What are the mtvU Woodies, exactly, and why should we care? Every fall music journalists are bombarded with press releases about this awards show, which will air on December 4. This year nominees include former-Atlantan Asher Roth (”Woodie of the Year”) and transplanted Atlantan Janelle Monae, (”Left Field Woodie,” given to “genre-busters”).
1. Atlanta-based bands repped our city at Bonnaroo. (via Metromix)
2. So now we know how T-Pain wooed Taylor Swift into recording a duet. He showed her his BIG ASS CHAIN. (via Concrete Loop)
3. And we thought Usher was boo’d up for life. (via Billboard)
4. Last week Jared Swilley was dishing it out. But can he take it? He might have to after this cutesy film soundtrack drops featuring a song (”Bad Kids”) from the Black Lips. (via Paste)
5. Still beating yourself up for missing Weezy earlier this year? Well, Christmas comes early for you my friend. He’s back in Atlanta this summer with Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy and Drake. (via Billboard)
ALMOST FAMOUS: Danny!
He’s dropped 10 albums, including three instrumentals and a Best Of — just to “be funny,” says the MC. He’s been on the shortlist for the Grammys, charted on Billboard, retired, and inevitably returned.
Yet, South Carolina-reared, Atlanta-based MC/producer Danny Swain, aka Danny!, still considers his upcoming show opening for rap phenom Drake on May 2 as his “official coming-out party.”
When Danny! emerged in 2004 with his debut, The College Kicked-Out, after being expelled from Claflin University following an alleged cheating scandal, he didn’t expect his career to move so slowly. His above-average, sample-heavy production and sometimes self-deprecating lyrics should’ve landed him on every blogger’s hit list with the cyber rappers of the day. It didn’t.
Continue reading “Danny! is something like a phenomenon”
(Photo courtesy Danny Swain)
