Ground Lift Media & Jugrnaut Chicago are teaming up on October 1st, 2010 to commemorate another successful year! Respectively celebrating their 4th & 3rd year anniversaries, together these companies have worked tirelessly towards promoting, nurturing, and building Chicago’s Hip-Hop and Urban Fashion scenes. Join us as we look forward to another 365!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24th, 2010
GROUND LIFT MEDIA 4YR & JUGRNAUT 3YR ANNIVERSARIES w/ Pac Div, Mic Terror, Que B.I.L.L.A.H. & More!

Produced in conjunction with online media partners Rubyhornet.com & Fusicology.com, this anniversary concert will feature performances by Universal/Motown recording artists Pac Div (the official Grown Kids Syndrome album release concert), local legends Mic Terror, Que B.I.L.L.A.H. & Timbuck2, as well as DJs TREW (of Ground Lift Media), Matt.Boy.White., & Manny Muscles (both of Jugrnaut).  Hosted by Awdazcate.

As an exclusive anniversary bonus, Ground Lift Media will be hosting a contest where local musicians can register to win an opening slot on an upcoming Ground Lift Media-produced event! Boasting a concert resume which includes sold out shows with national recording artists like Little Brother, Wale, Mayer Hawthorne, Blu, & Tanya Morgan; Ground Lift Media concerts offer artists high levels of focused exposure, promotion, and branding. Contest details can be found here (http://bit.ly/9g0mU9).  Swag bags courtesy of Jugrnaut, Mishka, 10Deep, & more!

Event Info:
Pacific Division w/ Mic Terror, Que B.I.L.L.A.H, Timbuck2, DJs TREW, Matt.Boy.White., Manny Muscles, Awdazcate.

Friday, October 1st, 2010
Subterranean
2011 W. North Ave.  Chicago, IL
Doors 10pm, 17+, $13 presales at subt.net

Fans will be invited to meet and greet Pac Div in-person at Jugrnaut (427 S. Dearborn Chicago, IL) 6pm-8pm, immediately before the show at Subterranean.

Pac Div Biography:

As Hip Hop attempts to regain its definition, fans have already defined it with Southern California trio, Pac Div.  The group consists of brothers, Like and Mibbs, along with longtime friend BeYoung.  The three came together in high school.  While new talents strayed towards microwave music that trades quantity for quality, Pac Div crafted an original sound timeless sound influenced by the golden era of hip hop.

In 2006, Pac Div released a thematic mix tape. The tracks chronicled day-jobs, trying to appeal to the fairer sex without fat pockets, restoring a Black presence in Hip Hop, and carefully coifed wardrobes amidst the pursuit of glory. The results were jarring, the unsigned group landed on the pages of many magazines,  Vapors, Urb, Source, XXL, Billboard, Rolling Stones, and 944 Magazine.  As well as a large internet presence followed.

During the course of the group’s development, Hip Hop superstars began to notice.  With Myspace love alone, Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes reached out to affirm that Pac Div is making innovative and fun music.  After that, a chance meeting with The Roots’ Questlove in a Los Angeles record store led to a passed demo – which shockingly then led to the drummer personally calling the group to also extend support. In Addition to Snoop Dogg shouting out on one of his songs, the group received approval from Talib Kweli, 9th Wonder, and Ludacris.  Rather than crutch these endorsements on album covers and Myspace banners, the trio matter-of-factly reminded fans that this was no overnight success.

Offers from major labels followed, the group found a home with Universal Motown Records and readying for their debut release, Grown Kid Syndrome late 2009.  The album delightfully forgets the tangents rap music has taken in the mainstream and simply affirms that good music is timeless.  Pac Div is crafting their album are focused on making sure their live show is well…live. The group has toured domestically and internationally with heavy hitters and tastemakers alike, Nas, Q-tip, Busta Rhymes, ICE- T, and Ludacris.

The depth of Chicagoland’s musical heritage may often be unfathomable –labels like Cadet, Delmark, Dust Traxx, and dozens more all call Chicago ‘home’– but the global cultural impact of our city’s music scene is anything but deniable. With Chicago Urban Art Society and Ground Lift Media’s new bi-monthly Record Show “Warehouse Junkies,” we whole-heartedly celebrate and embrace Chicago’s rich musical lineage, and bring together a group of individuals in a pursuit of music and buying, selling and trading.

