Knowing Is Positive

2007 Knowing Is Positive HIV CD Featured Artists:

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ButterSoulFly, "Warrior, Dove, Lover" , But Her Soul Flies CD

But Her Soul Flies. With sparse but smart musical support from friends like Gerry Butterwick and Bilal Malik Mutawassim, she let's loose on an album that alternatingly speaks of heartache and triumph, but with a common message of independence and empowerment that is squarely aimed at African-American women. So the striking lover's ode for meaning, "Wish It Was Political," fits nicely near the more traditional message in "Emancipation of Barbie." But Her Soul Flies is particularly impressive because Tanesha's message, whether militant or spiritual, is always accessible. A nice beginning to a recording career.

By Chris Rizik, Link to Soultracks Review: http://www.soultracks.com/buttersoulfly-review

http://www.buttersoulfly.com/

L'Renee, "All I Need", Second Chances CD

Say the word Motown and you think of great music and undeniable, unforgettable voices. In 2006 a new artist, L'Renee, arrived and revived the spirit of Motown, embodying the legacy of real music with a voice that is a perfect blend of R&B, Jazz, Soul and Alternative.

Growing up in Detroit, in a musical household no less leaves no surprise that L'Renee developed a passion for music. L'Renee has also performed along side Stephanie Mills, Tremaine Hawkins, Eric Roberson, Jaquar Wright, Dwele,Conya Doss, Alison Crockett, Tony Ozier, Monica Blaire, Necco Redd, DJ Genesis, Penny Wells, Frank McComb, Gordon Chambers, Peter Hadar, Russell Taylor, Maya Azucensa, Maysa from Incognito,Kloud 9, Phil Perry, Rahssaun Patterson, Yalonda Johnson, Slum Village and DJ Des, Nick Speed, Naughty by Nature, and Musiq Soul Child. Hit makers including Rick Morrision , Saku Floyd, Renaissance Man and Q assisted with writing and producing the 15 track album that helped make L'Renee a household name.

http://www.lrenee.net/

Fertile Ground, "Black Is Beautiful"

Suddenly the sound of crisp horns, a gritty guitar, polyrhythmic percussion, and a soul-stirring keyboard sail out in balance to the tightly knitted community of music enthusiasts and underground connoisseurs that have become Fertile Ground’s audience. Shortly after, the lead vocalist, Navasha Daya appears, reminiscent of some sort of ceremonial queen, and her cosmic stage presence sends the audience cheering and eventually transports them from swaying into all out dancing. Fertile Ground has repeated this feat at venues all over the world. This once humble Baltimore-based jazz trio has evolved into a seven piece international powerhouse performing 50-80 shows a year, ranging from sold-out clubs to large stadium festivals. They have hypnotized music lovers at the Jazz Café in London, The Blue Note in Tokyo, B.B. King’s in NYC, The Dusable Museum in Chicago, Pier Six in Baltimore, and Blues Alley in D.C. Each of their shows is an opportunity to not only convert people into Fertile Ground fans, but also to renew a dying faith in the power of live music.

Black Is… the highly-anticipated CD, is the sequel to the acclaimed 2002 release Seasons Change, is a soulful jazz waltz ballad full of affirmation, the joyful noise of Live In the Light; and the introspectively revealing song Naked, which gives us an example of how to truly connect with and reflect each other.

The band is often classified as Soul-Jazz, but they spill out of any genre as a cross-cultural fusion of all things spiritual and funk-ridden. In this realm called good music, theatrics never replace integrity, nor does experience and success replace a creatively fresh approach to each project. Messages are heart-felt, conveying an unashamed spirituality, and a firm political stance, Fertile Ground has cemented their place as musical and social innovators.

http://www.myspace.com/fertilegroundmusic

Black Bottom Collective, "Interview with a Porn Star"

Detroit band Black Bottom Collective boldly treads the musical arena in the spirit of artists who have bent the rules of music, only to create innovative avenues for fans to enjoy. Spoken word. Soul. Black Bottom Collective's live show is their signature. The eight-man band consists of emcee/poet/producer Khary Kimani Turner, also founder and leader; vocalists Tunesia "True" Turner and Karen "Kay Bosco" Bennett; Carl "DJ Invisible" Hollier, also DJ for rapper Xzibit; bassist Kamau Inaede, keyboardist/producer Mark "Swami" Harper; guitarist/producer Edward "Teduardo" Canaday and drummer Ivan "Groove" Prosper.

