Syntax Records' DJ Promote will host your New Year's Eve Party for $FREE-99

Photo by Sketch the Journalist

From the good men at Syntax Records:

Can't afford a DJ to spin at your private New Years event? Once again the innovators at Syntax Records have solved your crisis! Bring in the New Year in style by having a professional DJ mix your party!

Here are 4 easy steps!

• Make sure you have iTunes installed. If you do not it’s a free download at www.itunes.com

• Make sure you are 'subscribed' to TheSynCast through iTunes. To make sure you have subscribed properly click on the “PodCasts” link in the left area of iTunes. You’ll see it next to Music, TV, etc. The most recent episode which is the Christmas episode will should have downloaded. Congratulations you are subscribed.

• Now that we have established you are properly subscribed the next step is to just simply open iTunes on or after December 26th 2008. Doing this will ensure that the New Years Eve PodCast downloads to your local computer so you have time to get all set up for your party.

• On Wednesday December 31st 2008 at exactly 11:30PM press PLAY on your computer, iPod, or whatever device you have downloaded the PodCast to. Turn down the lights, and get your groove on. No need to keep looking at your watch cause DJ Promote has it all under control for you!

Don't forget to pick up 'Wages of Syntax 2' mixed by DJ Promote if you would like to host another private party and bypass the cost of having someone DJ the event! If you haven't already check out the trailer on YouTube!

FLAME says "Thank You" for Grammy nod

This a very cool and gracious response from FLAME about his recent Grammy nomination.

Holy Culture Radio's 3rd Coast Fiyah has the exclusive.

LA Symphony's Christmas Video

LA Symphony's "Broken Tape Decks" from the hard-to-find Call It What You Want album has been turned into an animated Christmas video and it's lovely.

Check it out here.

LEGO My Hip-Hop

First is was Star Wars, then Indiana Jones, and Batman. Now hip hop cover art is getting the LEGO treatment - which proves that rounded plastic can make just about anything more palatable.

Peep the whole collection here.

Vidz: Lecrae deftly dodges battle

Peep this video of a crowd of white kids who've watched too much "8 Mile" and note how Lecrae deftly handles the situation with utmost maturity.

If for some reason you weren't down with Creezy being the new face of Christian hip hop, you should be now.

Props to joseph29 from the HCR message board for this find.

Much Luvv Records & URGEWORKS Donate Time, Money, and Talent to Texas Children’s Hospital with "Be You" hip hop show

All photos by Sketch the Journalist unless otherwise noted

Much Luvv Records and URGEWORKS recently donated their time, money, and talent to teen patients and their families at Texas Children’s Hospital.

On Saturday, December 6, 2008 the group of rappers, dancers, actors, and singers performed a one-hour program titled “Be You.” The show incorporates rap and dance elements of the hip hop culture and stresses positive self-expression and motivation.



Colcutz and Tre9 discuss their broken "robot" dancer



URGEWORKS b-boys come in all sizes and ages

Nearly 70 people crammed into the recreation room near the TCH’s Lollipop Radio Station to enjoy the event. Rapper Tre9 hosted the session along with b-boy dancer Colcutz.

The duo educated the audience about the history of the hip hop culture and ran through several examples of rap music and different regional dances. Later S.O.M. performed a song titled “Fiyah Starters”, and Tre and Colcutz engaged the audience with a skit about their broken “robot” dancer. Hip hop soul artist Von Won closed out the day with an a capella version of “Silent Night.”



S.O.M. lights it up



Von Won brings the Christmas carol

“The event was awesome,” TCH Child Life Partner Rosland Verge said. “I definitely hope this won’t be the last time we see this group visit.”



The big check

At the end of the show, all of the Much Luvv Records and URGEWORKS friends, members, and affiliates presented Ms. Verge with a check for $500 for the hospital to purchase additional toys, art supplies, and games for the rec room.

The money was raised via a charity softball game organized by Much Luvv Records and URGEWORKS where each player was asked to raise at least $100 each for their lineup spot.

Pastor Daniel Hearne is a full time chaplain for Texas Children’s Hospital and invited the two groups to perform at the facility. It was the first time in anyone’s memory that a hip hop group had made such a visit, but Hearne believes it is a welcome one, particularly when it was from such an uplifting group of well respected artists from Much Luvv Records and URGEWORKS.



Colcutz and Tre9 share their story

“These kids are sick and losing hope,” Hearne said. “Anything that’s positive is sure to help.”



Tre9 signs an autograph for a new fan

Patients and families like 16 year old Adrian and his mother seemed to agree, smiling throughout the presentation and saying they really enjoyed the show afterward. Participating artists like Ryan Boyce of S.O.M. concur.

“I had the pleasure of meeting a young man nicked-named ‘Lefty.’ We played basketball together in the game room and he was a great shot,” Boyce recalled. “It was a fantastic experience and I hope we impacted, uplifted and brought cheer into each of their lives.”



Ms. Verge (Texas Children's Hospital) is all smiles

More pics from Mrs. McDowell

Trailblazin Ministries Top 10 Albums of 2008

The big homie LaRosa Johnson released his Top 10 Christian Rap Albums of 2008 list last week. Read it here and let the debating begin.

I don't agree with all his choices, but that's what this is all about right? LJ's got all my respect though. Dude's thorough with his (peep the ranking breakdown chart at the end) and a prolific writer (knocking out 20 something reviews over the Thanksgiving holiday alone) who often puts me to shame.

I'm debating what type of end-of-year list to put together. Last year I did a Top 10 video list and will be working on a Top 10 CHH story list for Wade-O's show in the coming weeks. Let me know if you have a special request though.