Afroman

Afroman (born Joseph Edgar Foreman, on 28 July 1974) is a rap artist from South-Central Los Angeles, California, but later moved to Palmdale. His best-known song is the 2001 hit "Because I Got High", which gained popularity through Napster, local radio play, a feature on Howard Stern's radio show, and the "stoner" movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (and accompanying soundtrack). His other most popular song, "Crazy Rap", is often refered to as "Colt 45", because of it's lyrics, "Colt 45 and two Zig Zags". Afroman is also fond of referencing his independence from record labels and the "corporate world" and cites himself as an example of how an artist can take recording and distribution into his or her own hands. <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Afroman" rel="nofollow">Listen at Last.fm</a>

Quentin Moore is “The Last Mohican” of southern-style soul. In an era where Black music is dominated by electronic samples and rappers, this avant-garde musician breaks the mold with live instruments, particularly the vintage sound of the Fender Rhodes, which conjures memories of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway. Lyrically, Quentin Moore embraces everyday topics like romantic complexities and brings a feel-good vibe to his audience though each song. He displays his creativity through his return-to-innocence yearnings in “Vintage Love” or his swagger in the sexually-charged tune, “Gimme Some Sugar”. Born and raised in the Austin, Texas, dubbed the live music capitol of the world, Quentin developed an ear for soul in the church. Within the walls of St. Stephens Baptist Church, he cultivated a passion for drums and electric organ that yielded early success on the drum line in middle and high school. As his musical taste matured, his influences included R. Kelly and The Isley Brothers. As a student and athlete at the University of North Texas, he was inspired by jazz by artists such as Jimmy Smith, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, and Roy Hargrove. He polished his skills and added the electric guitar and bass to his repertoire, and also formed his original/cover band called Soulbol. With a plethora of instruments under his belt, he continues to reinvent himself with a style that is often compared to artists ranging from Curtis Mayfield to Jamie Foxx to Marvin Gaye but remains all his own. This soul man commands the audience in every live performance. To see Quentin perform is to witness a ‘60s revival of glory days of Sam Cooke and James Brown, when ladies were clamored to their feet with snapping fingers and shrieks of pleasure. Quentin instantly morphs into a preacher and a sex object, or rather both the sinner and saint, with outrageous antics, such as crooning to a girl he’s plucked from the crowd or playing an instrumental song that is so technical, it requires three drummers. Because Quentin’s vocal range spans from tenor to second-alto, he can sing in deep, sultry tones like Teddy Pendergrass or release the erotic screams of Prince and Al Green. With his popularity on the rise throughout the southern United States, Quentin Moore has shared the stage with internationally-recognized artists such as Innercity All Stars, Geno Young, Common Folk, and Angela Blair, for whom he acted as Musical Director. He has also performed with keyboard maestros Bobby Sparks and R.C. Williams. The 26-year-old entrepreneur has launched his regional distribution marketing campaign for radio, CD stores, and online sales with the release of his first LP, “Vintage Love”. Professionals say that the greatest hurdle an artist will clear is generating buzz for his first work, even if he has a great story to tell. The indisputable way to promoting a breakthrough sound in the music industry is by association; in other words, it’s not what you know, but who. When it comes to the music of Quentin Moore, there is no question; his talent speaks for itself.