LEO37

Artist Information
Biography"Lyricist, turntablist, label co-owner and creator of magnitude." (Rokon Magazine - Seoul) 

In only 5 years of work, prairie-born LEO37 (née Leo Shia) has managed to amass a resume that boasts accolades and accomplishments comparable to most industry veterans – and he’s done so independently.  2 solo albums, 2 digital releases, numerous studio collaborations and hundreds of performances in packed houses through 11 countries: it would appear that independence isn’t such a bad thing.

Beginning his involvement in music early on with organ lessons at the age of 8 and trumpet and drums shortly thereafter, it wouldn’t be until he got his 16 year old hands on a set of turntables that his part-time hobby mutated into full-blown obsession.  With the opportunity to both expand on his career and pursue a higher education, Leo relocated to Toronto in 2001 where he earned a degree from Ryerson University's prestigious Radio and Television Arts Program while also finding himself on stage and in studio with some of the city's most acclaimed jazz, folk, pop and hip-hop artists, including Christine Bougie (Ronley Teper), Dafydd Hughes (Esthero & Feist) and Soliva.  

In late 2004, following a mad season in the UK, Leo recorded Winter, his debut release on PPF House.  Met with rave response, the 7-track EP sold out of its initial pressing in just under a month and received a nomination for Best Hip-Hop Album at the 2005 Toronto Independent Music Awards.  This was followed a year later with Summer, a full length offering which traded in Winter's digital soundscapes for a live band made up of some of Canada's biggest jazz heavyweights.  "From jazz to rock...disco to drum and bass...the point [of Summer] is positivity, but there's also an emphasis on pushing musical boundaries." (The Star Phoenix - Saskatoon)

Since then, Leo’s gone on to release: Applause (2009) – with fellow prairie-born/Toronto-based producer, Sunclef; Icarus (2010) – with PPF House’s resident noisemakers, the Worst Pop Band Ever; executive produced and performed on the label compilation PPF House Basement Suite (2007) -- that was declared "...one of the most original sounds in Canada." by Exclaim! – as well as toured through Canada, the U.S., the U.K., the Netherlands, 7 countries through South East Asia and has been a featured guest at the: TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival, Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, Spring Scream (Taiwan) and NXNE.  "...skilled flow and massive stage presence... Even the people chatting in the back of the room had to stand up and take notice when Leo grabbed the mic." (+886 Magazine – Taipei)

Now back in studio, Leo’s preparing his yet to be titled follow-up to Summer with Toronto-based producer/multi-instrumentalist, John Poon due out Spring 2011. 

Having shared the stage with an eclectic mix of artists ranging from Del the Funky Homosapien to the Bad Plus, Tittsworth to Aloe Blacc, and drawing inspiration from the careers of artists like Miles Davis, the Soulquarians, the Native Tongues, Radiohead and Bjork, LEO37 strives for forward-thinking, content-driven music with a thick groove.  Be it as a solo performer, a producer or a turntablist, his range is deep and diverse, offering forth a smart, danceable and utterly unique soundtrack for our times.  

InstrumentationLEO37 - Emcee/DJ/Producer
Sunclef - Producer/Bass

Previous tour and album contributors: 
Banks, Chris                        - Bass
Bougie, Christine                  - Guitar
DaCosta, Justin (Mr. Blends)- Emcee
Hughes, Daffydd                  - Keys
Martin, Amery (Abyss)          - Emcee
McIntosh, Richard (RAM!)    - Emcee/Producer
Shia, Howie (S.Pop)            - Producer
Shia, Tim (Bok Sau)              - Drums/Producer
Trask, Jordan                      - Drums
Vincent DePaul, Shan          - Emcee
Zubeck, Nick                        - Guitar/Vocals/Producer
Discography2010
- LEO37 - Icarus - Writer, Producer, Performer

2009
- LEO37 + Sunclef - Applause - Writer, Performer

2007
- VARIOUS ARTISTS - PPF Basement Suite - Writer, Producer, Performer

2006
- LEO37 - Summer - Writer, Producer, Performer
- Worst Pop Band Ever - Thanks For Coming Out - Turntablist
- Urban Mythology - Cultural Cannibalism - Guest Writer/Performer on 'Good Morning' 

2005
- LEO37 - Winter - Writer, Producer, Performer
- Various Artists - Songs from the Bridge City - Compilation featuring 'Work it Out' from 'Winter'
Links

http://www.ppfhouse.com

Facebook

MySpace

Twitter

Bandcamp

"Ne-Yo"...a fabulous song writer!

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

' 

Ne-Yo' is only 30-years old, but he's already established himself as one of the elite song writers on the American pop and R and B scene.

