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| Wayne Baker Brooks is Breaking New Ground with "Something’s Going Down" Brooks, is transforming both modern music and the Blues. "So much of what's out there sounds the same, '' says Brooks. "I wanted to create something different and something undeniable with my music." The result is a unique fusion of heavy Chicago Blues, Blues Rock, Soul and Rap/Hip-Hop. Brooks knew that there was no better place to start that movement than in his hometown of Chicago, the birthplace of the Blues. Using only Chicago natives, he put together some of the biggest talent in the business to create a song that showcases the many different sounds of the iconic musical city. Brooks says he's been working on the concept behind the song for at least 10 years, dating back to when he recorded the song, "Nu Kinda Blues, '' on the album Mystery, which featured Blues, Hip-Hop and House music. "I first experimented with the concept back in 2001 while I was in the studio during the recording sessions for Mystery.'' The concept of fusing real Chicago Blues with Rap/Hip-Hop had been brewing in his head for a few years. He met Eve on the set of the movie, "Barber Shop.'' She offered to get involved in the project, but a fateful meeting with Aerosmith, Kid Rock and Run-DMC in 2003 changed everything. "Jam Master Jay took the idea seriously, " says Brooks. "He liked the idea so much he wanted me to come to New York to work on it. That's when I knew I was onto something big." But three weeks before the two planned to hook up, Jam Master Jay was shot and killed. "I couldn't believe someone would do that to the nicest guy in the world. It really killed my spirit at that moment. He really understood what I was trying to do - and then he was gone.'' Brooks sees the song as the start of something radically different in the music business, something that expands the range of Rap/Hip Hop and gives a jolt of fresh air to the Blues, which needs to appeal to younger audiences if it's going to survive. Brooks is also reaching out to other well-known rappers to get them involved in the ground-breaking project. "I have a song for Lil' Wayne, Akon, Mos' Def, Common, & Snoop Dog, " says, Brooks. "I am also hoping they will hear this song and want to contact me themselves." Bios: Twista, a Chicago native, has been rapping since he was 12 years old. Since his debut album Running Off At Da' Mouth in 1991, Twista has been tearing up the charts worldwide. The Guinness Book of World Records has clocked Twista as the faster rapper alive. GLC rose to stardom after a guest appearance on the song "Spaceship" from Kanye West's Grammy-winning album, The College Dropout. GLC is one third of the Chicago rap group, The Go Getters, along with Kanye West and Really Doe. Look for his debut album Love, Life and Loyalty. Wayne Baker Brooks, son of the legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks, has been steeped in the blues all his life. Although he was raised by his famous father, he is self-taught and has been blazing his own musical trail. In 1998, he co-authored the book, Blues For Dummies with his father, rocker Cub Koda and Dan Aykroyd. In 2003 Brooks started his own label, Blues Island Records. His first release was the four-star "Mystery." write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |