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In Da Corner

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"One thing I would love for other "lgbt" artists to know is that there is definitely room for you. There is room for us all. Make sure you are confident in your craft, confident in yourself, and surround yourself with individuals who believe in you as well. Be heard. Be an individual. Be an uncompromising voice that creates an unyielding force of acknowledgement. Acknowledgement that we are here!"

Jwahari(pronounced Wa-ha-ree) aka Royce Hall, is an artist like none other. With the combinations of hip hop, funk, afro beat, soul, spoken word, and jazz, Jwahari blends a distinct recipe of soulful music with passionate lyrics, often described as Mos Def and Jay-Z meets Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Not to mention her versatile rhyme patterns, punch lines , and expertise as a clarinetist, pianist, bass and acoustic guitarist, trumpet,and percussionist in general. Jwahari, a 24 year old native of Salisbury, Maryland ,currently resides in Tallahassee ,Florida. With the focus and drive of a million men, Jwahari has managed to overcome the many obstacles of life and push forth using those experiences to create a genre of music still undefined. Many female mc's resort to altering their image, lyrical style (message), and overall appearance in general, just to appeal to the "sex sells" masses that often overlook the true gift of music that resides in many of them, but Jwahari has chosen to remain as her true self and to not shadow her identity or persona. At the tender age of 8, Jwahari wrote her first rhyme and founded a hip hop trio by the name of Phase III. During those precious years, Phase III was initially created as a means to meet the vibrant three young ladies favorite music group, TLC. Although, that didn't come about, Phase III continued to strive for what they believed was success in the hip hop industry. After four years of being a group and witnessing the drastic changes that accompanied hip hop, the trio decided that music was their life and by any means necessary they would press forward as a group. Time passed, along with various opportunities, until one day Phase III was blessed with meeting Lauryn Hill after a Fugees concert. Just like most meetings with your favorite artist, you exchange some sort of contact info, (back then in 1996) you may perform for them, and everyone leaves the scene hyped. However, as the girls grew older, so did they grow weary of remaining a musical trio. Throughout these trying times, Jwahari, who was then known as 2real and later El-Jamah (which means "paradise"),continued to dominant the mc battle realm(44 wins and 2 losses) and spoken word scene, with an insatiable appetite to be heard. Even as a child Jwahari was destined to embrace her passion for the performing arts. While attending an advanced performing arts preschool academy, later ballet and piano institutes, and finally minoring in music with emphasis in Jazz Studies and Commercial Music Production at Florida A&M University, her motivation for progression and productivity as an artist is remarkable. Currently, she is an intern/college rep with Hidden Beach Recordings. Not to mention, Jwahari is the founder and CEO of Mahogany Soul Music Group, LLC., SOL LIVE Development, and YO! Royce.. Be Easy Music Publishing Company (ASCAP). Described as one of the most anticipated songwriters, Jwahari, conceives lyrics for a variety of mainstream and underground hip-hop ,soul, jazz, funk, r&b, gospel, afro beat, house, lounge, and blues artists/vocalists, leaving not one genre untouched by her unearthly effect. Jwahari's sound truly reflects her influences. Growing up in a household where music of every genre was heard daily, her exposure to various styles of music encouraged her to create her own; a melting pot of liberation through lyrical expression, instrumentation and truth. Her music is a canvas of invigorating testimonies, political consciousness, evolution and the love experience (from various angles). With this being said, please sit back and enjoy the sounds of....Jwahari . She writes all her own songs and is currently in the studio recording new music look for her on Imeem, and I-Tunes

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Listen Now

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Jwahari is often compared to Mos Def,Floetry,Lauryn Hill,Kanye West,Little Brother,Asamov and Common,with instrumentation styles resembling The Roots,Pete Rock,50s 60s and 70s soul music.
 
Influences Include:
God,the memory of her son Joshua Kalonji-Alimayu,Stevie Wonder,Marvin Gaye,Bob Marley,The Temptations,Anita Baker,Donnie Hathaway,basshead jazz,acid jazz,Oludara,Boney James,Slum Village,Aceyalone,Blackalicious,Camp Lo,Norman Conners,Van Hunt,Miriam Makeba,Nat Adderly,Rachelle Ferrell,Dizzy Gillespie,Nina Simone,Jelly Roll Morton,Philharmonic,Ohio Players,Chris Botti,Teena Marie,O Jays,Foreign Exchange,Nicolay,Meshell Ndegeocello,George Clinton
And Many More

To Contact Jwahari for bookings

When I'm in Tallahassee,FL:
Mondays- @ Down Below for Mundaze Hip-Hop Night, 11pm
Wednesdays- @ Down Below for The Bassment Lounge,11pm
1st,3rd,4th Thursdays- @ Amen-Ra's for Black On Black Rhyme, 8pm

Atlanta:
2nd Thursdays @ Apache,9pm
December 2- She Speaks Radio Show, tba
December 14- Brown Sugar Vibe @ Kat's Cafe, 7pm

more dates to come

Jwahari's Myspace Page

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Would you like to be featured? Do you have feedback, submissions, ideas? Email: indacorner@leznation.info

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