{"id":22197,"date":"2017-09-02T12:43:25","date_gmt":"2017-09-02T16:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=22197"},"modified":"2017-09-02T12:43:29","modified_gmt":"2017-09-02T16:43:29","slug":"on-stage-spotlight-made-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=22197","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Spotlight): Made In America"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s Labor Day Weekend and that means it\u2019s time once again for Philadelphia\u2019s largest annual outdoor music event \u2013 the Budweiser Made In America Festival.<\/p>\n

The Budweiser Made In America Festival (www.madeinamericafest.com<\/a>) is huge \u2013 a two-day musical celebration that occupies the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City every Labor Day weekend.<\/p>\n

The event is curated each year by Jay-Z, a top rap artist\/music entrepreneur who has won more than 20 Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million records and is one of the record industry\u2019s all-time best-selling musicians.<\/p>\n

Budweiser Made in America Festival was founded in 2012 by Jay-Z as a way to bring together music and culture. The inaugural event was held on September 1 and 2 in 2012 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.<\/p>\n

Event headliners in 2015 included Beyonc\u00e9 (Jay-Z\u2019s wife), The Weeknd, Bassnectar, and Modest Mouse. Last year\u2019s top acts were Rihanna and Coldplay.<\/p>\n

The name at the top of the list of this year\u2019s performers is also the name of the boss \u2013 Jay-Z. Other top headliners are J. Cole, The Chainsmokers and Solange (Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s sister).<\/p>\n

On Saturday, there will be an artist whose performance will command attention from the throngs of music fans gathered along the Parkway. Her name is Rapsody.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rapsody<\/p><\/div>\n

While many rappers focus primarily on the rhythmic patterns and the rhyming lyrics, Rapsody has been blazing her own trail with a combination of insightful storytelling and catchy rhymes.<\/p>\n

The internationally-acclaimed rap artist first appeared on the scene as a member of the successful indie group Kooley High around 2004.<\/p>\n

In 2008, she left the group to pursue a solo career. She hooked up with 9th Wonder\u2019s Jamla Records and has released a steady stream of successful EPs and LPs, including her debut album \u201cThe Idea of Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2015, Rapsody was the lone rap guest appearance on Kendrick Lamar\u2019s Grammy-winning \u201cTo Pimp A Butterfly<\/a>\u201d \u2013 joining him on the song \u201cComplexion (A Zulu Love).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always had a love of music,\u201d said Rapsody, during a phone interview Monday from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina. \u201cI\u2019ve been a fan of hip hop all my life. I connected in a way that was fun. It was beautiful. I loved the storytelling and the action of hip hop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got involved when I was in college at North Carolina State. I hosted rap battles at school. I also hung with friends in the studio when they were making mixtapes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rapsody got into rapping around the same time she first met 9th Wonder, the legendary producer known for working with artists like Mary J Blige, Ludacris, Jay Z, and Drake.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just fun,\u201d said Rapsody, who was born Marlanna Evans in 1983 in Snow Hill, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day when they were making mixtapes, a friend told me to get in the booth and rap because he knew it was my passion. I did it and then met 9th<\/sup> (Wonder) a month later.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I was started working with 9th<\/sup>, he heard my first two songs and said I was a star. It was my first time to hear that from someone in the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe saw something that no-one else saw. My career came in waves. When 9th<\/sup> signed me to Jamla, that was an early-career high bar. I started working with some really great artists.\u201d<\/p>\n

After she started rapping, Rapsody put out eight projects in four years. She also worked with the top-flight acts such as Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Big K.R.I.T, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, DJ Premier, and Big Daddy Kane.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe highest point was making the \u2018Complexion\u2019 version with Kendrick,\u201d said Rapsody. \u201cThat put me on a whole other platform. I was asked to be on the most massive album of the decade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rapsody\u2019s career has continued an upward trajectory.<\/p>\n

