This weeks Unknown Artist of the Week is Amos Lee. He has been on the music scene for a little bit and has really made a splash in the business. Some of you most likely have never even heard of this guy so let me tell you a bit more about him. He is a folk singer, and his songs always have a nice mellow, smooth, and soothing sound that can over take anyone in a bad mood, and instantly calm them down. He has been known for not only going on tour by himself, but on numerous occasions he has played with one of the best folk singers of all time. This past year, Amos Lee toured with Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello, and from what I heard, it was a great concert. He has also been known to play with artists: Phil Collins, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, and many others. Amos Lee possess the ability to follow in the footsteps of the great Bob Dylan, in the sense that each write fantastic lyrics. The main difference between the two of them is that Amos Lee has a very nice and appeasing voice, while Bob Dylan has a very raspy and loud voice. I personally am one who enjoys both, others may prefer one over the other. No matter what you prefer, I highly suggest you give Mr. Lee a listen. He currently has two albums out entitled, "Amos Lee" & "Supply and Demand." As I had said in other posts on this blog, not everything here is R&B, Rap, Hip-Hop, and Raggae based. We do listen to many different genre's and these Unknown Artists of the Week are people we believe do have talent and just aren't really big yet. If you give Amos Lee a listen, let us know, we would love to hear what you think about his works!

Does the name Bun B sound familiar? Probably not (or at least for some of you...), Bun B is best known as part of the two man Hip-Hop/Rap band named UGK. Bun B and his partner Pimp C broke out on the scene in 92' putting out their first album on a audio cassette tape. Jive Records was interested in their works, and ended up signing them for a five album production contract. The two recording artists stayed together from 92' until 01', and sadly were forced to part ways in January of 02'. The reason being you might ask? Well, Pimp C had been incarcerated for gun assault and was in jail for a certain period of time. Both Bun B and Pimp C agreed they would each need to go off on their own ways and try to do what they do best as solo artists. Bun B went off on his solo career, and really is the only reason why UGK is here today. Bun B kept the UGK spirit alive while Pimp C was in jail, and three years later, Pimp C is out of jail, and the two have began to record together again. UGK's most recent album is entitled: "UGK (Underground Kingz)", and Bun B had released his debut album entitled "Trilla" on 2005. He is now set on creating "2 Trilla," which will be released in 2008.

Well, this will be the first Unknown Artist of the Week that does not fall under the genre of Hip-Hop/Rap. This weeks artist goes by the name of Tally Hall. In 2002, Tally Hall was created in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They currently have one album entitled, "Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum," (which is an actual mechanical museum located in Farmington Hills, Michigan) and was released under QUACK!Media Records in November of 2005. Since then, Tally Hall has signed with Atlantic Records, and is already planning for their second studio album.


As it says above, this is Tally Hall's first studio album. It was released in 2005 by QUACK!Media. Overall this is one of my favorite bands ever, and I thought I would share with all you guys my "Secret Band." Here are my ratings and Track Listing for "Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (MMMM).

The Track Listing:
"Good Day" (9.6 out of 10)
"Greener" (9.2 out of 10)
"Welcome to Tally Hall" (9.3 out of 10)
"Taken for a Ride" (8.9 out of 10)
"The Bidding" (9.3 out of 10)
"Be Born" (8.7 0ut of 10)
"Banana Man" (8.5 out of 10)
"Just Apathy" (9.6 out of 10)
"Spring and a Storm" (8.6 out of 10
"Two Wuv" (8.9 out of 10)
"Haiku" (8.5 out of 10)
"The Whole World and You" (8.3 out of 10)
"13 (Unlisted)" (N/A out of N/A)
"Ruler of Everything" (8.9 out of 10)
"Hidden in the Sand (Hidden Track)"

This weeks Unknown Artist of the Week is American rapper Consequence. Consequence was brought up, raised and started his career in Queens, New York. He has put out his first album this past year entitled, "Don't Quit Your Day Job." His 2007 release, on March 6th, wasas a pretty good debut album in my opinion. He has produced ton of music with other artists in the Hip-Hop/Rap industry, some of whom you probably know: Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli, and DJ Kahled. His latest album was produced by GOOD Music, and sold 7,490 units in week one. Here is the review that I am making for his March 6th release, "Don't Quit Your Day Job."


On March 6, 2007, Consequence came out with his first solo album entitled, "Don't Quit Your Day Job!" It is a pretty solid album and the tunes are solid. If I had to compare him to a more "well known" rapper, it would be like a Talib Kweli or Kanye West. The way his lyrics flow, and the way his beats come out of your speakers, you can swear that you are listening to one of them! Very solid album, even though it came out this year and has been out since March 6th, i highly suggest you go out and buy this album! If you don't feel like going out and buying the album because you have no idea what he is singing and what he sounds like, then go on his myspace and listen to some of his tunes.

The Track Listing:
"Job Song" (8.3 out of 10)
"Don't Forget Em" (8.6 out of 10)
"Uptown" (8.2 out of 10)
"The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (Feat. Kanye West)" (9.1 out of 10)
"Night Night" (8.4 out of 10)
"Pretty Little Sexy Mama" (8.7 out of 10)
"On Break (Skit)" (N/A out of N/A)
"Feel This Way (Feat. John Legend) (8.9 out of 10)
"Callin' Me" (8.95 out of 10)
"Disperse (Feat. Gangsta L. Crisis & Really Doe)" (8.8 out of 10)
"Yo Dex (Skit)" (N/A out of N/A)
"Uncle Rahiem" (8.3 out of 10)
"Grammy Family (Feat. DJ Kahled, Kanye West & John Legend) (9.6 out of 10)
"Good News, Bad News (Skit)" (N/A out of N/A)
"Who Knew My Luck Would Change" (8.9 out of 10)

This weeks Unknown Artist of the Week is Miri Ben-Ari. Miri Ben-Ari was raised in Tel Aviv Israel and began her career there. Her style of music is of something that not many are used to hearing. She is a hip-hop violinist who has won many Israeli music awards. The only way I can think that you have possibly heard her name would be in some of the songs she has participated in with some of the many popular American Hip-Hop/Rap musicians living around the world. She has worked with Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Subliminal, Twista, Akon, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, and Maroon 5. Now that you know who she has produced some music with, go ahead and give a listen to some of her stuff. It is pretty good and is a bit different then what you probably listen to now.

Popular Songs With Miri Ben-Ari:

Kanye West:
- Freshman Adjustment 3: Fly Away
- College Dropout: Graduation Day
- College Dropout: Jesus Walks
- College Dropout: We Don't Care
- College Dropout: Two Words
- College Dropout: Breathe In Breathe Out
- College Dropout: New Workout Plan
- Late Registration: Late (Bonus Track)

Akon:
- Trouble: Miss Melody

Alicia Keys:
- Songs In A Minor: Fallin'

John Legend:
- Get Lifted: Live It Up

Twista:
- Kamikaze: Overnight Celebrity

Wyclef Jean:
- Masquerade: Masquerade

Album Productions:
1999 - Sahara
2003 - Temple of Beautiful
2005 - The Hip Hop Violinist