Jackin4Beats Magazine

The Pre-Album Mix:

Going through withdrawal for some new Finale before the official debut album drops? No worries, we’ve got you covered. With a release date right around the corner, some artists would be celebrating, resting on their laurels even. For Finale, whose debut album, A Pipe Dream And A Promise, is being released April 7 via Interdependent Media, rest is not an option. Finale is staying hard at work in the studio, and instead of hogging all that good music for himself, he has teamed up again with the Bay Area’s DJ King Most to release a mega-mix of the pre-album, T.I.M.E. (Think. Innovate. Move. Endure.) for free download.

The Mega-Mix finds Finale at his best, giving fans a taste of the wide range of his artistic diversity. On the opening track, the soulful “Run It Back,” Finale wastes no time showing off his water-like flow and lyrics. Seeming to never run out of breath, Finale raps, “As I gather, replaying images and memories / I watch, and easily can see there’s not another spot I’d rather be / When I leave, I know we ain’t done/ And some of y’all act/ Like the city ain’t sitting on your back.” Elsewhere, on the track “Saturday,” Finale proves that his words flow off the tongue just as smoothly when spitting at a girl as when spitting at a foe. On “Jungle Music,” Finale takes listeners straight to a Detroit club with a double-time bounce and a double-time flow to match. Although short, with T.I.M.E. Finale gives fans free quality music to hold them over until the release of A Pipe Dream And A Promise

Also, make sure to check Finale performing “Jungle Music” live at SXSW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXPO5DFp6E4

Finale Tour Dates here : http://www.audibletreats.com/pr/finale_pr4.html

Finale recently released Super Finale, an innovative, Super Mario Bros-themed video game, starring Finale as the main character, in which fans can win track the track “One Man Show” from the album upon completion of the game. A Pipe Dream And A Promise features production from J Dilla as well as Nottz, Flying Lotus, Oddisee, MPhazes, and Black Milk, who produced the album’s lead single “Motor Music.”

Play the game: http://www.imculture.com/_superfinale

Embed the game:

The Background:

Before making his entrance into hip-hop, Finale worked as an automotive engineer promising to one day follow his dream of becoming a rapper. Making the rounds at local Detroit open mics and emcee battles, Finale began to mingle with local talents like Guilty Simpson and One.Be.Lo. After emailing some joints back and forth with J Dilla, Finale finally met him backstage at the DEMF (Detroit Electronic Music Festival), where Dilla introduced him to Madlib, saying that he was one of the best in the game. “It was an honor and definitely a defining moment,” says Finale. After realizing his passion and talent for hip-hop, Finale decided to finally quit his day job, follow his true passion, and make music a full-time career. After a handful of Fat Beats released singles, an album released with European producer Spier 1200 as a part of The Rawkus 50, and numerous appearances on independent releases from Invincible, eLZhi and others, Finale’s official debut LP, A Pipe Dream & A Promise, will be released in stores and online on Aptil 7th via Interdependent Media.

Web editors contact Nora for interview requests. Print editors contact Michelle.

About Interdependent Media:

Founded in 2006 in the Bay Area by Evan Phillips, Interdependent Media has built unique strengths in the development, production, and marketing of recorded music via new methods of marketing and promotion. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of both traditional and emerging methods of marketing, iM has successfully created multi-faceted methods of raising awareness and interest in their projects. Industry veterans Ian “ID” Davis and Dominic Del Bene head operations at iM and are credited with discovering and/or developing artists such as 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Tanya Morgan, Blackalicious, Del the Funky Homosapien, the Hieroglyphics and more. In 2009, iM will be releasing multi-media projects from artists Finale, Canibus, K’naan, Truthlive, and Tanya Morgan. For more information, please visit http://www.imculture.com

Streams:

T.I.M.E. Mega Mix by DJ King Most
http://media.audibletreats.com/Finale-T.I.M.E._Megamix-KING_MOST.mp3

“Jungle Music” Live at SXSW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXPO5DFp6E4

Album Mega Mix by DJ King Most
http://media.audibletreats.com/Finale-MegaMix-KingMost.mp3

