PHOTOS | Talib Kweli, Styles P, & K'Valentine METRO

The Brooklyn-based MC earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically gifted, socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years.

“I’m a touring artist,” Kweli said. “I’m an artist that’s internationally known. I’m not just a local artist at this point in my career. I’m cognizant of the fact that what I do is beyond where it started. I’m trying to reach the apex of where I am now, but without turning my back on or dismissing what I’ve done before.”

After nearly 20 years of releasing mesmerizing music, Talib Kweli stands as one of the world’s most talented and most accomplished hip hop artists. Whether working with Mos Def as one-half of Black Star, partnering with producer Hi-Tek for Reflection Eternal, releasing landmark solo material or collaborating with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Just Blaze, J Dilla, or Madlib, Kweli commands attention by delivering top-tier lyricism, crafting captivating stories and showing the ability to rhyme over virtually any type of instrumental.

Lights All Night 2016

Lights All Night 2016

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 By Andrew Dolan (Andrew Dolan Photography)

It has finally happened, 2016 is in the books and with it another year of festivals. And going out strong for the year is Dallas’ New Year’s festival, Lights All Night. Returning this year to the Dallas Market Hall in downtown Dallas for the second year, it brought together a list of big names like Above & Beyond, Tchami, Zedd, Rezz, Deadmau5, A-Trak, RL Grime, and Nero to the festivities. 

This year’s lay out was similar to last years, consisting of two large stages and a smaller silent disco. Although the floor plan was different, having moved where the stages were located to allow for easier access to the venue. Additionally, it appeared from the attendance that the festival may have reduced the number of tickets available to prevent over selling issues that arose at Lights All Night 2015.

Friday night was the first day of the two day festival, and with it came the acts of Tchami, Above & Beyond, Zedd, and San Holo on the main stage, Supernova. While on the Satellite stage we had Felix Cartal, Kayzo, 12th Planet, and Crizzly rocking the crowd all night long. And on Saturday we enjoyed the second, and final night of the festival. Deadmau5 has a very early set due to needing to get to Lights All Night El Paso for another show a few hours afterwards, but he didn’t disappoint playing a mix of new and old the entire set. Also on Saturday night we were treated to Loudpvck b2b with Gladiator, Wolfgang Gartner, Rezz, Cazzette, and Kill the Noise.

We rang in the New Year at the main stage to a blast of confetti and streamers with A-Trak on the main stage, while over on Satellite we had Feed Me. The festival was closed out by RL Grime over on main stage with a fantastic set. And over on Satellite, Joe of Nero did a solo show that had the crowd going crazy!

Lights All Night ended the year in a bang and also started 2017 on a high note! Can’t wait to see what is to come with this festival in 2017!

FEATURED : Havana Meets Kingston

HAVANA MEETS KINGSTON:

If you want to be in the know, and want the freshie fresh, check out this new project, If you're a DJ it have some amazing potential for some groundbreaking remixes, look for a PartylineLIVE Remix contest to be released in conjunction with the album release in April.

Australia’s leading reggae and dancehall producer and accomplished pianist, Mista Savona (aka Jake Savona), has gathered some of Cuba and Jamaica’s most influential musicians in the one recording studio to create a world first album.

Despite their huge respective global appeal and geographical proximity, there has never been a full length album that unites the unique sounds of both Jamaican and Cuban music - till now. This is a truly groundbreaking record and project that honours both islands' incredible musical foundations and legacies while inspiring and creating something entirely new. Drawing from the styles the islands are best known for - roots reggae, dub and dancehall on one hand and son, salsa, rumba and Afro-Cuban on the other - 'Havana Meets Kingston' sees an incredible team of musicians come together to bend and twist genres effortlessly, and the results are exceptional.

Savona's main intention is to bring Jamaican soundsystem and bass culture together with Cuba's electrifying and virtuosic Afro-Cuban and jazz traditions, and this is where the album excels and is unique in musical history. Energetic and passionate vocals in Spanish, English and Jamaican patois twist and turn over the distinctly Cuban rhythms and melodies, while the deep basslines that Jamaica is best known for pulse underneath, unifying the music of both cultures and creating something fresh, bold and exciting.