When Barack Obama was POTUS, Rapsody was invited by Michelle Obama to perform at the White House. Last November, she signed a deal with Jay-Z\u2019s Roc Nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just finished my sophomore album,\u201d said Rapsody. \u201cI\u2019m getting it ready to give to the people. I think when people hear it, they\u2019re definitely going to hear a lot of growth. I want to always build on what I\u2019ve experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n

The festival officially gets underway at 1:15 p.m. on September 2 with a set by Queen of Jeans on the Skate Stage.<\/p>\n

The long list of participating acts includes Kaskade, Marshmello,\u00a0Migos, Run the Jewels,\u00a0Little Dragon,\u00a021 Savage,\u00a0Sampha,\u00a0Cash Cash,\u00a0Green Velvet,\u00a0Beach Slang,\u00a0R3hab,\u00a0Pusha T,\u00a0Vic Mensa,\u00a0DMX,\u00a0DJ Mustard,\u00a0Marian Hill,\u00a0and Tiwa Savage.<\/p>\n

Other acts performing this weekend are Getter,\u00a0KYLE,\u00a0Wizkid, Stormzy, Lizzo, Dirty South, Broods, Kelela, Tommy Genesis,\u00a0Smino,\u00a0Mozart La Para, Francis and the Lights, Ugly God, Yung Lean, PnB Rock, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie,\u00a0and Rob Stone.<\/p>\n

The impressive roster also features Netsky,\u00a0Salva,\u00a0Burns,\u00a0Jorja Smith,\u00a0Vanic,\u00a0THEY,\u00a0Kap Slap,\u00a0Devault, Nick Grant,\u00a0Mt. Joy,\u00a0Mannequin Pussy,\u00a0Kodie Shane,\u00a0Flor,\u00a0Earthgang,\u00a0Medasin,\u00a0\u00a0Carter Winter,\u00a0Maleek Berry,\u00a0Karen Rodriguez,\u00a0J.I.D.,\u00a0Busty & the Bass,\u00a0Ari Lennox,\u00a0and Downtown Boys.<\/p>\n

Video link for Rapsody \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/PAQWa6m2VJU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rapsody will perform on the Rocky Stage at 2 p.m. on September 3. Two-day tickets for the festival are $162.<\/p>\n

At the same time that rap, hip hop and EDM music are filling the air along the Parkway in the west side of Center City, the heavy sounds of metal music will be rattling ribcages in the east side of downtown Philadelphia on September 2 at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Saturday night\u2019s show at the Voltage Lounge will feature a trio of hard-hitting metal acts — Enterprise Earth and Make Them Suffer along with opener Promise Breaker.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Make Them Suffer<\/p><\/div>\n

Make Them Suffer travelled a long way to take part in this tour. But then, the band has had to travel a long way to play shows in its own country.<\/p>\n

The metalcore quintet — Sean Harmanis (dirty vocals), Nick McLernon (guitar), Tim Madden (drums), Jaya Jeffery (bass) and Booka Nile (keyboards, lean vocals) \u2013 hails from Perth, Australia.<\/p>\n

Perth, which is the capital and largest city in the Australian state of Western Australia, is in the far western part of the island country while most of the nation\u2019s population and big cities are in the southeast and east.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were together for a few years until we were able to get out of Perth in 2011 to play in other cities in Australia,\u201d said Harmanis, during a phone interview Tuesday from a tour stop in Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really was pretty hard to get out of Perth and play elsewhere. We\u2019re way out west \u2013 far from everything. Perth is the most isolated capitol city in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