Super Finale Video Game
http://www.imculture.com/_superfinale

“One Man Show” prod. by Black Milk 8-bit Videogame Version
http://media.audibletreats.com/Finale-One_Man_Show-A_Rival_8-Bit_Remix.mp3

“Motor Music” produced by Black Milk
http://media.audibletreats.com/Finale-Motor_Music.mp3

Bio, pictures, and streams available here:
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/Finale/

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/finale

Label site:
http://www.imculture.com/

The Song:

Whether our weatherman corroborates or not, spring has already officially arrived, just in time for Kero One to lace us with the perfect soundtrack for long summer days filled with sun, good friends, and good fun. Roll back the drop top and cue your warm weather playlist, which will undoubtedly include Kero One’s “When the Sunshine Comes.” Featuring the smooth vocals of Britain’s Ben Westbeech over improvisational guitar, syncopated keyboard rhythms, and a soulful bass line, Kero One tells of the relief the summer brings. After heartbreaks and baby daddy blues, the sunshine is the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Background:

Former web designer by day and rapper/producer/DJ by night, Kero One, stands as a true testament to the do-it-yourself success story. His early career was marked by endless hours of researching, cold calling, and networking to gain exposure for his debut, self produced project Windmills of the Soul. Persistence paid off with a little help from fate when one of the 50 copies of his album was picked up in a tiny record store in Tokyo, Japan. Success was immediate, as Windmills of the Soul became a hit overnight, which opened the floodgates for international touring and performance opportunities. Three years later, after a Best Hip Hop Album of 2006 award and collabos with Talib Kweli and Mark Farina, Kero One is back with his sophomore album entitled Early Believers, via his label, Plug Label. Modulating from soulful jazz tinged tracks to upbeat synth-driven party bangers, Kero One features some his favorite vocalists such as Giles Peterson protégé UK singer Ben Westbeech, Finland’s own modern day “Stevie Wonder,” and Portland’s Ohmega Watts. Early Believers will be released in April 2009, just in time for spring cleaning and summer fun.

Streams:
“When The Sunshine Comes”

http://media.audibletreats.com/Kero_One-When_The_Sunshine_Comes.mp3

Will.i.am Give props to Kero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD_M395n1f8/a>

“Welcome to the Bay”

http://media.audibletreats.com/KERO_ONE-Welcome_to_the_Bay.mp3

Bio, pictures, and streams available here:

http://www.audibletreats.com/download/KeroOne/

MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/keroone

Label Site:

http://www.pluglabel.com

According to media sources three police officers in Oakland, California were shot down like dogs in the street on Saturday and a forth police officer was critically wounded in an afternoon of violence that began with a routine traffic stop.

Once officer reported that a 27-year-old gunman shot two motorcycle officers after being pulled over at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, killing one and wounding the other. The gunman then fled to a nearby apartment complex.

Instantly the streets of East Oakland turned into a scene out of a Sid Kali flick, as the manhunt began. The police finally tracked down the gunman. While attempting to apprehend him the gunman shot two more officers with an assault rifle, killing them both, before he was shot dead by the police.

The two officers who were shot at the scene of the traffic stop were identified as Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, who was killed, and Officer John Hege, 41. On Sunday, an Oakland police spokesman said that Mr. Hege had been pronounced brain dead but was still on life support pending a decision about organ donation, media sources reported. (Earlier on Sunday the spokesman had said that Mr. Hege had died, but he backed off that statement three hours later.)

The two Special Weapons and Tactics officers who were killed in the apartment were identified as Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Dan Sakai, 35.

The police said the gunman was Lovelle Mixon, of Oakland, and said he was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. They had a warrant out for his arrest.

They did not say why officers pulled over Mr. Mixon to begin with, but said it appeared to be a routine traffic stop.

They said he appeared to be the only suspect.

In a somber news conference at police headquarters in Oakland, police officials struggled to describe the enormity of the violence.

“I’ve been to a lot of police funerals,” said Howard A. Jordan, the acting police chief. “This will be a pretty traumatic and daunting task for us as a department. It’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to happen tomorrow, but in the end, I think we will move on from this.”

The news conference was attended by most members of the Oakland City Council as well as the former mayor, Jerry Brown, who is now the state’s attorney general.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California released a statement Saturday lamenting the deaths. “This is a tragic day for law enforcement officers everywhere,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said. “All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland.”

