Japan Benefit Concert:  Steelo, Black Stax, Ayo.O, SK

Steelo

Steelo is a Seattle-based R&B/Pop/Hip-Hop recording duo comprised of MC A.Uno, who is of Iranian and Mexican decent, and known for delivering rhymes in English, Spanish and Farsi, and singer Bobby K, who’s noted for his musical range and smooth delivery. From soulful acoustic ballads to party tracks, Steelo’s energy comes to life through their charismatic performances; their music is a lyrical fashion show of urban-pop styles that boasts vibrant colors and modern cuts.

Steelo released their debut album “Music,” produced by hit-maker Fingazz of Streetlight Music, in 2009 and as a result, the group was added to the 2009 National Sneaker Pimps Tour in Los Angeles and Seattle, the largest traveling hip hop lifestyle and sneaker exhibition in the world, sponsored by Xbox and Verizon Wireless. Steelo has also appeared at Seattle Fashion Week and at a BMI showcase at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, which aired as part of a special on NBC Mun2’s “One Nation Under Hip Hop.” In 2010, Steelo’s album was picked up by Japan’s P-Vine Records and released as a special version, which included the single “We On It,” exclusively in Japan.

The group is planning to release a new EP “Neon Grey” in early 2011, which features production by producers Illoquint, Happy Perez and Freddy Stylez.

College radio embraced Steelo’s edgy and contemporary sound early on as a musical backdrop to study sessions and football games and they continue to be popular to the college-aged fan. Steelo’s single “Make Up My Mind,” a bouncy club anthem with searing R&B vocals and a party feel, was the #2 added record to national College Radio in it’s first week, second only to rap icon Nas. The song reached the #1 spot and remained in the Top 10 for five consecutive weeks.

The music video for “Make Up My Mind” was added to rotation on NBC’s Mun2 network, MTV Tr3s, Eye Music Network, Official Heat Television and Foot Locker’s national closed circuit television.

Steelo started their career on the Lowrider Car Show circuit opening for artist such as Baby Bash and Lil Rob, and they quickly discovered that their unique sound had a much more mainstream appeal – and that the ladies loved them. “Our fan base is mostly younger girls, they come to our shows to have a good time and vibe out to the music, we take it as a challenge to keep it fresh,” explains Bobby K. More recently Steelo has lent their talents to open for Pitbull, Sean Kingston, Rich Boy and Lloyd Banks.

In stylistic contrast, the group’s first single “Let It Roll” was a smooth, feel good, summer cruising track. It was dubbed “a sure fire summer hit” by Wild 96.1 in Riverside, California and earned more than 400 national radio spins, including tastemaker-station Power 106 in Los Angeles and the increasingly popular Sirius Satellite Radio.

Steelo understands their appeal to younger fans and as such they feel a responsibility to not only make music but to encourage them to follow dreams and live with passion. Steelo steps off the stage and into the classroom of many Puget Sound-area schools, connecting directly with fans and conducting a student empowerment program. They talk with classrooms about achieving personal and professional goals. The school-based workshop creates a dialogue and builds a lasting relationship with music fans, on a personal level.

The group draws its name from the Spanish word estilo, which means style and the urban slang steelo, with the same connotation.

DISCOGRAPHY

Neon Grey (EP, May 2011)
My Queen (Single, February 2011)
We On It (Single, October 2010)
Music Japan (Album, October 2010)
Music (Album, June 2009)
Make Up My Mind (Single, 2008)
Let It Roll (Single, 2007)
Well Connected (Mixtape, 2006)
Steelo Presents: A.Uno & Bobby K (EP, 2004)

Black Stax

Black Stax is the avant-garde of Seattle hip-hop that released their debut album Talking Buildings on June 1, 2010.  Comprised of MCs Silas Blak and Jace ECAj and vocalist Felicia Loud, Black Stax creates an eclectic, urban sound that is reminiscent of The Roots and The coup with a dash of classic Janis Joplin.

Black Stax makes creative, challenging and emotional music with an injection of hip hop and 70s-era soul.  “Our sound is the soul of a songbird full of parables and riddles.  We speak to the streets, classrooms, clubs and community,” explains Jace ECAj.  “It’s more than hip hop, R&B or soul, it’s more of a classic combination like Soul 2 Soul and Groove Theory or just dope ass vibe music,” adds Blak.

A collaboration that works, Black Stax successfully blends musical genres and attracts a varied and supportive following.

In a recent review, The Stranger said “what defines Loud is…is her flawless command of the tones and textures of American Soul…what defines [the MCs] is their commitment to a hip hop that is complicated at the levels of ideas and expression, politics and language.”

Besides their unparalleled sound, what sets Black Stax apart is their ability to put on a memorable live show.  Individually they are veteran performers and collectively they are masters of setting a vibe and drawing in an audience.

Felicia Loud is a born performer, an impressive stage actress (who most recently starred in Strawberry Theater Workshop’s Lay Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill) and has a reputation for packing live music venues both big and small.  The Seattle Times called her “more than good – she’s a wonder.”  Fellow Black Stax member Silas Blak explains “Felicia brings light to our darkness, clarity to women and intrigues men.”

Silas Blak and Jace ECAj, of the The Silent Lambs Project, have been a Seattle hip-hop staple since the 1990’s.  ”At every Silent Lambs Project concert they remind the audience that ‘this is serious music.’ It’s not ‘innocent’ ass-shaking rap, or thugged-out ‘reality’ rap, and it isn’t watery ‘elevated-consciousness’ rap, either…[they] have figured out is not to make reactionary rap that provides answers, but to maintain rap as a challenge. As a result, they write complex, refreshing songs,” raved The Stranger.

Black Stax has appeared in the pages of The Stranger Newspaper, Seattle Weekly Newspaper and The Hype Magazine; online features include publicola.net and hiphoppress.com.  They have also performed at Seattle’s popular music venues such as Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater, Contour, ETG, Langston Hughes Performing Art Center, ACT Theater, and Chop Suey, at the Malcolm X Hip Hop Festival and on the national Dope Emporium Tour.

Ayo.O

Ayo started honing his skills as an emcee at the age of 14. He was exposed to soul/funk and RnB bands such as Earth Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Jackson Five and numerous others. His first rap album influence was Lethal Injection by Ice Cube. Over a decade later, he linked up with Ihop through a mutual friend in 2004 and together they created hits such as Fast cars, Old school to new school and Set it off. Other collaborations have spurred favorites such as My Dreams, hands high, it's ok and many more. He's on a quest to put Seattle on the hip hop map and still represent his west African roots.
Expect many more from this emcee representing two Wests.

SK

SK is the most recent artist to be signed to Sportn' Life Records. He is currently working on his debut e.p. titled "Late Arrival". Most recently SK has performed at the 2010 Capitol Hill Block Party and has also opened for national recording artist Red Cafe.