“Warehouse Junkies” isn’t your typical Record Show.

Using their gallery to its fullest, Chicago Urban Art Society will repurpose their space as the official “Warehouse Junkies” venue. In this non-traditional environment, vendors will consist of Chicago-based music retailers as well as local independent dealers, collectors, and DJs. Customers are invited to shop – buy/trade – rare, valuable and classic merchandise while local DJs talents provide the soundtrack.

<< VENDOR REGISTRATION & ADDITIONAL INFO HERE >>

Whether you’re looking for a dusty copy of Muddy Water’s “Electric Mud” or a CD repress of Felix Da Housecat’s debut 12inch single, “Warehouse Junkies” will features all genres and forms of music. From LPs, to 45s, to 12inchs, to CDs, and maybe even some cassette tapes!

“Warehouse Junkies” is Chicago’s ONLY bi-monthly Record Show that occurs within city limits. Just a quick CTA ride away (we’re accessible by all major bus and train lines) or stroll over after brunch in Pilsen. Doors open at 1pm, close at 6pm, early bird at 11am. A far cry from a typical 8am Record Show start time. So feel free to take that extra Jamo shot Friday night and we’ll see you at the crack of Noon!!

About CUAS:

Peter Kepha and Lauren Pacheco were one-half of the 32^nd & Urban gallery/spacefounding team in November 2005. Opening it’s doors on Chicago’s Southside community of Bridgeport, 32^nd & Urban joined the emerging art scene along with Zhou Brothers, Co-Prosperity Sphere (CPS), Artists of East Bank, MN gallery, and others.  The Gallery focused on contemporary art exhibitions featuring local emerging & established talent. After closing its doors in 2008, Lauren and Peter Kepha decided to re-group and form the Chicago Urban Art Society (CUAS), a not-for-profit organization focusing on the artist and the preservation of the Chicago art movement.

About GLM:

Founded in 2006, Ground Lift Media (www.groundliftmedia.com) is an event production, PR/marketing , a&r company which targets and works within the many progressive, tastemaker niche demographics of urban culture. This is achieved by crafting sponsor-specific events, heavily marketed, conceptualized, and branded towards tastemakers, featuring an immersive A/V experience tailored for the desired niche demographic(s).

By defining trends and strategically partnering with key influencers in media, music, and urban culture-based industries, Ground Lift Media creates synergy between brands desiring exposure to tastemakers, and artists whose followings are comprised of those same tastemakers. This result is supplemented by intensive, market-specific promotion comprised of both street-level, and online-based campaigns.

Event Information:

Warehouse Junkies
August 28th 2010
Chicago Urban Art Society Gallery
2229 S. Halsted, 1pm-6pm

$5 General Admission, $10 early bird (11am)
Vendors: $25 Booth Free (limited # of tables available for rental. 1st come, 1st served)

Press Contact or Vendor Availability:

Nigel Ridgeway
trew@groundliftmedia.com

'Ancient Astronauts Invade Chicago 2010' Mix

Essentially, this promo mix release is one bigger track made up of four mini mix-installments or ‘Visits’ influenced by the German DJ/production duo, Ancient Astronauts (ESL Music/Switchstance Recordings).  The two gents, Kabanjak and Dogu, use different styles and work them into a grand allure that’s become their trademark sound, recognized by music communities internationally. Four of Chicago’s favorite DJs each composed a 20-minute mix that takes Ancient Astronauts’ notable approach and slight-twists it into a stirring sonic presentation. Each installment contains bass and beats that blubber and punctuate steady syncopation and cadence, while incorporating sounds that normally never meet.  Check out the mix-tetralogy here! DJ John Simmons, DJ Trew, DJ Newlife, and DJ Intel open for Ancient Astronauts.  Ground Lift Media, Redlight Productions, and The Dirty Social present a Pre-Lollapalooza event on August 5, 2010 at the Darkroom (2210 W Chicago Ave, Chicago IL)  More information on their live performance can be found at http://www.groundliftmedia.com or http://www.darkroombar.com

As we approach the 2010 Lollapalooza festival weekend, Ground Lift Media & The Dirty Social are proud to announce a special pre-festival set by Lollapalooza artists - Ancient Astronauts (ESL Music / Switchstance Records)!