As the band grew its membership - African-American, European American, Native American, male and female - began mirroring segments of the fabled enclave. Black Bottom Collective's ethnicity influenced their sound as members contributed individual tastes to songs. Trails were blazed, and people followed. Three award-winning years, from one album. The project finds the band making life-altering music with groundbreaking arrangements to help usher listeners through life's isms.

www.blackbottomcollective.com/

Emilyis,"Oh Ah Girl"

emilyis is a poet and performance artist pushing the boundaries of lyricism by combining elements of poetry, hip hop and folk into a sound that is innovative and diverse. With a degree in journalism, emilyis has found in creative expression a form of abstract journalism, using performance as a medium to explore her political, sensual and intellectual inquiries. Combining freestyle and improvisation with written lyrics, and incorporating visual poetry, emilyis tries to bring passion and freedom into an experience that grabs the heart, the mind and the soul. With a belief that music is an essential unifying and uplifting agent, emilyis makes sure that every day and every night is life vocalized.

http://www.myspace.com/emilyis

Lil'Ma, "Pressure"

LIL MA IS NO STRANGER TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS. IN 2000, LIL MA STRUCK OUT ON HER OWN. AT ONLY 12 YEARS OLD. SHE TOOK OVER 97.9 WJLBS HIT TEAM FORUM UNSIGNED ARTIST SHOWCASE IN DETROIT. SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST ACT ON THE ROSTER, OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS AUDITIONED TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENT, ONLY 15 WERE CHOSEN AND OF COURSE, LIL MA MADE THE CUT. HER POWERFUL PERFORMANCE LANDED HER AN ARTICLE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE DETROIT NEWS. RECORDING ARTIST KELLY PRICE, BARRY HANKERSON OF BLACKGROUND RECORDS, GARNETT MARCH OF PRIORITY RECORDS, AND KEDAR MASSENBURG OF UNIVERSAL RECORDS, WITNESSED THE POWERFUL PERFORMANCE THAT LEFT THE CROWD CHANTING THE HOOK AND STANDING TO THEIR FEET.

LIL MA HAS SHARED THE STAGE WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, RAKIM, B2K, LIL JON & EASTSIDE BOYS, NESS FROM DA BAND, FOXY BROWN, MEMPHIS BLEEK, 3RD STOREE, LIL MO, LIL ZANE, LIL ROMEO AND MANY MORE. LIL MA HAS WORKED WITH TONY MERCEDES, BEEN FEATURED IN THE SOURCE MAGAZINE, WITH BOW WOW AND LIL ROMEO, THE BRE (BLACK ENTERTAINMENT EXCLUSIVE), THE NATIVE DETROITER AND GUMBO TEEN MAGAZINE. SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED IN A DOCUMENTARY OF HERSELF ON DETROIT WB20 CHANNEL POSITIVELY DETROIT, FOR HER STRONG COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

SHE IS CURRENTLY AN OFFICIAL BET RAP-IT-UP TEEN FORUM PANELIST AND PERFORMER, PROMOTING HIV/AIDS AWARENESS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. "I LOVE PERFORMING, AND I LOVE MUSIC, IT'S WHO I AM. MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO PLANT A POSITIVE MESSAGE IN THE HEARTS OF MY FANS AND EDUCATE THEM THROUGH MY MUSIC."

http://www.lilmaworld.com/

http://www.myspace.com/mssmithonline

T'Baby, "Sassy Girl"

Tiara DeMyers, a.k.a. T-Baby, is a female Rap artist/actress who hails from Detroit, MI. At the tender age of 17, she has the talent, intelligence, image, charisma and enthusiasm to shine brightly in the Entertainment and Hip-Hop Industry. Hailed as a local celebrity, T-Baby has headlined Detroits annual Summer-Fest, sponsored by its enormously popular radio station, FM 98 WJLB, and is a favorite among radio personalities. She has received many noted accolades including winning BEST IN THE COUNTRY in New York City at the syndicated television show Showtime at the Apollo with host, Comedian, Steve Harvey who later commented on her confidence, talent and charisma. This enormous achievement led to her being scouted heavily. Shortly thereafter, she was asked to participate in a "Say No to Drugs" tour that traveled throughout the United States affording her the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of High School students.T-Baby has performed at venues both locally and nationally B.E.T.s Big Tigga to perform at the "Total You" tour, hosted by 106 & Park personality Free, along with guest hosts Queen Latifah and Donna Richardson. She is currently performing with the Stop the Violence tour along with Capitols recording artist Tone Tone which is hosted by 102.7's morning show host Lt. Dre and the Hype Squad.

