I ain't gonna say much. I just want the young ones out there to honestly tell me there favorite rapper can do this. No disrespect for anyone doing ANYTHING in this artform. It was made to be a form of self-expression. SELF expression meaning you might express yourself different from MYSELF. But that being said, Hip-hop is ALSO about lyrics, wordplay, skills... Here a few of the best. And also a question to the MC's.. Could you hold your own.... in the Cypher?
What's going on people. Long time no talk. As always there's a lot of good going on though. Here's some good from one of my partners Akshun from the Magnum Opus camp. GOOD music out of SC. Check out this leak of his upcoming album Sinners Therapy and support SC hip-hop! I still think his debut album Diamond District is one of the BEST local projects of all time. But that's just me... You'll have to check it out to find out... E-mail Akshun for more info....
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What's happening folks. Included in the link is the info related to the album I'm prepping to release this fall. Feel free to add songs to your blogs, tweets, mixtapes and whatever you please. Also if you guys have the time send me feedback on the songs all love/hate/criticism is appreciated.
Link:
http://limelinx.com/files/
akshun2004@yahoo.com
PRINCE ICE OF 101.3 & 103.9 20 year radio anniversary !
Tickets Price: $20.00, $25.00, $30.00, $35.00
803-825-4831 or Capitoltickets.com
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Morning Patrons. VERY excited about the upcoming months. There is a lot going on and I feel very blessed to have the opportunities that we have. One thing that I am starting to realize is how imperative it is to be prepared. In season AND out of season as the good book says. We tend to forgot the out of season part. Now obviously this is something we all know we need but if you're like me I constantly need to access what I am TRULY doing with the 24 hours God is blessing me with daily. How many of us have taken an assessment when we are done with the "next big thing" in our lives and say to ourselves, “I could have been more prepared for that. I could have done better than that... I could have given more. I could have won that battle” I am realizing that we don’t have trouble dreaming or desiring... We have trouble preparing for the challenge. We don’t start, don’t plan, don’t work as hard as we could, or procrastinate with our goals and dreams.
Every once in a while our heroes will do something inspiring, the will do something noteworthy, or (as has been the case lately...) they will leave this Earth. Those are the times we reevaluate our priorities. Am I working hard enough? Am I wasting time? Am I focused? Is there anything more important than reaching for the stars? I am starting to realize that when I get to the end of the line the things I struggle with from day to day are going to seem FAR less important than WHAT I did with my life
My question for myself lately has been this: Do I take the necessary steps in the off season so that in the regular season I’m prepared for ANYTHING? When the battle has not yet arrived is when you prepare.. I want to be prepared for my dreams and any challenge that comes my way.
Of course this applies to everything we do in life patrons. We know this.
Do I prepare for a great career by getting a great education?
Do I prepare for a great marriage while dating?
Do I prepare for the things I have no knowledge of by being humble enough to get advice?
Do I prepare to show the world my best work by working at it until it IS my best work?
Ask yourself. We have some great opportunities coming up soon! They’ll all be worth attending.. You know why? We will be prepared for them...
Here is a list of some of our upcoming shows! Come to one of them. Come to all of them. Support the Elements and prepare yourself for your dreams! Until next time patrons.
July 19th, 3 p.m.
THE ELEMENTS OPENING FOR THE NAPPY ROOTS!
Courtyard Marriott USC on Assembly St.
630 Assembly St.
Columbia, SC, 29201
September 19th, 8:15 p.m.
THE ELEMENTS WITH ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, 2ND ANNUAL ART AND SOUL
Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center
165 Courtland St. NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
October 9th, 8:00 p.m.
THE ELEMENTS AT D.J. PRINCE ICE’S 2OTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
FT. SLICK RICK, BIG DADDY KANE, NICE AND SMOOTH, SPECIAL ED, AND MORE!
Koger Center for the Arts
1051 Greene St.
Columbia, SC 29201
We are all works in progress. We all have areas to grow in. We all change. Those who achieve greatness spend less time saying' "I'm working on it" or "I'm a work in progress" and MORE time ACTUALLY working. I must admit I'm the most excited that I've been in a while concerning music and the "work" being done there. I had a great conference call with the group on Monday and reconnected with them. As anyone who follows us knows, we ALL have a lot of things going on. Careers, college for some, new marriages for others... It has been a year of refocus (and other focuses..) for all of us.
