectic lineup of 12 performers, playing everything from Rock, Jazz, R&B and Hip Hop to Reggae, Celtic, Gospel and AfroBeat. Artists slated to appear include and the Chris Comer Trio, iolite, The Electric Generals, Drew Lewis, Tri-Ur, Bonkers, Black Silk Quartet and Baoku’s Ensemble for Peace. Music starts at 5 p.m. For more info and the full lineup, go to www.baokutcr.com
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
