When preparation meets opportunity, dreams can become reality. For rapper Bobby Sessions and High Standardz, the management company and record label behind Sessions since he began his solo career, that transformation has begun. In January, social media posts surfaced showing Sessions in a high-rise Manhattan boardroom. There was no indication…
At the beginning of the year, Dallas rapper Bobby Sessions announced his deal with Def Jam records. Now, for his highly anticipated debut for the storied hip-hop record label, there will be a listening party. RVLTN: The Divided States Of AmeriKKKa is set to be released Friday. High Standardz, the the management…
Scratch Session, Banjos to Beats’ summer DJ series at It’ll Do, is in full swing. The first installment was two weeks ago with DJ Nu-Mark, and legendary mixologist DJ Z-Trip will preside over the turntables Friday night. On a phone call Wednesday afternoon, Z-Trip expressed his excitement to be a…
Electro pop singer-songwriter LEV released the music video for her latest single, “Last Mouth Running,” on Friday. The video features playful cat-and-mouse-style choreography between LEV and the video’s love interest, who appears to be delightfully and hopelessly under her spell. The two make their way on foot through parts of…
Visual artist Leigha Lugo of Light Era Studios has teamed up with the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs for her musically infused art installation project called Play On, Dallas. Lugo has painted three pianos; one will be placed in Dallas Farmers Market, one in Pegasus Plaza downtown and at Love…
A group of burlesque performers have come together in the name of camaraderie and community service. Mary Lynn Mayhem founded Bad Girls Club DFW in 2017, and it officially launched in January. The members aim to use their positions within the burlesque community to pursue philanthropic endeavors. Mayhem’s idea to start…
Cedric Moses, who performs under the stage name Mozez Tha Great, is all smiles lately. How could he not be? Moses is days away from accomplishing a goal he set for himself more than four years ago. On Saturday at Trees, Mozez Tha Great will headline I am Dallas Hip…
Duncanville native Rakim Al-Jabbaar is the son of Big Al from the seminal rap crew Nemesis, one of the first hip-hop acts from Dallas to gain national fame in the late ’80s and early ’90s. His namesake is Rakim of the legendary rap duo Eric B. & Rakim. History has…
Dezi 5, one of Dallas’ most beloved performers, is back in town this weekend. He performs Friday night during the Deep Pride show at the Ruins in Deep Ellum. While in New York, Dezi 5 has been displaying his energetic brand of stage performance throughout the five boroughs. He released an EP…
Drag queen extraordinaire May May Graves is a twisted soul with a dark sense of humor and Marilyn Manson-like stage presence. She is a highly sought-after event host and producer. As a burlesque instructor, Grave’s maternal skills have helped transform novice students into cabaret pros. She’s an avid fan of…
Now that 2018 is halfway over, people begin to assess the goals they set and changes they vowed to make at the beginning of the year. This self-evaluation breeds hope for some and doubt for others. Sarah Bowdle, who performs under the name DJ Sarah Battle was simply happy to…
Singer-songwriter Jessie Frye continues to cultivate the synthwave pop side of her diverse skill set. On Friday, she released the video for her latest single, “Faded Memory,” produced by Timecop1983. “Faded Memory” is akin to one of Frye’s most successful singles, “Honey.” In many ways, the songs are two sides…
Hip-hop artist Topic solidified himself as one of the best lyricists and stage performers in Dallas. His transparency about the ups and downs within his personal life and an infectious sense of humor endeared him to fans. Topic has survived several career setbacks, including the highly publicized theft of a…
Banjos to Beats has assembled some of the most iconic names ever to grace turntables for its summer DJ series Scratch Session. The lineup comprises DJ Nu-Mark, DJ Z-Trip, Just Blaze, Kid Capri, Mix Master Mike, and DJ Jazzy Jeff. The shows will be Fridays at It’ll Do from June…
Hip-hop artist Jamil Kelley has received critical acclaim since he began his career in 2013 under the moniker Buffalo Black. The Oak Cliff native aims to validate past accolades with the release of his new album, Be Like Water. Buffalo Black unveiled his latest project Friday at Spinster Records, where…
For 12 years, DJ Lord Byron has provided a Friday night refuge for the goth-industrial dance scene with his weekly party, Panoptikon. The event began in 2006 at the now-defunct Club One in Deep Ellum. Panoptikon has survived several venue shifts and the ever-changing landscape of Dallas nightlife. At 9:30…
Veteran Dallas hip-hop artist Dorrough is off to a strong start in the second quarter of 2018. On May 16, Mayor Mike Rawlings and Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway presented Dorrough with a key to the city of Dallas. The ceremony also announced that July 28 will officially be known…
The music career of The Black Cassettes is best described as nascent. All three members reached legal drinking age within the last five months, so they’re cloaked in enviable youth. They formed three years ago but have yet to record a full body of music or go on an extensive…
Instagram has been a godsend for photographers aiming to build a strong fan base. Locally, DTX Street has established itself as one of leading homegrown brands on the social media site. It’s operated by three multigenre creatives: Missy Monoxide, High Vis and Vu Tuan. They go by these names because DTX…
Dentonite Deanna Smith, 24, more than held her own against some of the best tattoo artists in the country on this season of Ink Master. Smith is still a couple of months shy of having four years logged as a professional tattoo artist. However, she made it to the top…
Allow us to tell you something: Weed is popular. Stacy, from the movie The Wood, said it best: “Weed is universal. You name me one race that don’t smoke bud.” We decided to reach out to a few Dallas burlesque performers for a friendly inquisition about cannabis. In celebration of…
Bobby Sessions’ career as a major label artist at Def Jam has begun. Last week, the Dallas rapper released his first single, “Like Me,” and it has received rave reviews from NPR and Pitchfork. The track addresses the climate of racial injustice in America, both past and present. It’s a…
