Happy 2014! Hope all is well with you and your family. I wanted to let you know about this Saturday coming up because its going to be lots of healthy fun. BRF would like to invite you to Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora 2nd anniversary party. If you know about this dance center then you know it's going to be an amazing time. If you don't know I suggest that you try your best to make it to this wonderful event. Cumbe over the past 2yrs has created a community of dancers, drummers and performers, which BRF is proud to be apart of. If you wanna meet some of the happiest people in Brooklyn then I will see you there. And of course do not forget to bring your dancing shoes!!!!!!!

Tune into NYU radio on the January 24th @10.30pm to hear an exclusive BRF interview and live in studio performance. We will also be talking about the Cumbe 2nd anniversary party and the community of dancers, drummers etc....   This year is going to be very exciting because of all the new music I am involved in. Brown rice family will be releasing a new single/video for Latin Goes ska and Underground Horns is releasing a new album this year. Keep your ears to the ground to find out more. I hope all your dreams and goals come true in 2014! Peace and Blessings.

Brown Rice Family, UnderGround Horns and Negus World event

I hope this email reaches all of you in good spirit and Health. As an artist the years are getting better and better; it would not have happen without all the family and friends that have helped me along the way. I got the opportunity to bless so many big stages, small stages, intimate settings, and many more. I also got to visit  two countries, Brazil  and Australia, that are both under the equator. From the bottom of my heart thank you and I am thankful for all the support that you have shown me this year. When things get hard it is the compliments and handshakes that keep me going.

This year has been fantastic for Brown Rice Family and UnderGround Horns as I have the pleasure of playing with both bands. To celebrate the end of the year we will be collaborating on December 28th (Drom 85 avenue A in the East village) from 7.30pm to 11pm. Last time these two bands came together (march 2013, 92Y Tribeca) it was a festive moment. This time we will be cooking a special Brown rice family/Underground Horns set to cater to both fans, therefore bring your dancing  shoes and your holiday spirit.    Click Here to buy tickets early


Negus World is having its annual Anniversary/New Years party on December 31st. I have worked and been a witness of the growth of the International Negus World movement and I have seen all likes of people embrace the idea of being Kings and Queens. It is an honor to be amongst such dedicated artists or Heartists like my brother Johwell would say. Come and celebrate this movement of Music, Art and Education as they embark their 7th year.  It will be a house party on Grand avenue between Myrtle and Park ave in Brooklyn. Get in touch for details.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Years!

After a wonderful year of music and traveling please come and dance with us at the last show of the year. I promise you it will be very festive and fun. Tell a friend to tell a friend and lets bring in the next year with positive vibration so that we can spread the joyous feeling all over the world. There will be beautiful people in the crowd so come and join us. Please bring your dancing shoes because thats just what the music will do to you. BlissBless.  December 28th at Drom 7-11pm

LEGENDARY HIP HOP ARTIST RAKIM TO HEADLINE AT NYC CARNEGIE HALL - NOV 3, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEGENDARY HIP HOP ARTIST RAKIM TO HEADLINE AT THE WORLD FAMOUS CARNEGIE HALL
Hip Hop Saves Lives Presents, “Let’s Take It Higher,” a Benefit Concert in Honor of Haiti, with Special Guest Appearance by Honoree, DJ Kool Herc ----------
Hosted by Cassie Freeman of VH1’s “Single Ladies” with Special Guest Performance by
“The X Factor” Sensation, ASTRO Kid
New York, New York, (October 11, 2013) – Hip Hop Saves Lives (HHSL) will present an evening in tribute to one of the most significant and dominant American art forms: Hip Hop. The “Let’s Take It Higher” benefit concert will be held at Carnegie Hall, widely known as the most famous and elusive stages in the world, on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
Special guest performances to include, World Roots Artists: Zing Experience and Brown Rice Family, along with a special guest appearance by famed Hip Hop producer, Large Pro and rounding out this illustrious evening will be iconic Hip Hop artist, Rakim, who is highly regarded as the most influential and talented MCs of all time. Afrika Bambaataa, affectionately known as “The Godfather” of Hip Hop, will also be celebrated that evening for being one of the originators of the culture.
In honor of the iconic history of the art form, one that has shifted the global landscape, HHSL will create an experience featuring some of Hip Hop’s architects, including the talented and pioneering DJ Kool Herc and the innovative Rock Steady Crew who along with many others, helped to create Hip Hop’s foundation. ASTRO, the imaginative and energetic Hip Hop artist will represent the youth of the movement by gracing the stage. With almost four decades of relevance, Hip Hop, the prodigious cultural movement with African roots, continues to inspire and elevate society at large.
HHSL is a non-profit organization that was created to re-instate the original purpose of Hip Hop. An alternative to gang and street life, Hip Hop, born out of humanity, evolved as a conduit for positivity – the aim is to teach humanity through Hip Hop.

