Battle of the Bands: BK - The Journey Begins

Register to Audition for Battle of the Bands Brooklyn

2008-03-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
· Must register HERE
· Must be enrolled in a Brooklyn High School
· Hip-Hop acts must perform original work
· Must be available two nights per week for training & rehearsals

INCENTIVES
· OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN BENEFIT CONCERT
· CHANCE TO BE CHOSEN AS BATTLE WINNER AND GO ON TO PERFORM THROUGHOUT SUMMER ’08 ON POPULAR NYC STAGES
· FOUR WEEKS OF TRAINING IN FOUNDATIONS OF BLACK MUSIC, SONGWRITING/COMPOSITION, PERFORMANCE, RECORDING, PRODUCT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, & TECHNOLOGY

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: BROOKLYN
In May 2008, high school students throughout Brooklyn will be able participate in a BENEFIT concert and competition to identify the top ten R&B and Hip-Hop unsigned Acts in Brooklyn.

AUDITIONS
April 11th 4pm-10pm
St. John’s Recreation Center
1251 Prospect Place (btw Troy & Schenectady), BK, NY 11213
A/3/4 to Utica, B15/B45/B65 to Schenectady

*You must bring an instrumental (only Chorus/Hook allowed on track): R&B singers can perform acapella, if you so choose.

Areas you will be judged on include:
Presentation (appearance)
Skill
Lyrical Content
Presence

If you click High School Student and it does not work, click other

Fill out my Wufoo form!

As the dates for auditions draws near...

2008-03-16T21:09:00.001-07:00

The Producers get Fired UP!

CJ, Taneisha, Gregory, Aaron

Update on BOB: Q&A Style

2008-01-13T14:20:00.001-08:00

As 2008 comes speeding in, the producers of Battle of the Bands BK share their thoughts on the project.

Q: If you could change something about the project so far what would it be?

A: (Taniesha) We could work a bit harder!

Q: Who would you most like to have work on the project with you?

A: (Taniesha) Toni Blackman. She has the most talent with hip hop and I like the way she does spoken word. At The Stoop* she said she wants to train people on how to do spoken word. So I think she’d be best.
(CJ) I think Talib because he has years and years and years of experience and a lot to offer to make the project successful.

Q: Dream location?

A: (CJ) BK Tech because it's one of the biggest auditoriums in the city.
(Taniesha) I'd say the Appollo because it’s a famous place. But since it's Battle of the Bands Brooklyn, we can't do it there.

Q: Do you think a you will have an R&B or hip hop winner?

A: (Taniesha) I think hip hop because R&B is strictly R&B. But with hip hop you can be versatile; you can have a poetic flow or street-like flow. A lot of R&B is the same. It's just singing about love.
(CJ) I think hip hop because hip hop is more exciting.

Q:What is your dream amount you'd like to raise for charity?

A: (Taniesha) At least a couple thousand.
(CJ) Any money we can raise can help.

*The Stoop is a Brooklyn-based community youth program where Brooklyn high school and junior high students have conversations with successful Brooklynites. Held in cafes, coffeeshops, and restaurants throughout Brooklyn, this hour-long exchange is an opportunity for BK youth to discover the resources (people and places) that exist in their neighborhood. Taniesha is a regular attendee.

Meet The Producers

2008-01-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

Gregory, CJ & Aaron of Battle of the Bands hard at work

Shelton Garner of Red Eye Studios volunteering time to aid Battle of the Bands Producers

(A-Sharp on the mic)

A-Sharp is a young black artist who has a lot to offer the world. His purpose is to contribute to making real hip-hop music that you can listen to and enjoy; music that you can be proud to listen to and relate to.

Before the foundation of A.C.D.G. A-Sharp was an independent hip hop artist. He has performed at Lincoln Center and Rockefeller Center. Though is favorite music is hop-hop, he likes to listen to Rock and Roll, Reggae, and Pop. He has traveled all across the U.S. including: Las Vegas, California, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Atlanta, New Jersey, Texas, Arkansas, upstate New York, and Philadelphia. He enjoys listening to music, playing sports, shopping, playing games, writing songs and poetry, and spending time with his little sister.

A-Sharp is currently completing a mixtape and working on his team’s projects. He has been managing the group and working on Battle of the Bands BK. He’s also been working events dealing with big names such as Bow Wow, Omarion, and Tiffany Evans. You can find him in poetry competitions, emcee battles, open mics, and talent shows.

(CJ on the mic)

CJ is a junior at Frederick Douglass Academy IV who has ambitions to go on and do big things. A young African-American male with a story to tell, he believes that his responsibility is to help people and make changes in the world.

Before becoming a member of the hip hop group ACDG, he was a self-proclaimed "hobby rapper." He wrote lyrics to beats but had no plans to take it any further. He had been exposed to hip hop his entire life and fell in love with hip hop at ten years old. In seventh grade, while in Japan, a friend had him listen to a Kanye West’s “College Dropout.” Kanye has been his favorite rapper/producer ever since and has inspired him to start writing.

Outside of music, sports is another of CJ’s loves. He played baseball for seven years. Presently, he is writing, listening to Lupe Fiasco's new album, and going to school. In the near future you can expect another S.W.A.T. Team mixtape from ACDG and projects - like Battle of the Bands BK - that will lead to their full length album.

(Taniesha on the mic)

Taniesha (aka Ladybug) is a very ambitious person and works towards achieving her dreams. She aims to inspire and encourage others to do the same.

In elementary school she was a Girl Scout, and while in the 4H club she won first place in a public speaking competition. In Junior High, her love of musical theater led to her participating in a production of “School House Rocks.” She loves the stage and doesn’t go anywhere with the music in her i-pod. Today you will find her listening to Common, Kanye West, and Lupe Fiasco.

Taniesha’s dream is to travel out of the country to visit places like South Africa, England, and France. In her spare time she likes to surf the web, hang out in Manhattan, and see new things. When she isn’t working on Battle of the Bands BK, she participates in a youth program called “The Stoop,” and is working on keeping her grades up.

In the future, Taniesha would like to produce more events and work with children to show them that “…there’s more to life than what they see everyday.”

Battle of the Band producers after a long day in the studio

Sallome Shares Commitment to Battle of the Bands: BK

2008-01-03T19:55:00.000-08:00

In this video Sallome Hralima, of The Re:Construction Period, shares why she is committed to the work done by Frederick Douglass Academy IV students.

The beginning

2007-12-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

At Frederick Douglass Academy IV, a replicated small school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, three young men have created a remarkable plan. Born out of their passion for hip-hop and a desire to make a difference is Battle of the Bands: Brooklyn. A program where Making the Band meets American Idol, Battle of the Bands: Brooklyn chronicles the journey of three high school students – Gregory, Aaron, & Clarence - aiming to produce the largest high school talent show and benefit concert in Brooklyn’s history. Their vision - ten (10) high school music acts perform for the title and a community becomes a viable philanthropic entity.

Battle of the Bands: Brooklyn aims to: A) promote youth leadership and youth activism, B) provide high schools and youth/arts/education-based organizations with a blueprint for successful and innovative collaboration, C) present opportunities for youth to give back, and D) to identify, guide, and support young performing artists.

The Battle Crew intends to: 1) have students involved in the production trained in event planning, marketing & promotions, and trained in navigating the world of philanthropy and the music industry, 2) give sponsoring organizations an opportunity to raise awareness about their programming and the services they provide young people, 3) have the youth who participate as Talent gain exposure, and through workshops and seminars, be provided valuable information to guide them in the music business, and 4) offer audience members, the opportunity to educate themselves about worthy causes and the impact select monetary contributions can make.