'Havana Meets Kingston' brings together established and emerging Cuban and Jamaican musicians in an album of mostly original songs, as well as covers of classic Cuban material. The main recording sessions took place over 10 days in June 2015 at the famous Egrem Studio in Havana, Cuba. Savona personally flew seven Jamaicans into Havana for these sessions, including Sly & Robbie and Bongo Herman among other greats. Since this time he has travelled to Jamaica, Cuba and the UK numerous times to complete the recordings. The calibre of artists on this two part album project speaks volumes.

To add to this already grand project, acclaimed filmmakers Rick Mereki (of MOVE, EAT, LEARN fame), producer Lauren Rosa Beck and photographer Lara Merrington travelled to Cuba and Jamaica to capture every moment on film. They will be providing an independent documentary which will celebrate the music and stories of the artists involved against the backdrop of three diverse nations.

Check out the teaser Video.

FEATURED | Emily Nichols

Emily Nichols first grabbed my attention preforming with Woo Park from then it felt like when you buy a Volkswagon, and then all you see see VW's on the road, I Started seeing he guest preform with all my favorite local acts,  it seemed like every show I went too she was killing the vocals, When I final said to my self wow this girl is a star was the In the Loop "Perse as Funk" series. This is why I was very happy to find out she dropped Her debut EP, "Strange,"

Although "Strange" was largely written and produced on her own, the project has expanded recently to include her newly-formed backing band for live performances. In some ways, it is Nichols returning to her roots. Collaborating with other musicians is not an escape from defining herself as a solo artist, but rather a means of helping expand the depth of her music. "It's heading in a more collaborative perspective than I anticipated. Now we're reshaping these songs that were previously recorded to work in a live setting," Nichols said. -Chicago Tribune

Please Check he out if your going to REACTION NYE, She opens up the MAIN STAGE at 5:30

Here are her socials    Facebook     Instagram     Twitter  and SOUNDCLOUD

Available on: YouTube  Spotify   iHeartRadio

PHOTOS | Atmosphere, Brother Ali & Dem Atlas at Concord Music Hall

Source: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Zstone.Studios...

PHOTOS | SuperNatural Beings at Emporium Arcade Bar 10/13/16

SuperNatural Beings makes their third apperance at Emporium Arcade Bar on October 13th 2016 along with the Celebration of Marcus Rezak's Birthday!!! Might I say, this specific super-group performance not just gets better and better each and every time they throw down, but each member of SuperNatural Beings carries their own unique style, and while performing together you notice how well their individual unique creativity flows perfectly, and each plays a significant role in creating what is SuperNatural Beings.

Members include Mark Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits and Electron - Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits - Todd Stoops of RAQ - Marcus Rezak of Digital Tape Machine - Emily Nichols of Woo Park - along with several other amazing guest performers!!!

Write up and Photography Coverage by Kayla Mitchell - Check out the rest of her works HERE

PHOTOS | Suwannee Hulaween Preview & 2015 Recap

This year includes a headlining DJ set from Disclosure, as well as Claude VonStroke, Brodinski, Boys Noize, Bob Moses, Slow Magic, and more. Hulaween is also stoked to announce live performances from My Morning Jacket, Big Gigantic, Gramatik, Anderson .Paa + the Free Nationals, STS9, Washed Ou, and more. Hulaween's ever-funky annual hosts, The String Cheese Incident, will return for a performance all three nights, and don't worry, hippies -- there are still plenty of rockin' jammers on the bill.

If ever you find yourself overwhelmed by the, uh, musical vibes, you can take a stroll through the fest's popular “Spirit Lake,” a multi-sensory “art forest” environment transformed by lights, projection mapping, art installations, and performance artists that will blast your brain into another dimension.

Check out Aaron Bradley Photo's from 2015 © Aaron Bradley

We will be posting 2016 photos on www.PartylineLIVE.com

PHOTOS | Backwoods Music Festival 2016

With this being Backwoods Music Festival's second year running, they have definitely blown the minds of not just myself, but the festival goers as well for numerous reasons. One of the reasons being that the line-up was stacked with incredible artists such as Nahko and Medicine for the People, Moe., NERO, Big Gigantic, Manic Focus, and many more! Another reason would be due to the live painters, the flow artists, the creators of the art installations, and all of the organizers/workers who have given their all and have worked their hardest to put this festival together. Without any of these people, this festival wouldn't have been possible! 

Photography by : Kayla Mitchell - Check out the rest of her coverage HERE