Fresh of their tour with fellow ESL artists Thievery Corporation, the Cologne, Germany-based DJ / production duo is ready to herald in a memorable weekend with a special DJ set at Chicago’s Darkroom alongside DJs Intel, John Simmons, Newlife, & TREW…

For some, this August weekend is like a small vacation from bustling reality – so, come by for the start of the excitement!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

Press inquiries please contact:

Nigel Ridgeway, Ground Lift Media
trew@groundliftmedia.com

ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS INVADE CHICAGO

Ground Lift Media, The Dirty Social, and Redlight Productions present:

Lollapalooza 2010 artists Ancient Astronauts (Switchstance Recording/ESL Music) for an exclusive pre-festival engagement at the Darkroom on August 5, 2010. Fresh off their recent tour with fellow producers Thievery Corporation, this concert marks the Ancient Astronaut’s first ever Chicago performance.

Ancient Astronauts, in theory, were believed to be extraterrestrial beings and some of the greatest influences of human culture, organizational perception, technologies. In their earthly forms, band members Kajanbak and Dogu hail from Cologne, Germany bringing an inimitable sound that combines the unthinkable new with the rhythms of generations past. They together are a production team, working with artists including Imani and Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Raashan Ahmad of Crown City Rockers, Ali Farka Toure, Tippa Irie, Zion I, Azeem, and Bajka. Their most recent album ‘We Are to Answer’ was released on ESL Music, a D.C.-based label home to Thievery Corporation, Frederic Aubele, & Ursula 1000 among others. Amid a hectic touring schedule, they continue to release music and mixes, in accompaniment to running their own label, Switchstance Recordings.

Also joining the festivities are Chicago’s esteemed DJs John Simmons, DJ Trew (Ground Lift Media), DJ Intel (Dirty Social), and DJ NewLife.

Event Details:
Thursday, August 5th 2010
Darkroom
2210 W. Chicago Ave.
Doors @ 9pm, 21+, $7 before 10pm, $10 after

Ancient Astronauts:

MySpace
Facebook

A 12″ single from brand new Stonesthrow imprint Innovative Leisure Records featuring 4 exclusive remixes/edits for acclaimed emcee Freddie Gibbs out of Gary, Indiana. Renowned producers from across the country were hand-picked for this project including LA’s Capski, Bay Area’s Trackademicks, San Antonio’s Mexicans With Guns, and Chicago’s Maker. As a whole, this 12inch presents an eclectic set of tracks which create a futuristic, fresh, & new canvas for the emcee’s witty and sharp street lyricism.

Check out Maker’s edit of Gibbs’ track “Slammin’” below courtesy ot DJ RTC & Rubyhornet.com… And purchase the full vinyl or mp3 12inch here.

Freddie Gibbs: Slammin (Maker Remix) by RubyHornet

Don’t forget, Gibbs will be hosting this week’s Digital Freshness with DJ RTC and DJ VIPJ of The Cool Kids.  Digital Freshness happens 7.15.10 at Chicago’s Beauty Bar.  Entry is $10 at the door and $5 with an advance RSVP to RubyHornet@gmail.com

As part of Scion’s new Radio 17 Host EP series, Atlanta DJ Rob Wonder created “No Static At All,” a companion compilation for his streaming radio station of the same name. Like Wonder’s radio show, the EP is a rumbling mix of music styles and young talent from around the planet such as Bok Bok, Kastle, Kingdom and Klever.

Ground Lift Media artist Maker chimes in with two productions, “Juke Me” & “Silver Mountain“. The former appears on the long-awaited sophomore LP by Chicago’s own Psalm One, and the latter appears here as an instrumental but will also feature verses from Qwel on Qwel & Maker’s upcoming album titled Owl (Galapagos4).

As Wonder says, “This collection of sounds was put together to move minds, hearts and feet.” Coinciding with this musical release, there is also a booklet (available both in print and digitally) about “No Static At All” featuring tweaked creature illustrations by Atlanta art legend R. Land. (Tracklist below)

If you want to keep up with Rob’s adventures follow @robwonder on Twitter and check out his radio show with new episodes every first Thursday of the month at robwonderradio.com. The June episode features Kastle delivering an A-1 exclusive mix. Don’t miss it! Only got a week left before the new show debuts.