"We don't just teach humanity through Hip Hop, we create humanitarians," says Chad Harper, CEO and Founder of HHSL.
For more details on how to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2013/11/3/0830/PM/Benefit-Concert- featuring-Kids-Helping-Kids-A-Hip-Hop-Experience/
ABOUT HHSL:
HHSL teaches humanity using Hip Hop as a platform through a youth program entitled “Kids Helping Kids: A Hip Hop Experience,” a program that educates about global “heroes,” and encourages the children to participate in creating various musical and visual gifts for the chosen “hero.” HHSL also produces fundraisers where 100% of the proceeds support schools and clean water initiatives in Haiti.
For information on HHSL, please visit, http://www.hiphopsaveslives.org/.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chadhhsl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hip-Hop-Saves- Lives/241113031596
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelley A. Jackson kajpr1025@gmail.com Ivanna Bond bondquik@gmail.com
For press inquiries please contact, kajpr102@gmail.com.
PEACE LOVE AND HIP HOP 

 

I would like to send a special thank you to all family and friends who supported me this year. Tomorrow October 2nd i will be celebrating another fiscal year(Birthday) and without your support my career would not be happening. I know you are all dying to get me a gift but i only want 2 things this year.

1. Buy your ticket for the Carnegie hall show. On November 3rd BrownRiceFamily and Zing Experience will be playing at Carnegie Hall. This event is sponsored by HipHop Saves Lives and NegusWorld who together run an afterschool program called Kids Helping Kids. This program helps kids in underprivileged neighborhoods explore their emotions and energy through writing, rapping, dancing and many more. The Carnegie Hall show is an opportuntity for these kids to showcasee their talents to the world and understand that good positive music still have a platform.

Music and sports helped me through my high school year but today, we live in an era where due to budget cuts, arts programs are the first to go in public schools. Therefore It is important to have and support mentors and programs like Kids Helping Kids for our youths. We need your help in order for this event to be a sold out show!
So pretty please find it in your heart to buy a ticket and come see this kids perform what they have created and watch Zing and BrownRice take it higher!  
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!!!
http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2013/11/3/0830/PM/Benefit-Concert-featuring-Kids-Helping-Kids-A-Hip-Hop-Experience/

2.  I would like for all my family and friends to pray for me. It is not an easy road but the movement continues. Peace and blessings.

P.S. Brown Rice Family is performing at Red Rooster in Harlem tomorrow, October 2nd, from 8p-12a. If you are free, come thru and chill with the birthday boy.

Brown Rice Family upcoming shows this week.

This week, Brown Rice Family has 4 shows in NYC.
Hope to see you there!
10/2 (Wed) Red Rooster Harlem
310 Lenox Ave. Manhattan
8pm-11pm

10/3 (Thu) Fashion Week Brooklyn
241 37th street, Brooklyn
Show start 6:30pm
http://fashionweekbrooklyn.com/?page_id=422

10/4 (Fri) WOODLAND
242 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
8:30pm-11pm

10/5 (Sat) Live United
Brooklyn Bridge park, Pier 1
12pm-2pm.
http://www.liveunitednyc.org/

I hope all of you are doing well and living your dream. As for me I just came back from Belo Horizonte and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Friday and I had a blast. I played the Tudo é Jazz fest in Ouro Preto with UnderGround Horns and the love that we got put me on cloud 9. I feel blessed to be traveling under the influence of music. Here is a link to one of the songs from the festival...

