Hater Magazine 2009 • Party & Bullshit Issue!

Soul singer Erykah Badu debuts her first single, “Window Seat” from her upcoming fifth studio album, New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh.

From Peace Uv Mine:

Welcome to Space City.

Questlove’s “group to watch” H.I.S.D. returns with the first single “Lando” from their forthcoming LP/Book project The Weakend. Click the image up above for your FREE DOWNLOAD or copy and paste the following link into your browser:

http://hisd.peaceuvmine.com

Get Ur Space Up!

DJ Jamad produces the Afromentals Mixshow, a long-standing weekly radio show airing every Sunday night from Midnight until 2am EST on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Hip Hop Nation (Sirius 40/XM 67). Periodically, he presents Operation Hot Combs (OHC), a one-hour “guest takeover” that airs during the mixshow. These special segments allow artists, producers, and DJs an opportunity to guest host and promote their individual projects and talents while giving listeners a candid view of the featured entertainers and their personal musical interests.

Film and music hearthrobs will join together in May 2010 as bank

robberies proving constantly that they can’t be stopped by law enforcers.

Yet, the plot thickens with an insider trying to blow their cover. Log on to

www.whoarethetakers.com to view the movie trailer.

Actors Jackie Chan and Jayden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pickett Smith are teaming up to resurface, the blockbuster film, The Karate Kid. It will be released later on this year.

Check out the trailer at www.karatekid-themovie.com

Music producer and artist Timbaland will grant    Houston with his artistic movement at the House Of Blues on February 2.

Tickets are on sale now. To purchase them, log on to www.houseofblues.com.

Hater: What is the meaning behind Grit.Glam.Genesis?

GGG: On December 31^st The Awakenings Movement had a sacred night of music and motion to celebrate a new year and to mark the new way that AM lives out its mission. This experience was designed to be gritty, illuminative, and renewing. The music of Michelle Thibeaux, The Global Movement, Epiphany, JuzCoz and Bayuco Social and the screening of original documentaries affirmed our effort this year to grow as an agency of imagination in the city that equips dreamers to become believers and believers to become doers. We believe that this year is the year of Grit, Glam, and Genesis for how we execute our mission in the city. The Grit: will come as we commit our hands to a grassroots work in the Third Ward community in a Sunday worship of community service. The Glam: will illuminate a light in the city by turning the inside circles of our members out through Sunday small gatherings all over the city. The Genesis: will come from the new ways that we seek to equip and challenge ordinary people to live extraordinary lives through their life mission.

Hater: What brought on this (Awakenings) movement to happen in Houston?

G.G.G: Historically, the city of Houston is rich with cultural arts. As the city’s arts scene grows, some of its younger patrons are slipping into dangerous behaviors. Binge drinking and STD rates are above the national average for Houston young people.  We believe that the root cause of this destructive behavior is displaced passion. As culture shapers we recognize the greatest challenge in human development is not irresponsible sex, crime, or social apathy. Our greatest challenge is displaced passion. As people in the city of Houston, we are passionate about the wrong things. When our passion is in the right place; responsibility, creative expression, and healthy lifestyle choices follow. Pure passion leads to a purposeful and spiritually rich life. With this purposefully rich life in mind, we decided to galvanizing life artists of every kind within our reach to spark an awakening in our city. The worship gatherings, the mid-week discussion communities, the Influent Stream Music Project, and our Community Service projects are our responses to the city’s passion problem. 

Hater:  How have Houstonians responded to Awakenings?

Hater: What community affairs and events in Houston will Awakenings Movement launch for 2010?

G.G.G: Influent Streams Music Project: Deflated passion is leaving our city lifeless and stagnant so we decided to do something about it by galvanizing the artists, vocalists and instrumental musicians within our reach to spark an awakening in our city through a project called: Influent Streams. In a years time, eight bands have perform at 52 different clubs, bars, and live music venues to share original music and community service opportunities for the following week. All eight bands are divided into four quarterly phases and every three months the bands go out in twos for an IS tour. 

Through “influent streams” of music and art, this project seeks to influence culture, inspire new music, awaken sensibility, and raise social awareness. IS has successfully reached over 3,000 people, and partnered with 8 different bands and one non-profit service organization in its first year. Three of the bands have been The Houston Press’ Artists-Of-The-Week and been awarded Houston Press Awards. Each band has since released EPs and full albums and continues to perform.“Neon Collars’ music broke my heart….and in the next instant, put it back together again.” –audience member’s response to an Influent Stream Band who performed at a local bar. 