But it's cool. Sometimes you need that in life! And I think we are all more poised now than we have ever been. This is a good thing. For one, Mike, Marcus, and myself have all been led by the power that is to live in Columbia, SC for a while longer. It's funny how God orchestrates so much for us. Never would've saw that coming in a million years.. But it did! And, as a result, we will be more connected and have more of the group in close proximity than we have had in almost 4 years! With our own studio and all a little smarter and a lot hungrier. No joke. This is good.
So, here we are! Everyone evolving. Everyone refocusing on our dream (we have great ones...). Everyone ready to do their part. It's a good feeling! So what exactly IS everyone doing? (I'll focus on the projects and if you want a more personal take on the fellas please visit their websites and blogs.) As you'll soon see a lot is in the works for The Elements family.
Marcus Thomas - Soul Speak 
In edition to finishing up his Masters, Marcus is coming back home to Columbia, SC from Gainsville, FLA! This is good for the Elements folks... Very good. Currently Marcus has in the works the following:
1. Owen Soul (a concept duet album with yours truly..)
2. a solo acoustic effort
http://soulspeakproject.blogspot.com/
Tim Cokely - Mr. I Gets Busy... T. Coke
The recent graduate is more focused than ever and ready to work. I personally cannot WAIT to hear a T. Coke album. Here's his current list of projects.
1. One entitled "16 to Life Behind Bars"
2. another yet to be titled project.
Mikhael Sampson - Mike S. The Prophet 13 
Mike S the Prophet is doing what he always does.. Produce HEAT. But he's also gearing up to do what he periodically does... produce a HOT solo album. I promise this one will be his best one yet. Stay tuned for more info.
1.A yet to be titled solo project.
Kevin Sampson - The VISUAL Kid 
Kevin has A LOT going on... But of course that is better SEEN than heard... Go check out his blog at http://thevisualkid.blogspot.com and prepare to be inspired...
Brian Conner - Open Mike 
And of course, that leaves me.. I promise you ALL I will put forth the best effort I ever have in my musical career to produce a artwork worth remembering.. Pray for me! Here's my list of construction work:
1. Owen Soul
2. Solo effort entitled, "The Dash"
3. And lots more "Toast It and Post It's" to keep your appetite wet!
Stay tuned in folks! Follow us where ever we can be followed and thanks for supporting The Elements!
TOAST IT AND POST IT INSTALLMENT #1 
Hello Patrons!
This was a huge weekend for me! The Elements had the opportunity to perform a song that we wrote at the request of Dr. Alveda King for Naomi King and representatives of the A.D. King Foundation. It was a GREAT honor. I have a feeling that this will turn in to more of a partnership between the King Family and the Elements... Stay tuned. This year I have been praying and trying to focus on using the music to really make a difference. Funny how praying, working, and doing makes things happen... Don't give up on your dreams patrons!
Read Below and enjoy! (Facebook users please click my blog link for all the pictures!)
openmike48.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/theelementslook
Mrs. Naomi King receives 2009 HOPE worldwide Living Legacy Award
by Tony Martin - Tuesday, 24 February 2009
On Sunday, February 22, 2009, Mike Patterson, Senior Evangelist, The Greater Atlanta Church of Christ, presented the HOPE Worldwide 2009 Living Legacy Award to Mrs. Naomi Barber Ruth King.
On Sunday, February 22nd, several churches in our fellowship, from Boston to LA, Baltimore to Dallas, NY to Columbia, SC, Chicago to Stone Mountain, Georgia, and our host church, the Greater Atlanta Church of Christ, joined together to honor living matriarch, Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King, sister-in-law of the late Martin Luther King Jr., and widow to Dr A. D. King, brother to Martin Luther King Jr., both slain during the civil rights movement.
After hearing a recording of the song, "The Dream Realized…"Dr. Alveda King, niece to Dr. Martin Luther King, offered her enthusiastic endorsement; She said, "…the lyrics are compelling, the melody is moving …" Dr. King invited, 16-year-old Robert Quintin, Jr., of the Greater Baltimore Church of Christ, to come and perform for members of the King family, in Atlanta. Hip-Hop rap ensemble, the Elements; and John Lakin and Youth on a Mission were also featured performers in the new urban contemporary anthem. "The Dream Realized," was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King's famous "A Knock at midnight" speech, given in 1967. The song was written in collaboration with Tony Martin, Greater Baltimore Church and The Elements, disciples from Columbia, SC.
Performance of the song was well received before a packed house of eager worshippers, who had come to pay tribute to the King family. Several artists, were on tap to lend their talents to this august celebration in appreciation for the King family, and for what they have done for this country, in fighting to secure civil rights for all Americans. Mrs. Naomi King was accompanied by her daughter, Dr. Alveda King- a staunch civil rights activist known for her pro-life activism- and Professor Babs Onaybanjo, President and CEO of the A. D. King Foundation.