www.myspace.com.IamTBaby

Legacy Leonard, "Listen"

"A pen and a prayer is my salvation", Legacy Leonard affirms of her burning need to create and inspire. Ever since her childhood years Legacy has been enthralled with the art of written word. First published at the age of 13 in an anthology entitled Master Mixx, and making her spoken word debut at 15 at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1995 she has shown a commanding ability to elevate and educate through poetry. Through arts and activism Legacy spreads her messages of self love, consciousness, community, upliftment and change with passion and power. She has shared stages with poetical icons The Last Poets, Amiri Baraka, Jessica “care” Moore, Black Bottom Collective, Third Eye Open Poetry Collective, Jamaal “Versiz” May, Queen Sheba and countless others.

Her poetry has also been featured in Internet magazines “Black Gurrl Poetry” and “Fresh Angles”. Her work has been a selected feature for Timbooktu.com and she is the first winner of the New Word Order First National Net Slam January 2005. She has spoken word audios in rotation on Internet radio stations Vocalized Ink.org, FreedomPath Radio.com, and Blackmic.com. She has been interviewed on radio stations WHPR 88 FM (Highland Park), WGPR 107.5 FM (Detroit) and has appeared on the local talk shows "Homegrown Detroit" and "Poetic Flow", Television 68. She has appeared in the documentaries “Detroit Poets Against The War” (2003) and the internationally acclaimed “Shrinking Cities” (2004).

Legacy is one half of HipSoTry Entertainment – the perfect blend of hip hop, soul and poetry, an emerging talent booking and management agency. She travels around the country with Hip-Poe-Tics, a lecture and performance activism series, which teaches college and university students how to target issues, organize and use art to aspire to activism. She is also a member of the activist performance collectives Progressive Artists for The Millions More Movement (PAMMM), Pitch Black Poetry Collective, and Deph-Onyx.

Once a former gang member, Legacy now spends much of her time contributing to community activism and empowerment. She continues to support various causes, and organizing and coordinating community events. "The power belongs to the people, and only through positive investment can we counteract the negativity that destroys our people and our communities. It is so important to utilize the arts as a vehicle of positive and progressive change"

http://www.myspace.com/legacyleonard

Felix & Paula Sirls, "Who Did It"

Felix Sirls has been living with HIV/AIDS for over 24 years. He was diagnosed in the early 1980s. Felix has been writing poetry for many years and has published four poetry books. He works for the Detroit Health Department as a facilitator in the JEMADARI Program under the Early Intervention and Prevention Programs.

In the past Felix has worked for Wayne State University where he conducted groups for persons living with HIV/AIDS. This is where he met his wife Paula, who also lives with the virus.

He is on several boards that deal with the AIDS community including, MHAC, SEMHAC, the PWC, Michigan PWA TASK FORCE, Project Hope, Michigan Rehab. Council & Community out reach workers.

Felix and his wife Paula conduct speaking engagements in churches across the state of Michigan to promote AIDS awareness in the Black community. They also facilitate group retreats and workshops for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Felix and Paula have nine children and 11 grandchildren with one more on the way.

http://www.felixsirls.com/

Ramona, "How You Doin YAH"

Currently singing and recording as a featured vocalist with the contemporary jazz instrumental group, Pieces of a Dream from Philly. She appears on their 25th anniversay cd 'Acquainted With the Night' (2000), and 'Pillow Talk' (2006) on the Heads Up International label. Ramona is featured on 3 tunes (of which 2 she co-wrote) and looks forward to finishing her own project in the very near future. Graduating from a performing arts high school, she continues to perform in the arena of musical theater and has a BA in Vocal Performance, and a Master of Music in Education.

http://www.myspace.com/ramonamusic

Soccorro, "Beautiful Man" , Love Expereince CD

At the age of four she started singing in local talent shows. Soccorro performed in the University Concert Choir loving every musical experience, gaining knowledge and opportunities that would be priceless. While performing with the Concert choir she was given the opportunity to sing various genres of music in diverse parts of the world, ranging from jazz in New York City, New York, to African call and response songs in Madrid, Spain.