A man who works at a barbershop near the site of the traffic stop told The Oakland Tribune that the two officers had wounds to their faces.

“I went over to one officer and saw he was bleeding from his helmet pretty bad,” the witness said. “The other officer was laying motionless.”

There has been tension between police and the community in the months following the fatal shooting of an unarmed 22-year-old, Oscar Grant III, by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer police officer on New Year’s Day.

Mr. Grant was shot at close range while lying face down on a train platform. He was among several people who had been removed from the train by police officers investigating a fight. The former transit officer accused in the shooting, Johannes Mehserle, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

Violent protests hit the streets in the weeks after Mr. Grant’s death. On Jan. 7, more than 100 people were arrested after protesters marched through the city breaking store windows and setting cars and trash cans on fire.

Oakland’s black community and law enforcement have had a tense relationship for years, including a corruption case known as the Riders case in which a group of police officers were accused of abusing and falsely accusing suspects. Three of the officers were acquitted, but the case nevertheless damaged the department’s reputation.

The Associated Press reported Saturday that people lingered at the scene of the traffic-stop shooting. About 20 bystanders taunted the police.

Rapper Kanye West charged with airport attack

Super star rapper/producer Kanye West was charged with assault, theft as well as vandalism after allegedly assaulting a photographer.

Kanye was arrested at the Los Angeles airport just days after performing at the MTV Video Music Awards.

A video was shot by a member of TMZ that showed Kanye crushing the flash of a photographer’s camera while inside the airport terminal.

Law officials say that Kanye is facing two and a half years in jail if convicted.

The video tape was said to show Kanye West’s road manager Dan Crawley breaking the photographer’s camera.

Mr. Crawley is accused of two counts of assault, two counts of theft and two counts of vandalism and could face up to five years in prison.

According to media sources Kanye and his team were waiting to clear security before boarding an early morning flight to Hawaii.

Kanye’s lawyer, Blair Berk, had no comment following the charges.

The Grammy award-winning

Denise Delgado-Brown was minding her business standing outside of a nursing home on Sunday when out of nowhere she was shot by an arrow. Yep you heard me right… She was shot by a freaking arrow.

Denise told the media, “One more inch and I would have been dead!”

“Or had I bent down a little bit it would have went through my head.”

The 50-year-old younkers woman spoke to the media from her bed at St. Bamabas Hospital in the Bronx. Although tired and still in a little shock she was still upbeat.

“I thought, I’ve been hit by maybe a softball, and I looked down and I saw an arrow protruding out of my stomach,” she said, “I was going to pull it out at first, but it was stuck really deep.”

“I was shocked. I kept looking down, thinking… This can’t be happening.”

Denise a Yonkers traffic court clerk, joked that she always hoped her 15 minutes of fame would come from her singing talent, not a bizarre crime.

Meanwhile back on the streets, the police were franticly searching for the mysterious Robin Hood wondering if he or she would strike again.

Raymond Kelly, Police Commissioner seems to think that this was all an accident.

Officials said that Denise was hit by a Blackhawk 4000, a 30.5-inch-long professional shaft with a rang that can exceed 300 yards.

One of its three feathers was missing and it had a target practice tip – not a more lethal, razor-fitted head used for hunting.

The arrow flew from east to west, possibly from a rooftop, cops said.

Denise was dropping two friends off at Frances Schervier Nursing Care Center in Riverdale after church when she was hit. Cops searched the area Monday.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said it’s not illegal to own a bow and arrow in New York and use them on private property – unless the use in reckless.

Sources said the archer could be slapped with felony assault among other charges.

Denise’s co-workers were shocked when they heard the news and are pulling for her, said Yonkers City Judge Arthur Doran.

“We can’t believe something like this happened to a nice person like her. She always has a smile on her face,” Judge Arthur Doran said.

Denise longtime boyfriend, 53-year-old Randy Holdip, said he is sure the God-fearing woman won’t hold a grudge.

“We bear no animosity if it was an accident. We just hope that they turn themeselves in,” Randy said.

The new G1 cell phone from T-Mobile is being called one of the best smartphones of 2008, and it’s no wonder why. Made by HTC, the G1 features amazing specs such as touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard, IM, email, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a customizable home screen.

