On “Life During Wartime,” the first single from Talking Heads’ 1979 album Fear of Music, David Byrne famously sang the immortal lyrics, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…no time for dancing…”
Continue readingTalking Dreads
The Furious Five
The furious 5
As the world celebrates 50 Years of Hip Hop, the legendary Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5, are carrying the torch as the first rap group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They took the world by storm with the iconic single, “THE MESSAGE” which was ranked by “Rolling Stone Magazine” as the “Number One Rap Song of All Time.” The Hip Hop culture has become a multibillion
dollar industry that has impacted every major industry of the economy. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 have created the blueprint for so many artists of today.
dollar industry that has impacted every major industry of the economy. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 have created the blueprint for so many artists of today.
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 are to Hip Hop what the Rolling Stones are to Rock N Roll. They have toured the world with the likes of U2, The Police, Clash, Prince and Duran Duran along with Hip Hop’s Legends. Their recordings are amongst the most sampled in the history of recorded Hip Hop.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 was a household name. Fans could not stop talking about the rap artists who were also known as trendsetters of their time. They could not wait to see them perform their hits; “The Message”; “Beat Street”; “New York New York”; “Survival”; “Scorpio”; “It’s Nasty” and “Birthday Party” to name a few. They held down the #1 records in the UK with “White Lines”; “Beat Street” and “Step Off”. They’ve continued to tour over the years to sold out crowds across Europe and
abroad.
Quincy Jones used their vocal talents for his Grammy Award winning albums, “Back On The Block” and “Q’s Jook Joint,” respectively. They also lent their voices to the legendary Chaka Khan for her Grammy winning single, “I Feel For You”, earning a Grammy for Mele Mel – the first for any rap artist. Among their many achievements is the performance on the anti-apartheid song “Sun City”, created by
Bruce Springstein and guitarist Steven Van Zandt. On that project they performed along with Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of the Temptations, Ruben Blades, Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock.
Their music has had a major impact in the Hip Hop culture and continues to accumulate awards. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 were recently honored on the Bronx Walk of Fame, with a street named after them. In 2007 they became the first rap group ever to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “The Message” was the first rap song that contained social commentary, and is in the
archives of the Library of Congress for its social relevance. It was the first Hip Hop record inducted in to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 revolutionized the genre of rap and helped to create the template for the industry that exists today. They’ve opened the doors for rap artists today. The group continues to tour performing their groundbreaking songs with Mele Mel, Scorpio, Rahiem and Bar Shon.
MEDIA
THE FURIOUS FIVE WITH SUGARHILL GANG
Ryan Slone Joins Universal Attractions Agency With Expanding Rock & Pop Division
January 6, 2024 – New York, NY – Universal Attractions Agency (UAA) is excited to announce that veteran music booking agent Ryan Slone has joined the agency in the rock & pop division. A longtime Tennessee resident working out of Nashville, Ryan will join UAA as part of the growing rock & pop division headed by Matt Rafal.
Ryan brings to UAA a stable of prominent rock and blues artists, including Danielle Nicole, dada, 7Horse, LOVE with Johnny Echols, Talking Dreads, Scott Mulvahill, and Black Circle, where he will act as responsible agent.
Jeff Epstein shares high praise for Ryan, stating: “Ryan is exceptional. His extensive knowledge of the Americana and blues circuit, coupled with his strong relationships with both buyers and artists, sets him apart. Ryan’s commitment to putting artists first aligns perfectly with what we value here at UAA. It’s clear that Ryan is a natural fit for our team, and we’re excited about what he’ll bring to the rock and pop division.”
Speaking on joining Universal Attractions Agency, Ryan Slone said: “I couldn’t be more excited to join UAA. The agency has a stellar reputation, and it’s easy to see that the leadership team is second to none.”
Ryan, who graduated with an MBA in music business from Belmont University in 2012, was previously at Bonfire Touring before joining Universal Attractions Agency. Ryan’s experience also includes working as an agent at Ovation Artist Group and New Frontier Touring.
About Universal Attractions:
Celebrating 80 years in the music business and founded in 1945 by Ben Bart, Universal Attractions Agency (UAA) is a leading talent agency headquartered in New York City. With a rich history that includes launching the career of legendary soul singer James Brown and representing him for over 40 years, UAA has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry for decades.
