For Those Who Can't Sleep On Hip Hop

Julian Lennon discusses his new company, career, and the music industry

Insomniac Magazine recently participated in an interview with Julian Lennon to discuss his new release and a brand new company called theRevolution LLC. Lennon and music industry professionals Michael Birch (sold Bebo to AOL for $850 million) and Todd Meaghe (created the first 50/50 artist music store) started the company as a new approach to releasing music and working with artists. The company scouts talent, and then helps set up these artists with their own businesses. The company assists the artists with a variety of business endeavors including: finance, development, digital and physical distribution, promotion, and other important aspects ...

Family Man Barrett of Bob Marley’s Wailers (interview)

Aston "FamilyMan" Barrett, the bassist for the legendary Wailers is responsible for the basslines and other creative elements on many of Bob Marley and the Wailers' classic songs. We discuss his thoughts about why Bob Marley and The Wailers' music continues to resonate with fans decades after its creation. He also discusses his thoughts on current state of music, and how he met and started working with Bob Marley. Yvad, the Wailers' Band's new vocalist shares his views on the power of Bob Marley and the Wailers' music. Whether you're a musician or an artist, if you aspire to have a ...

Sharon Jones Reminded Me Why I Like Music

Sharon Jones is one of the most inspirational artists on the show circuit. It’s not just her soulful voice, nor is it her hard and heavy dancing on stage, nor her soothing retro sounds that are reminiscent of class acts such as ‘60’s female groups The Shirelles, The Marvelettes, The Dixie Cups, and others, that makes her such a powerful inspiration. Even Jones’ uncanny, pure energy and movements, that seem to be channeled from the late James Brown, don't make her such a rousing figure. The inspiration is her story: A struggling singer who worked at a state prison as ...

Charlie Murphy interview: Big Name in the Stand Up Game

Although Charlie Murphy has appeared in countless films since the late ‘80s, there’s no getting around that most fans started to really get to know him during and after his appearances on The Dave Chappelle Show. Charlie’s skits, some based on his telling of real-life encounters with celebrities while he worked security in the early days of his younger brother’s career, have become larger than the show itself. Plays of some of Charlie’s segments on Chappelle’s show have exceeded the million-view mark on Youtube.com. There are very few people who follow pop culture that haven’t heard the words “I’m ...

What you can learn from harpist Merry Miller about succeeding in the music industry

Merry Miller is an extraordinary artist and businesswoman. Don’t take my word for it, she was named in Crain's New York Business magazine “40 Under 40” issue. She is the former Executive Vice President of Programming at the Learning Annex, and instrumental in building the organization’s revenue from $3 million to $100 million in three years. During that time, she coordinated visits from the who’s who of business and entertainment. She’s coordinated visits from some of the biggest leaders in the business, from Donald Trump to Russell Simmons. If that’s not impressive enough, Elle magazine named her one of the ...

Teena Marie- 3 Decades of Soul, Funk and Classic R&B

In a day and age of commodity artists who are forgotten shortly after a year or so of a radio hit, and in an environment where hit artists of yesteryear are remembered only by those who were raised on their sounds, it is rare to find an artist who continues to resonate with new and old audiences decades after launching their career. Teena Marie stepped on the scene in ’79 and continues to touch music fans with her amazingly soulful voice. Not only has her music swept her fans off of their feet for years, but she has also influenced ...

STYLES P (All-new, 2nd interview) by Dirty Angel

WITH A FRESH START, STYLES P READIES "SUPER" NEW ALBUM By Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel The streets may now rejoice... When I first interviewed Styles P, around this same time last year coincidentally, the self-proclaimed “hardest rapper out” wasn’t in the best of moods. Although Styles’ sophomore album, “Time is Money”, was set to be released on Interscope Records, the moment was bittersweet. That’s because his excellent solo debut album, “A Gangster and a Gentleman”, had been released four years earlier in 2002. With the airtight singles like “Good Times” and “The Life” (featuring Pharaoh Monch) getting burn on the airwaves, Styles ...

KILLAH PRIEST interview by Dirty Angel

KILLAH PRIEST: AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME WITH LATEST "OFFERING" By Khalid Strickland a.k.a. Dirty Angel Brooklyn wins again. After their legendary movement avalanched hip-hop’s landscape, the Wu-Tang Clan assisted a lion’s share of rappers who have gained notoriety on their own merit. Killah Priest, hailing from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, is one of these alumni. Priest (as he prefers being called now) made his memorable debut in 1994 on “6 Feet Deep”, the first LP by The Gravediggaz (a group spearheaded by Wu-Tang Clan leader The RZA). In 1995, he appeared on two classic Wu-Tang solo albums: “Liquid Swords” by The GZA and ...

DJ Toast Retires His Show After 17 Yrs.

May 20, 2006

DJ Toast

Toast, Killah Priest, Cappadonna & Born Divine at WRPI Studio

After 17 years of spinning at, and hosting his own show, “The Main Event,” on 91.5 on WRPI in Troy, New York, DJ Toast has decided to retire. Toast had a tradition of not only spinning the best in good Hip Hop, but also interviewing heavyweights within the genre. To celebrate his retirement of the show, he is throwing a major party featuring Guru of Gangstarr and Smif n Wessun of the Boot Camp. For more info visit DJToast.com. Insomniac would like to thank Toast for all he has done to support the culture and sound of real Hip Hop.

Photo courtesy of DJtoast.com .

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