The celebration was surreal, as we reflected the countless contributions made by the Mrs. Naomi King and the King family throughout the years, have made countless sacrifices in the community, the government, the streets, and most importantly, the church. The King family are a cornerstone in the African-American community. The result of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream and sacrifice has witnessed the election of our nation’s 1st African American President. This event gave us all cause for pause, and reflects on MLK’s words: "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.” The assembly of blacks and whites worshipping together in the birthplace of the civil rights movement is the realizations of a dream come true.
In addition to these performances, SPEECH, our brother in Christ, a two-time Grammy Award winner, did a stellar job preaching and performing. SPEECH used the story of Lazarus to prepare our hearts for communion. With many disciples and guest in attendance he challenged each of us to examine our spiritual lives and to make sure we are not allowing our grave clothes, "sin" from the past to hinder our spiritual growth. Later in the program he gave a soul stirring tribute to the King family by dedicating his arrangement of Bob Marley's Redemption Song. The family was grateful and encouraged; they told Les Johnson, "We never saw a worship service like this."
Tamika Wilder (daughter of legendary R&B singer, Keith Wilder) and teen gospel choir, The Voices of the Spirit (VOS), brought the house to its feet with their soul stirring rendition of Fred Hammond’s “Jesus Be a Fence.” They are comprised of 13 very talented kids from Atlanta, ranging in age from 11 to 16. VOS desires is to touch people with not only their voices, but the lyrical content of every song they sing. They are competing in a Path Mark’s National Gospel choir competition in NY at the World Financial Center Feb 28th and working on recording their very own album to be released in 2009.
The Elements, a positive hip-hop group from Columbia, SC. reminded the audience during their performance, that security cannot be found in hip-hop, in fame, nor wealth, but it is “In God, and God alone we must put our trust.” Mrs. King waived her hands in approval of their infectious rap style that transcended race, culture, and generational gaps. It has been said, “The lessons of the past are ignored and obliterated in a contemporary antagonism known as the generation gap.” God’s word however communicated, through word or music is timeless.
Stellar Award Winner John Lakin and Youth on a Mission, of Columbia, South Carolina, performed their lively, foot-stomping, hand clapping song, “Testimony,” which got the audience up on their feet dancing and shouting their own testimony of thanks to God while singing to one another, “The Goodness of the Lord.” John, a gifted and prolific songwriter and worship leader, has lent his songwriting abilities to many notable gospel artists including Ricky Dillard, Bruce Parham and others. In 2005, John Lakin and Youth on a Mission released their debut album "Expressions of Worship....Live".
Phillip Watson and VOS gave a moving interpretation of one of the most famous freedom songs, made popular by the late gospel giant, Rev. James, Cleveland, and most recently, gospel music sensation, Mary Mary. “I don’t feel no ways tired.” For the past eighteen years, Phillip has sung with numerous choirs and ensembles, in prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, and the White House as well as overseas in Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Renowned gospel music director and member of the GACC, Jody Lewis performed, “I want to be ready” accompanied by the GACC choir. Lewis, known for his award winning vocal arrangement of music for part of the original soundtrack "Akeelah and the Bee," and for performing as a backing vocalist with music industry super-stars, like Josh Groban, Mariah Carey, and others.
On Sunday, February 22, 2009, Mike Patterson, presented the HOPE Worldwide 2009 Living Legacy Award to Mrs. Naomi Barber Ruth King. The Living Legacy Award was given birth in 2006 and was presented to Congresswoman Maxine Waters on April 19 of that same year. HOPE worldwide and the Metro Heights Los Angeles Church of Christ presented Congresswoman Waters with the award in recognition of her public service exceeding 30 years in the community and her dedication to those other than herself as a congresswoman. Her legacy will continue to be honored in her community, through her personal works with the church and through the contributions of HOPE Worldwide.The Living Legacy Award was accompanied with a three hundred dollar donation to the A.D. King Foundation from the GACC, The Thompson Family and HOPE worldwide LA. Like any great story and legacy, persistence is key: persistence through time. It takes other great leaders to carry on this award: leaders like Mrs. Naomi Barber Ruth King and the King family. They represent a foundation of dedication, faith, justice, education, diligence, love, and sense of hard work that is unforeseen in today’s generation. Mrs. King is an example of what we should want our children to become. She is a product of love, married into greatness, and lives a life of high expectation for herself and those around her.