Today, UAA continues to guide the careers of prominent artists and entertainers. The agency represents over 250 artists, facilitates performances worldwide, and maintains its status as an industry leader.
UAA’s commitment to personalized attention and professionalism has solidified its reputation as a trusted partner in the entertainment sector, consistently adapting to the evolving landscape of the live music and entertainment industries.
To find more information about Universal Attractions and the agency’s roster, visit the official UAA website.
112 Brought In The New Year With Classic Hits In The Bahamas
Atlantis Paradise Island/Jervin Munroe.
R&B group 112 is still at it, recently bringing in 2025 in The Bahamas for Atlantis Paradise Island’s Party Like a Royal New Year’s Eve Celebration.
The group, consisting of original members Marvin “Slim” Scandrick and Michael “Mike” Keith, were joined by two other performers Saturday (Dec. 28) for the presentation, as former members Daron Jones and Quinnes “Q” Parker previously parted ways with the group.
Backed by a live band and DJ Stormy, the former Bad Boy signees brought several of their 1990s and 2000s hits to life, including “Peaches and Cream,” “Cupid,” and their heartfelt tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You.” The Party Like a Royal celebrations also included appearances from comedian Adam Devine, GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Lil Jon and DJ Webstar, who both kept the party going from the DJ booth on New Year’s Eve. Check out snaps from 112’s night at Atlantis Paradise Island below.
The best known iteration of 112 featured Slim, Mike, Q and Daron, with the quartet dropping debut album 112 via Bad Boy in 1996. The group parted ways with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ label in 2002, moving on to to Def Jam’s R&B imprint, Def Soul.
The late 2000s brought about group breakups and solo projects, with the foursome briefly reuniting in the 2010s before Q and Daron called it quits for good following the group’s 2017 release, Q, Mike, Slim, Daron.
Universal Attractions Agency Nominated for Independent Booking Agency of the Year at the 36th Annual Pollstar Awards
December 13, 2024 – New York, NY: Universal Attractions Agency is proud to be nominated for Independent Booking Agency of the Year at the 36th annual Pollstar Awards. Winners will be announced during the prestigious industry award show at the Los Angeles Beverly Hilton on February 19, 2025.
The Pollstar Awards, a highlight of the three-day Pollstar Live conference, is the world’s largest gathering of live entertainment professionals celebrating the top tours, venues, live music executives, agencies, production companies, and more. Nominees were selected by industry peers and the Pollstar Awards nominating committee, which comprises agents, managers, promoters, and other industry professionals.
On the nomination, UAA President Jeff Epstein said, “I am truly honored that UAA has been nominated for the independent booking agency of the year award. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished and deeply grateful for the support of our friends and colleagues.”
A complete list of award categories and nominees can be found here on the official Pollstar website.
About Universal Attractions:
In business since 1945, Universal Attractions Agency (UAA) boasts locations in the heart of New York City and Los Angeles. The agency’s celebrated history includes launching the career of the legendary soul singer James Brown and representing him for more than 40 years, in addition to a truly jaw-dropping list of talent on its rosters, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Smokey Robinson, and the Miracles, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, the Staples Singers, The Grateful Dead, Sepultura, Salt-N-Pepa, Coolio, Naughty By Nature, UB40, The Jacksons, New Edition, MC Hammer, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and so many more.
UAA has proven itself as an industry leader among talent agencies, continuing to help direct the careers of some of today’s most prominent artists, comedians, and entertainers. To find more information about Universal Attractions and the agency’s roster, visit the official UAA website.
Vanilla Ice is ice cold in hilarious beer campaign
The 90’s rapper is back to help New Zealanders show up before their beers blow up in this DB Breweries campaign by Special.
If seeing is believing, it looks like the ’90s are making a comeback.
When ‘90s rapper Vanilla Ice popped up in this spot for New Zealand beer Export Ultra, for a second, Ad Nut literally did think we’d all been transported to the bygone era. You know, back when ‘ice, ice baby…’ would swirl in your head ad nauseam. Don’t even try to resist humming along, it’s futile.
But the random reemergence of Vanilla Ice isn’t to launch a new single or unleash a new rap hook that gets stuck in your head for decades, it’s to launch the Export Ultra Cold Call Back Service—a service designed to help New Zealanders show up before their beers blow up. Ad Nut is not making this up.