Hater:  What do you think about Houston’s music movement?

Larose: There was once…maybe a couple years back, where Houston was in the spot light. Cats like Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, U.G.K., Scarface just to name a few held it down on a national level, and even some years back cats like Big Moe, Lil Keke, Fat Pat held it down for Houston. But in my opinion Houston right now isn’t off the map, just lost a lil momentum. It seems anyone from anywhere can make a hit these days. To Houston artists, just keep it up. Don’t lose that momentum, keep putting out hits for us dj’s to rock for ya’ll.

Hater: Who are your influences in the music industry?

Larose: I would say LL Cool J & Cut Creator. I was djing an event with them in New York. At the rehearsal, it was raining at the time and Cut made a comment and said “L ain’t coming in this rain” (talking about LL Cool J) about 10 mins later LL walks in. Cut says “I thought you wasn’t coming in this rain!” LL replied “When have you ever known me to be lazy?” That stuck with me and influenced me to be the best at what I do. To do it for the love and the art. Not for just the money, getting my face on flyers or kissing some promoters ass. Cut Creator once told me “Talent will always prevail in the end”. It seems that is what is happening to me. Thank God.

Hater: What current projects are you working on?

Larose: My current project is THE LEAGUE DJS. THE LEAGUE DJs is a coalition of DJs from around the world, bringing the energy of music online. You can find us at www.theleaguedjs.com. I’m on every Monday night @ 7pm CT for “Activated” & Wednesday nights @ 5pm CT for “Riddim Nation”. I’m also putting on an event called “March Madness” in Atlanta, GA and I’m  having a party cruise in early December 2010, “The League DJs Music Get-A-Way Cruise”. Also, soon I along with other League DJs will be mixing on LL Cool J’s boomdizzle.com. Right now I’m currently @ Saez n Zouk on Fridays nights, on Saturdays, vary…either @ Venue, The Horn, or Isis and other night clubs thoughout the country. Currently I’m sponsored as the official Bud-Light, DJ for the NFL Houston Texans and the NBA Houston Rockets

Hater: When did you discover your love for music?

Larose: Since birth. My father was and still is a DJ. My uncle was a DJ. My older cousin was a DJ. My grandmother threw countless parties and family functions. So the love of music was always in my blood for as long as I can remember.

Hater: Do you think mix tapes have fallen off in the industry?

Larose: No, just too many out there. I wish artists would just put out hits on mixtapes. Something that appeals to the masses. Hell if Young Jeezy & Drake can do it…well there you go.

Hater: What mix tapes have you produced in the past?

Larose: I haven’t produced any mixtapes in the past. For 23 years I have been a party, radio type of DJ, Djing big events all over. But look out, I’m producing now. So get ready for the next big hit!

Hater: As a dj, do you think that hip hop is dead?

Larose: Well hip hop isn’t dead but was in the intensive care unit for a while. Like I said earlier, It seems anyone can make a hit…but they aren’t all hits. Also it seems if your song doesn’t pertain to a dance routine it’s not good enough. There is a hell of a lot of hits in hip hop right now. Good stuff, but to me there is twice that amount of wack music. Hip hop is changing with the times but will never die.

Hater: Song of 2009 that you never want to hear again?

Larose: TOO MUCH TO LIST…LOL

Hater: Where are you from?

Larose: Born & Raised in New York City, New York

Hater: What are your thoughts on The Performance Rights Act?

Larose: Well I think you can’t have one with out the other. Some artist can’t write, some writers can’t sing, so when they come together to make a hit, both should get paid. Vice verse either way 60-40, 70-30, 50-50, whatever deal they worked out on paper. Now some can do it all, some can’t, artist or writer. Putting in + work = getting paid. Radio stations should pay the artist, writer, producer their share. Radio stations have to be making money cause you hear more commericals than music. The music keeps radio alive.

Larose Royce shows us that staying humble to the art of deejaying can pay off at the end. Currently, he is the official Budlight DJ for the NFL Housotn Texans and NBA Houston Rockets. Catch Larose on “”ACTIVATED” Monday nights  8PM CT,9PM at  WWW.THELEAGUEDJS.COM and”RIDDIM NATION” Wednesday nights 6PM CT,7PM at WWW.LAROSEROYCE.NET.