Psalm One – “Juke Me” (prod. by Maker)

Maker – “Silver Mountain”

“No Static At All” Tracklist:

Rob Wonder & Mayhem – Rejoice
Psalm One – Juke Me
Maker – Silver Mountain
B. Rich feat Armanni Reigh and Sporty-O – U Made Me
Bok Bok – Ripe Banana 2
Kingdom – Pathfinder
Kastle feat Virus Syndicate – Need U
Klever – Bliss

Check out Rob Wonder online here:  www.robwonder.com

Ground Lift Media is proud to announce the TBS’ “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival. Headliners include cutting edge comics and fan favs Aziz Ansari & Patton Oswalt, as well as the “Original King Of Comedy“, Cedric the Entertainer. TBS-sanctioned events happen all over the city, and on June 17th we’ll be at Martyr’s for our ‘The City That Works‘ variety showcase featuring the sketch comedy troupe Schadenfreude, local Hip-Hop hero Rhymefest, and the Funk/Soul band The Jordan Years.  More on that can be found below or here.

Wednesday June 2th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press inquiries please contact:

Karin McKie, Tree Falls Productions
karin@treefalls.com

Schadenfreude, Chicago’s long-running, critically acclaimed comedy ensemble, and soul/funk/hip-hop band The Jordan Years present The City That Works, two performances of sketch comedy and music with special guests.  Parking meters are privatized, property taxes skyrocketing, unemployment at an all time high, city services cut back and crime on the rise, yet Schadenfreude is still happy to live in the “City that Works” (even though they can’t afford to).  The City That Works runs about 90 minutes.

Part of Chicago’s Just for Laughs Festival, the first The City That Works show is on Thursday, June 17, 2010, 9 p.m., at Martyrs, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., with $10 tickets at www.martyrslive.com.  In addition to Schadenfreude – Kate James, Justin Kaufmann, Sandy Marshall, and Stephen Schmidt – and The Jordan Years band, slated to perform are Grammy Award-winning rapper Rhymefest (comedy and rap), plus comics Brian Babylon and Joe Bill, as well as Schadenfreude’s premiere of “Local Commercial Theater,” where, just for laughs, Chicago celebs read their famous local ad spots, including DJs Eddie and JoBo (United Auto Insurance), and furniture maven Tim Smithe (Walter E. Smithe Bros., “you dream it, we build it”).

Schadenfreude Bio:

Formed in 1998, Chicago’s sketch comedy ensemble Schadenfreude has performed on local and national stages, and is the creator and producer of the radio program “Schadenfreude,” (which aired on Chicago Public Radio 2003-05).  Schadenfreude has performed at countless venues including Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, The Second City, The Neo-Futurarium, and in New York City and Los Angeles.  Schadenfreude performed sold-out shows at the Chicago Improv Festival (1998-2007) and was the inaugural recipient of the Festival Highlight Award.  The ensemble has been featured in several national comedy festivals, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and at various colleges.

1773 – “Mixed Signals Vol.1″ Mixtape, Hosted by Donwill (of Tanya Morgan)

The first of five releases of 2010, the gentlemen of 1773 emerge from the bone-chilling Chicago Winter having spent the past 5 months in full-on production mode. Featuring beatmaker talent from across the globe and a myriad of local Hip-Hop artists, their lead mixtape titled Mixed Signals Vol.1 (release date 5/28/2010) began as a single release but the overwhelming response from guest MCs necessitated two installments.

Hosted by Donwill (of Tanya Morgan), Volume 1 features include: Visual (Molemen/Community Service), Elevation (Fordafresh), Love Jones, MC Sick of Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats), Neak, Add-2, Sincerely Yours, Verbal Kent (Gravel), Phero, Itch13 (Superheroes of Sound), Cerebral Vortex (of Vertual Vertigo, MPM), Philip Morris, Awdazcate, and K-Sera. Certainly one of these names rings a bell, and if not considerthis a wakeup call!

Download 1773’s Mixed Signals Vol. 1 for FREE via music.1773live.com. Full mixtape downloads include hi-resolution cover art and liner notes, as well as an exclusive bonus track (“The Goodness feat. Othello”) from their upcoming full length album titled Sound Soulstice.

Presented by Ground Lift Media x Jugrnaut x The Find Magazine

We’re proud to announce SLUM VILLAGE live SATURDAY JULY 10th 2010 at DOUBLE DOOR in Chicago! The duo will be touring in preparation for the release of their new album VILLA MANIFESTO.. THE LP (Ne’Astra Music Group, August 2010), the group’s first project to be released since the passing of Slum Village founding member Baatin.