After releasing two albums on Roadrunner Records \u2013 \u201cNeverbloom\u201d in 2012 and \u201cOld Souls\u201d in 2015 \u2013 Make Them Suffer signed with Rise Records and released its \u201cWorlds Apart\u201d album earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were working on the new album over the Australian summer \u2013 September through November last year,\u201d said Harmanis. \u201cWe went in the studio in January. Some of the songs were written previously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album in Perth. The vocals were recorded at Templeman Audio and the bass and drums at Suno Studio. The guitars we tracked ourselves. We have our own studio in Perth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys from Down Under have found themselves in a different position on this tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we toured for our previous album \u201cOld Souls,\u2019 we were a support band,\u201d said Harmanis. \u201cWe\u2019ve done three tours here in the states and this is the first as a headliner.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeadlining is quite a different experience. It\u2019s quite tiring actually \u2013 but it\u2019s great. For example, we never played in Florida before.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast night, we had 250-300 out for our show and that\u2019s pretty humbling. It\u2019s pretty mind-blowing for us to be headlining a tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur live set is a pretty evenly mixed \u2013 some old stuff from the \u2018Lord of Woe\u2019 EP and the first album, a couple songs from \u2018Old Souls\u2019 and four from \u2018Worlds Apart.\u2019 It\u2019s definitely a mixed bag.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not surprisingly, \u201cWorlds Apart\u201d is a good demonstration of the quintet\u2019s growth as a band.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest difference is the way we\u2019ve integrated the singing,\u201d said Harmanis. \u201cThere are more singing hooks and choruses.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, the guitar writing has more memorable riffs. We were also using a lot of elements and embracing a style of layering to add texture and depth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Make Them Suffer — https:\/\/youtu.be\/nM4D95ZRK5Y<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Enterprise Earth<\/p><\/div>\n

Enterprise Earth is a deathcore band from Spokane, Washington featuring Dan Watson (vocals), Byron James \u201cBJ\u201d Sampson (guitar), Yusef Johnson (guitar), Aaron O\u2019Toole (drums<\/a>) and Gabe Mangold (guitar).<\/p>\n

Watson and Sampson formed the band in the late summer of 2014. Watson came up with the band\u2019s name after researching the Illuminati and conspiracy theories. It took only a short while for the band to establish a large internet following.<\/p>\n

Enterprise Earth\u2019s recorded output includes the \u201cXXIII\u201d EP in 2014, the \u201cPatient \u00d8\u201d LP in 2015 and the recently-released \u201cEmbodiment\u201d album.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhiladelphia will be the final show of a month-long tour,\u201d said Watson, during a phone interview Tuesday from a tour stop in Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re touring \u2018Embodiment.\u2019 We\u2019re playing four songs from the new album, a couple older ones and two from \u2018Patient \u00d8.\u2019 That is our whole set.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs an opening band, we only get 30 minutes. I think 30 minutes is about a perfect time for me. It means I can perform more \u2013 move around the stage more without having to preserve energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like many bands, Enterprise Earth was formed by players who were leaving previous bands.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was approached by BJ after I had split from my old band,\u201d said Watson. \u201cWe discussed forming a new band \u2013 what we wanted out of a band and what type of music we would play.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in Washington state and I was in Valparaiso, Indiana. We sent recording files back and forth for the EP \u2018XXIII.\u2019 We wrote the EP on the internet and then recorded it at a studio in Washington state.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith \u2018Embodiment,\u2019 BJ did most of the writing. After he was finished, he sent me the instrumentals and I did the lyrics.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to do it the traditional way but it was more efficient to do it this way. We still all have jobs at home so we can pay the rent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album with producer Ricky Oruzo in Portland, Oregon. We did the vocals there. After that, we got an engineer to mix the album.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the making of the album sounds like a long-distance love affair, the end result is a cohesive-sounding collection of intense songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not surprised how consistent the sound is,\u201d said Watson. \u201cRight from the beginning, BJ and I had the same vision. The sound has meshed really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Enterprise Earth — https:\/\/youtu.be\/wtzPxQC9BQ8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The all-ages show at Voltage Lounge, which features Enterprise Earth, Make Them Suffer and Promise Breaker, will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times It\u2019s Labor Day Weekend and that means it\u2019s time once again for Philadelphia\u2019s largest annual outdoor music event \u2013 the Budweiser Made In America Festival. The Budweiser Made In America Festival (www.madeinamericafest.com) is huge \u2013 a two-day musical celebration that occupies the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22199,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[9555,6269,9553,9556,9554],"class_list":["post-22197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-enterprise-earth","tag-featured","tag-made-in-america","tag-make-them-suffer","tag-rapsody"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22197"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22198,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22197\/revisions\/22198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}