Born with the name Shaffer Chimere Smith, 'Ne-Yo' is also an accomplished singer, record producer, rapper, and film actor.  However, it's as a song writer that he's collaborated with and written songs for a virtual who's who of superstars, including 'Mary J. Blige', 'B2K', 'Faith Evans', 'The Goo Goo Dolls', 'Rihanna', 'Beyonce Knowles', 'Leona Lewis', 'Whitney Houston', Celine Dion', 'Ciara', 'Enrique Iglesias', and 'Linsay Lohan'.

Ne-Yo's parents, both musicians, split up when he was a toddler, and it was his mother, of African American and Chinese descent who moved the family from Arkansas to Las Vegas, Nevada.

There, Ne-Yo joined a four-piece band called 'Envy', which broke up in 2000, after which he recorded his first solo album with 'Columbia Records'.

But, he was dropped from their label prior to its release, and that's when singer 'Marques Houston' snapped up one of Ne-Yo's tracks called "My Girl", and re-recorded it for his own 2003 album "MH".

This got him noticed, and for the next two years Ne-Yo wrote songs for many top stars.  His single "Let Me Love You" performed by American star 'Mario', topped the 'Billboard Top-100 list for nine weeks!

It's been an uphill climb from there!  'Def Jam Records' president 'Jay-Z' quickly signed him to his label, and in early 2006 Ne-Yo recorded his debut album "In My Own Words"....with hit singles "So Sick", "When You're Mad", and "Sexy Love" all making the 'Billboard Top-100'.

Next came his sophomore LP "Because of You", followed by last year's "Year Of The Gentleman", an album from which Ne-Yo infers that the essence of a gentleman is absent right now in the music business.

"Everybody's kind of rude and full of themselves, whereas a gentleman is couirteous, kind, and charming", he says.

This charming gentleman's latest album "Libra Scale" is due out in October, with the opening single "Beautiful Monster" having already been released this past May.

Ne-Yo's acting career features two movie roles in the 2007 films "Save the Last Dance 2", and "Stomp the Yard", with three other projects planned for later this year and in 2011.

As for the unusial name Ne-Yo, it was coined by producer 'Big D Evans', who claimed that Ne-Yo sees music the same way that 'Neo" sees the matrix. 

Evans kept calling him Ne-Yo, along with everyone else....and the name stuck! So have all of Ne-Yo's fantastic songs and lyrics.

Thanks, and be sure to log on to Streetwise Radio, on www.Streetwisesd.com  

Sincerely, PeteCam4

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9-Year Old Phenomenon Rapper Ly’asia

9-Year Old Phenomenon Rapper Ly’asia to Release New Album
Daughter of IGT Fame Hits the Scene Powerfully with “A Star In The Making”
 
 
New York, USA— “A Star In The Making,” the new album by rapper Ly’asia, whose music has been compared to the music of Lil Mama, Eve and MC Lyte is set to release in the spring of 2010. Ly’asia’s music has caught the eye of the media and captured fans from across the country.  Her talent has been recognized within the Hip Hop community and critics have predicted that her music will make her one of Hip Hop’s most promising ingénues.  Why is Ly’asia’s music so special, one may ask?  Because for many who hear her music, it’s hard to believe Ly’asia is only 9 years old.
 
Growing up with her father Lagato Shine of IGT fame, Ly’asia has been exposed to many genres of music since the day she was born.  Picking up on her father’s swagger and lyrical flow like a seasoned professional, it wasn’t long before the young Ly’asia was coming up with music all on her own and taking command of the stage like it was the only thing she was born to do.
 
The recent music video for her song “Dream” really captures what Ly’asia is all about, showing her spunk, catchy dance moves and inspirational messages that reach well beyond her age.  As she continues to break down all barriers with dreams and aspirations not many other girls her age can even imagine, Ly’asia says she “hopes that [her] raps will influence young girls to grow up and believe they can be whatever they want to be."
 
Ly’asia’s strong voice has led her to perform at many musical venues. With her ability to take control of the stage with what some fans have called her “incredible presence,” many say she has the potential to be one of the greatest female rappers on today’s music scene.  For Ly’asia, getting her message across and being on the stage is what it is all about.  She says,  “I love making music and performing... when the crowd screams for me it makes me want to never stop!"
 
Even though her musical career takes up much of her time, Ly’asia also makes time for her other interests, such as basketball and cheerleading while still maintaining an impressive straight-A report card.  It is this down-to-earth character that makes Ly’asia stand out among other young musicians; her music is always relatable and accessible to audiences young and old.  Ly’asia says she hopes her raps will reach other girls her age and in the end, just make people happy.
 
For additional information about Ly’asia or the release of “A Star In The Making,” please visit the artist’s web sites:  www.lyasiaworld.com, www.myspace.com/lyasia9,
or www.overplay.com/lyasia  (for her EPK) or contact Laurena Marrone at gritpr@gmail.com.