Press inquiries please contact:
Nigel Ridgeway trew@groundliftmedia.com

Tuesday May 25^th 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SLUM VILLAGE, with original members T3, Baatin and producer J Dilla, defined the sound of golden era hip hop coming out of Detroit.  The work of legendary producer J Dilla still echos in todays newer generation of artists.  The group’s first album, Fantastic, Vol 1. of 1996 wasn’t actually release until 2005 but was highly sought after by serious hip hop heads in all underground circles.  Their second effort, Fantastic, Vol. 2 featured D’Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Kurupt, Pete Rock and A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, among others.   It became an instant classic and and Slum Village was seen as the second coming of the Native Tongues (A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul) by member Q-Tip, as well as fans and journalists alike.

As J Dilla left to pursue a solo career, T3 brought in rapper Elzhi to join.  The group continued to be tested as Baatin departed the join to seek treatment for illness.  Since then producer J Dilla died from TTP and Lupus, and Baatin returned to the group in 2008 only to pass away last year.

Though two members are gone their creative energy stays in-tact.  Testament to this is the upcoming release of the new buzz single “Lock It Down” featuring Baatin and produced by J Dilla.  Chicago and Detroit hip hop has always had a similar soulful sound with lots of love in between, so expect a night of classic music that feels a little bit like a family reunion.

Opening for Slum is Chicago stand-out Que Billah with live band The Shocking Truth, 80’s Babies who’s new album Sonic Music is out now, with Crown Nation, DJ Rude One and Awdazcate as your host.

Presented by:

This event is brought to you by Groundlift Media and Cold Grums Productions.

Double Door
1572 N.Milwaukee Ave
21+   doors 9pm
$15 presales available at www.clubtix.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1773’s Mixed Signals Vol.1 Mixtape  & Release Party (Release date: 5/28/2010)

The first of five releases of 2010, the gentlemen of 1773 emerge from the bone-chilling Chicago Winter having spent the past 5 months in full-on production mode. Featuring beatmaker talent from across the globe and a myriad of local Hip-Hop artists, their lead mixtape titled Mixed Signals Vol.1 (release date 5/28/2010) began as a single release but the overwhelming response from guest MCs necessitated two installments.

Typically, 1773 limits guest appearances to 2-3 per release, so for Mixed Signals the fellas decided it was time to up the ante. “Chicago gets branded as ‘Haterville’ but on this release we aim to transcend any superficial boundaries created by that moniker” explains MC Just Jay. Essentially a musical experiment pulling from Chicago’s varied Hip-Hop scenes; as an end result, Mixed Signals Vol.1 is more than a mixtape but rather an all-city showcase.

Hosted by Donwill (of Tanya Morgan), Volume 1 features include: Visual (Molemen/Community Service), Elevation (Fordafresh), Love Jones, MC Sick of Pseudo Slang (Fat Beats), Neak, Add-2, Sincerely Yours, Verbal Kent (Gravel), Phero, Itch13 (Superheroes of Sound), Cerebral Vortex (of Vertual Vertigo, MPM), Philip Morris, Awdazcate, and K-Sera. Certainly one of these names rings a bell, and if not consider this a wakeup call!

As a bonus, 1773 has joined forces with Austrian beatmaker Trishes whose highly regarded edits of classic Soul songs by Bill Withers (“Make A Smile”) and Darondo (“Didn’t I”) are revisited here with MC’s Just J & Wisdm O.N.E. meshing almost preternaturally with the heartfelt lyrics and Trishes’ boom-bap arrangements. Other guest beatmakers include: THIR13TEEN (South Africa), Arkiv (Australia), and the city-central Sound Prophets (Chicago).

Download 1773’s Mixed Signals Vol. 1 for FREE via music.1773live.com. Full mixtape downloads include hi-resolution cover art and liner notes, as well as an exclusive bonus track (“The Goodness feat. Othello”) from their upcoming full length album titled Sound Soulstice.

Release Party Information:
May 28th, 2010 @ Division Street Bar
2525 W. Division St.
10pm-2am, FREE, 21+
DJs TREW & Itch13, circuit bending set by Demchuk.