15 May Looking For Myself: Jared Evan talks industry politics, discovering Hip-Hop, Boom Bap & Blues
23 Mar Usher previews new album in London, talks fatherhood’s influence on “Sins Of My Father” | Album Preview
“I wanted to give you the foundation and allow you to hear where I am, and what the essence of expectations should be,” R&B superstar Usher Raymond says of tracks shared with London media at the preview event for his new album Looking 4 Myself (which contrary to reports is not called The Shanertance), held in the plush basement of The Arts Club on Thursday, March 22.
25 Nov N*E*R*D – Nothing | Album Review
Pharrell et al put on the N*E*R*D mask once again and bring us their Hip Hop Rock brand of music in the new album Nothing. Generally, the album gives us what we expect from the NERDs, bottom heavy drum knocking Hip Hop type pop-rock.
The lads have obviously been listening to a lot of Quincy Jones because the pumping horns on tracks like ‘Party People’ and ‘Perfect Defect’ are very well produced. What I love is that NERD display a distinct difference between their sound and the Neptunes sound, however there is something that strings them both together.
14 Sep New Educational Leaders: Mimi Valdes & Pharrell Williams’ Kidult Youth Enterprise
As one half of the legendary production tandem, The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams has experienced numerous triumphs in his career. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry today, but his work outside of the musical arena is where his legacy will be forever defined. His other non-musical ventures include the Billionaire Boys Club clothing line and a partnership with Bionic Yarn, a textile firm that develops environmentally sustainable fabrics using recycled plastic bottles. But perhaps his latest undertaking will leave an indelible mark on the minds of the next generation.
Alongside his longtime friend, Mimi Valdes, he has co-founded a new venture, called Kidult. Mimi Valdes is the former editor-in-chief of VIBE and Latina magazines respectively. She has been in the entertainment industry for close to 20 years and has worked with some of the all-time greats in the business.
In 2007, Williams reached out to Valdes to express his strong desire to build something geared toward his young fan base. In 2009, both Williams and Valdes went to work on constructing a blueprint for success and in January of this year they officially launched Kidult.com, a news and entertainment website for teens, created by Pharrell Williams.
“This is something I wish I had when I was growing up as a kid,” says Williams. “Most of the other kids I went to school with didn't understand me as an individual and it was always more fun to have conversations with adults.”
Kidult was created with that premise in mind; a place where kids who were misunderstood by their peers would have a place to voice their opinions and ideas with like-minded individuals with a desire to change the world they live in.
This weekend, I had the esteemed pleasure to speak with Kidult Co-Founder, Mimi Valdes to learn more about the partnership she has embarked on with Williams and the vision they have for the venture as a whole.
02 Jun UNPRECEDENTED, AMAZING SH*T – Chester French Interview
UNPRECEDENTED, AMAZING SHIT Chester French interview By Marsha Gosho Oakes
“You’re going to watch history unfold with these guys. I feel it in my gut,” champions Pharrell, who won a bidding war with Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri to sign this musical duo. Weeks before their forthcoming gig in London (9th June @ Old Blue Last), 24-year-old Hardvard graduates Max Drummey (better known in gossip magazines for his relationship with Peaches Geldof) and D.A. Wallach, collectively known as Chester French, speak to SoulCulture about the response to their debut album, Love The Future.