While performing in the show she was asked to sing background vocals for a few songs on the “Phat Cat Players” cd titled “Make It Phat”, which placed Billboard’s charts within the first two weeks of it’s release. Soccorro’s musical style is a fusion of soul and rhythm and blues.

http://www.myspace.com/soccorro

Karen Bernod, "Love IS"

‘Life @ 360 Degrees’ is a stunning second solo album from one of New York’s finest singers Karen Bernod. Having previously performed with Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Incognito, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu – she gets another chance to step center stage with this confident, self-composed set. Back in the Nineties Karen was featured vocalist with Incognito on three cuts on their ‘No Time Like The Future’ album, and was part of the band’s live line-up. Prior to that, she sang on numerous dance tracks, was writer and vocalist on the Cooltempo club anthem ‘Motherland’, sang on Barbara Tucker’s ‘Beautiful People’, sang background vocals on albums by Whitney, Luther, Stephanie Mills, Paul Simon, the Pet Shop Boys. She was also a lead in the off Broadway production of ‘Mama I Want To Sing’. In 2000 she released her debut solo album ‘Some Othaness For U’, which attracted a lot of critical acclaim and introduced her as an artist in her own right. And now, working for the second time with co-producer and co-writer Greg Spooner, she offers the unique Bernod take on life with ‘Life @ 360 Degrees’. Karen’s jazzy inflections, her inherent soulfulness, her humor, shine through – cuts like ‘Comfort Zone’, ‘Subway Love Game’, ‘Truth Iz’ and ‘Love Is’ are outstanding confirmation that soul music is alive and well in New York City. Karen also goes up-tempo on the final cut for a remix of ‘Lookin' For Love’, a song originally featured on her debut set.

http://www.myspace.com/karenbernod

Sounds of Blackness, "Reconciliation"

Sounds of Blackness, a 40-person choir and ten-piece orchestra led by Gary Hines, combined traditional African music with urban soul to become one of the most distinctive and popular contemporary gospel groups. Russel Knight formed the group that would prove to be the origins of Sounds of Blackness in 1969 at St. Paul, Minnesota's Macalester College in 1971. It wasn't until 1971, when Gary Hines was hired as their musical director, that the group developed its own identity. Hines opened the group up to the entire community and expanded their musical scope to concentrate on all aspects of black music. He designed the group as a way to embrace all manners of African-American music and create rich, diverse music to celebrate God and the human spirit, as well as make social statements. With their new direction in mind, the group renamed themselves Sounds of Blackness. Over the course of their career, the group won many awards, from organizations as diverse as the Grammies and the NAACP.

www.soundsofblackness.com

Chelly K - Extra Knowing Is Positive Concert Performer

Michell Latrice Kelly a/k/a Chelly K. is a Native Detroiter who started her career at the age of five with her father (Joseph Norris) who was a Motown Records singer and sound technician for The Temptations. Chelly’s first performance was at Kennedy square in the 70’s in Downtown Detroit. Her credits include: Background vocals for Melvin Van Peoples, and Luther Ingram. Opened shows for Marlena Shaw, Marion Meadows, The Temptations’ Review, and The Spinners. Numerous Club Appearances to include the Legendary Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, Bomacs lounge and Berts Market Place. Performances with The Gordon Camp Band, The V.I.P’s, The Teddy Harris Jr. Band, The Harold McKinney Band and the late jazz great Rudy Robinson. Recent Performances include: -The Museum of African American History- Jazz Bash (Detroit) -City of Detroit African American Festival (Main Stage). -Shantinique’s and WJLB Radio “Hype for Peace” Concert. -A Duet Performance with Brian McKnight At the Legendary Fox Theater (Detroit) Chelly K writes most of her own lyrics and counts Phyllis Hyman as her main musical influence.

http://www.myspace.com/chellykm

Courtney Dowe

The Courtney Dowe Project is the latest soundchild of the independent label Blackout Studios. Combining the amazing vocals of guitarist/songwriter Courtney Dowe with the music arrangement of producer/keyboardist James Collins (Founder of the group Fertile Ground), The Unit is studiously in the lab working on a debut album (expeted to be released later this year). Please add us as your friend and allow us too keep you posted with our latest news.

http://www.myspace.com/thecourtneydoweproject

HIV Awareness Campaign targeting Women of Color and their Partners