Apparently, over the last 12 months, more than half of people in New Zealand have accidentally frozen a beer. And Kiwi beer brand Export Ultra launched a service that stops you accidentally exploding your beers in freezers.
Joining the fun is easy for people living in New Zealand: Simply place your beer in the freezer, text ‘ICE ICE’ to 423, and in 34 minutes, you’ll receive a call from Vanilla Ice himself, reminding you to check your beer before it turns into a frosty disaster. The main man even has a rolling series of summer messages planned such as bespoke rhymes for Valentine’s Day (‘Roses are red, violets are blue, ya boi Vanilla Ice got a reminder for you’) and a pledge for Christmas (‘I do my calls like I do my Christmas presents… they always come (w)rapped’).
The campaign TV spot shows Vanilla Ice at his Miami mansion going about his daily activities, where he casually polishes his impressive record collection and tends to his expansive 10-acre garden, all while making calls to residents in New Zealand to remind them to check their beers before they explode in the freezer.
Jonathan McMahon, chief creative officer at Special New Zealand who led strategy, creative ideation and production, said: “We’ve all been there. You put beer in freezer to chill while you chill. But you chill too much, and they chill too much and then… boom. And as Vanilla Ice would agree, that ain’t chill. Luckily the rap legend is now here, all summer long, to personally call every New Zealander who needs a reminder to take their Export Ultra out of the freezer.
“And luckily the Export Ultra team have a great ambition to save beer, a brilliant sense of humour and a strong desire to free up their drinkers so they can enjoy their summers in this wonderful beer garden of ours.”
Vanilla Ice’s Export Ultra Cold Call Back Service will be saving Kiwis’ beers from December 2024 through to February 2025, because a frosty beer is cool, but a frozen beer? Ice-cold heartbreak.
Very unexpected, very random, but very cool. Ad Nut would ordinarily shun a celebrity-fronted ad, but who else could front such a campaign?
CREDITS
Client: DB Breweries
Fraser Shrimpton, Marketing Director DB Breweries
Kate Baars, Senior Marketing Manager DB Breweries
Lauren Parker Condon, Brand Manager, DB Breweries
Jordan Grace, Assistant Brand & Shopper Manager
Annabel Buckley, Trade Marketing Manager
SPECIAL NEW ZEALAND
Tony Bradbourne, Founder, Creative Chairman, CEO NZ
Lisa Fedyszyn, Chief Creative Officer Jonathan McMahon, Chief Creative Officer
Simon Watts, Creative
Rhiana Merota, Art Director
Liz Garneau, Executive Producer
Therese Bielawa, Head of Production
Matt Abraham, Senior Digital Producer
Hamish Kuka, Social Editor
‘Courtney Spillane, Senior Business Manager
Rory Gallery, Partner, Chief Strategy Officer
Josh Taylor-Dadds, Group Strategy Director
Ursula Nichols , Group Strategy & CX Director
Nina Richardson, Strategist
SPECIAL PR
Kelly Grindle, Managing Director
Natasha D’Souza, Group PR Director
Jessica Walker, Senior PR Manager
DENTSU AOTEAROA
Tasmin Bradley, Senior Business Director
Grace McCarthy, Associate Digital Director
Lucciane Surtees, Business Director
Melis Shosanya, Business Manager
Ellie Ritchie, Senior Account Manager (Social)
RAYDAR
Simeon Trew, Account Director
VANILLA ICE aka Robert Van Winkle represented by TQ Management Agency
TQ Management Agency: Chuck Quon
TQ Management Agency: Tommy Quon
Foss Films for Vanilla Ice: Jon Foss
PRODUCTION COMPANY: RSA FILMS
Peter Martin, Director
Luke Ricci, President/EP
Jenni Sprunger , EP
Sarah Morrison, Head of Production
Liz Gonzalez, Producer
Beth Henning, Producer
Rafael Herrera, 1st AD
Sean Porter, DOP
Walter Rodriguez, 1st AC
Danny Garcia, DIT
Ana Huber, Prop Master
Eric Moorman, Sound Mixer
Naty Parodi, Key Costume
Juliana Moss, Key Make Up
Caleb Santos, PA
Ro Espinoza, PA:
Kevin Zimmerman, Editor
David Rothbaum, Composer
ONLINE/VFX/COlOUR: HECKLER SYDNEY
Amy Jarman, Heckler Executive Producer
Jamie Watson, Heckler Executive Creative Director
Julian Ford, Flame
Ferg Rotherham, Colourist
RECORDING POWER STATION RECORDING STUDIOS, FLORIDA
Rob Roy, Producer, Mix Engineer, Director
Brennan Fulton, Senior Engineer
Steven Ludwig, Assistant Engineer
SOUND: LIQUID STUDIOS
Andy Morton, Engineer
Tamara O’Neil, Producer
Orlas
Som das Orlas is a Brazilian music project that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Brazil’s coastal regions.