Powered by Google, the G1 also features a one-touch option for Google search, incredibly easy access to Google apps, Google Talk, Google Calendar and YouTube. as well as real-time web browsing and a music player.

Unlike Apple’s first iPhone the G1 uses the 3G network out of the box which ensures fast mobile speeds.The Google phone provides access to a wide range of connectivity features like wireless access, video calls, broadband data access with acceptable speeds thanks to the 3G network which many call broadband for cell phones.

The T-Mobile G1 utilizes 3G in a way that ensures that its users will experience minimal loading times when accessing Internet websites and other services on the Internet.

One feature of the T-Mobile G1 is a multipane search option, which lets you search more than one website at once, which can all be viewed on the 3.2″ screen. The G1 also allows instant access to the Android Market, where users can download applications such as games, applications for social networking, shopping and more.

Google has developed the Android operating system since 2007. It is solely build with open source technologies that all mobile companies and application developers can use to build applications and products using Open Source distribution and technology. The G1 got its name because it is the first commercial cell phone using the Google Android operating system build by HTC, T-Mobile and Google.

A new feature has been introduced lately that allows T-Mobile G1 users to use a service called Google Voice to use their voice to search on the Internet. The update, like always, has been distributed over the air which meant that users did not have to initiate the download actively.

A cupcake add-on is also in the making that will add new and exciting features to the T-Mobile G1 cell phone which for example will allow G1 users to access a full qwerty keyboard using the touch screen alone.

Another application created by Google is called Latitude which allows users of the Android phone to share their location with people in their contact list. This is an interesting option for many users including parents who want to check on their children or friends who want to see where the friends are currently.

There are already talks about a T-Mobile G1 phone which is poised to come out later this year. The G1 on the other hand is an almost perfect phone that has plenty to offer to its users.

President Obama has vowed to improve our nation’s education system, which is in a crisis. Given the public education system’s responsibility in educating over 50 million children, the severity of this crisis cannot be overstated. A broken education is not only a serious threat to our nation’s economy, but also a threat to our freedom; after all, “Education Is Freedom.” Although the problems with our public education system are vast, there are certain areas that President Obama must focus on first.

President Obama first needs to improve upon the No Child Left Behind Act, a law that has great potential in theory, but up until this point, has been failing in practice as well as funding. Today, there are more and more children who are left behind in the current educational system; a system which seems to be driven by passing standardized tests instead of teaching kids a broader range of curriculum geared towards preparing students for the workforce and college.

There is also the issue of the academic achievement gap which continues to persist. The President’s own academic success gives us a great example of what is possible in the lives of minority and disadvantaged children if this gap is eliminated. In order to address the academic achievement gap, however, both academic and neighborhood conditions must be simultaneously addressed, especially since the current economic crisis may have the potential to disproportionately impact poor neighborhoods. Creating a supportive atmosphere — both in school and at home — that promotes learning and education is what needs to be done to help close the gap.

The high school drop-out crisis is another problem the President must confront head-on. Many high schools across America are experiencing drop-out rates that are 50% or higher. President Obama has already promised funding for intervention strategies, including personal academic plans, increased instruction and learning time, and mentoring. Those promises must be carried out as well as President Obama being able to create common vision in young people that their education is important, not only to themselves, but to the overall health of the nation.

In addition to finding creative ways to address the high school drop-out crisis, President Obama must also focus on enhancing the public education system’s ability to perform a better job in adequately preparing more students for college — a process that must begin as early as middle school, given the academic deficits so many students in the public school system face. Students who arrive at high school already behind academically find it harder to catch up in time to be prepared for the academic rigors of college. Some studies suggest that over 50% of all freshmen entering college will need to take remedial courses. Appropriate remediation before students head to college is not only more effective, but also less costly to the students themselves, who need remediation, and to our nation, which often shares in the cost of paying for the remediation work once these students enter college.

Finally, a lesser-discussed problem is the nation’s inability to produce more students who are graduating in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. To stay competitive in a global economy, protect our nation’s infrastructure, as well as be in effective in our national security efforts, we must begin to significantly increase the number of students who are graduating in STEM areas.