Okay that was the past, what's in the future???

 Brown Rice Family

• Today Sept 23rd and October 7th we are playing at the Legendary Cafe Wha! As usual plz bring your dancing shoes. 115 Macdougal St Manhattan, NY 10012 Door open at 8pm Show 9:30pm-1am Door: $5

• Saturday Sept 28th from 3.15p-5.15p Yuichi and I play percussion for the well renowned choreographer Pat Hall (Afro-Carib dance class) at Mark Morris in Brooklyn. This particular class we will be playing along Master drummer, Dr. Djobi, from Ivory Coast. I am super excited to be drumming next to this fantastic drummer. To all the dancers you do not want to miss this class!! I can't even tell you how many ancestors will be in the building that day.

• Thursday Oct 3rd we are playing for Brooklyn Fashion week. First set is at 6.30pm. Check out what's about to go down in BK that weekend.  http://fashionweekbrooklyn.com/ 

• Saturday Oct 5th  in Collaboration with  Live United, Join thousands of fellow New Yorkers at Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park to celebrate the wonder and importance of reading. It's the key that unlocks jobs, health and happiness. We played this event last year and the kids had a blast. So here we go again. http://www.liveunitednyc.org/ 

•  Sunday Nov 3rd "CARNEGIE YA'LL LET'S TAKE IT HIGHER                Please join us at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the roots of Hip-Hop and pay homage to its "father" DJ Kool Herc. Before all other genres of music Hip-Hop was my gateway into the world of rhythm. So for me it is an honor and pleasure to be doing this event that brings together Hip-Hop+Education=Edutainment

Carnegie Hall 
881 7th Ave New York, NY 10019 
Time: 8:30pm 
Tickets: $50-$75 
Performers: Brown Rice Family, Zing Experience, Kids Helping Kids, Nice and Smooth, Dynamic Rockers
More info and ticket: http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2013/11/3/0830/PM/Benefit-Concert-featuring-Kids-Helping-Kids-A-Hip-Hop-Experience/

The weekend of November 15th BRF will be touring in the Dirty south for the first time. We will be going to Georgia and North Carolina! Please look out for us if you live in these 2 states on that weekend. If you should have any hook ups to venues that might want to hear our Soul music, please dont hesitate to contact us!

UnderGround Horns

Fresh off the plane still smelling like Brazil. We have some gigs coming up that you should come to.

• Wednesday Sept 25th @12pm Richard Tucker Park in association with Lincoln center. Please come join us if you work around the way. We can be the entertainment for your lunch time. http://www.lincolnbid.org/news/view/free-lunchtime-concert-series-returns-august-7th-%E2%80%93-september-25th

• Friday Sep 27th and 28th from 5-8pm 84 St.Marks beer garden with a whole German theme. If you are a fan of beer you should come thru, they have a big selection. Have a big drink while you enjoy some live acoustic music from UH.

• Saturday Oct 5th @4pm we will be playing at the brand new B.R.I.C. building grand opening on Fulton street in Brooklyn. BRIC House will be a new cultural center for all of Brooklyn—think of it as your new home for the arts. Come celebrate the opening of the new facility with a free all ages block party including live music, food and family activities. http://bricartsmedia.org/events/bric-open-house  

• October 10th @Midnight Nublu 62 ave C we will be doing it again at our normal spot. We always play 2 sets so come early or late to catch UH do its thing. 

Okai Musik
I've been having a crazy fun time thus far and it will continue into the month of October. My birthday is coming up October 2nd and Oct 14th I will be traveling to Australia to visit some really good friends and possibly make some music contacts. Please keep me in your prayers as I fullfil my dreams as a musician/humanitarian to make this world a little better. Much love to all my Negus/Nigist who are taking their careers into their own hands. It's very scary at times but when you are learning to master your own life there are major lessons and rewards at the end of each journey you decide to take.
BlissBless
Also keep an ear out for Strings N Skins, Zing Experience, Monvelyno Alexis, Bombazo dance co, Freddy Fuego tet. 

www.OkaiMusik.com
 www.facebook.com/okaimusik