Continue readingThree 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop group from Memphis, Tennessee, formed in 1991. Two of their albums are RIAA-certified platinum. When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (2000) and Most Known Unknown (2005), the latter featured their hit single “Stay Fly”. In 2006 the group won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 78th Academy Awards for their song “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” from the film Hustle & Flow. The group’s latest studio album, Last 2 Walk, was released in 2008. Three 6 Mafia’s worldwide album sales stand at 5.5 million as of 2016.
BOX OFFICE REPORT
9/15/2023 – Mechanics Bank Arena – Bakersfield, CA
Event: Jelly Roll
Featuring: Three 6 Mafia, Struggle Jennings, Josh Adam Meyers
Gross: $743,211 USD / Sold: 8,878 / Capacity: 8,878
9/14/2023 – Toyota Pavilion at Concord – Concord, CA
Event: Jelly Roll
Featuring: Three 6 Mafia, Struggle Jennings
Gross: $561,297 USD / Sold: 12,261 / Capacity: 12,560
9/21/2024 – Orion Amphitheater – Huntsville, AL
Event: Three 6 Mafia
Featuring: Yelawolf, Cowboy Killers, Project Pat
Gross: $215,457 USD / Sold: 3,596 / Capacity: 5,996
THE HITS
Spotify: 3.57M monthly listeners | Instagram: 192K Followers | Facebook: 1.14M Followers | YouTube: 778K Subscribers
Three 6 Mafia - Stay Fly
Three 6 Mafia - Poppin' My Collar
TRHEE 6 MAFIA - Sippin On Some Syrup
Afroman Signs Exclusively With Universal Attractions Agency; Joins Rock The Country 2025 Festival Lineup
November 20, 2024 – New York, NY – Universal Attractions Agency is excited to announce that Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman has signed exclusively with the agency. UAA president Jeff Epstein and agent Brian Lottermann will act as responsible agents. Coinciding with the signing, Afroman will join the 2025 Rock The Country festival lineup; the ten-date festival trek will take place throughout spring-summer 2025. Afroman is also on the separate June 20 Rock The South festival bill taking place in Cullman, Alabama.
About Afroman
Afroman released his debut album “My Fro-losophy” in 1998 and went on to release a string of independent LPs before finding mainstream success with the iconic comedy-rap hits “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap” in 2000. Both songs eventually reached RIAA platinum status, and “Because I Got High” peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Afroman signed to Universal Music Group the following year, where he would release his major label debut, “The Good Times,” a compilation of material from previous independent releases. The album charted inside the top ten on the Billboard 200. The success pushed Afroman into the forefront of popular culture as “Because I Got High” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at 2002’s 44th annual Grammy Awards. “Because I Got High” also appeared in numerous popular films such as “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Disturbia.”
On the signing, UAA president Jeff Epstein said: “Afroman is a legend and a pop culture icon. We are excited to welcome Afroman to UAA and are looking forward to the 2025 Rock The Country festival dates and beyond.”
2025 Afroman x Rock The Country Festival Dates
April 5 – Livingston, LA – Livingston Fairgrounds
April 26 – Knoxville, TN – Maple Lane Farms
May 3 – Poplar Bluff, MO – Brick’s Offroad Park
May 10 – Ocala, FL – Florida Horse Park
May 31 – York, PA – York Expo Center
June 14 – Hastings, MI – Barry Expo Center
June 20 – Cullman, AL – York Farms***
June 21 – Little Rock, AR – Arkansas State Fairgrounds
July 12 – Ashland, KY – Boyd County Fairgrounds
July 19 – Sioux Falls, SD – W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
July 26 – Anderson, SC – Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center
For tickets and more info, visit rockthecountry.com.
*** – June 20 Rock The South festival date (separate from Rock The Country). For tickets, visit www.rockthesouth.com.
About Universal Attractions:
In business since 1945, Universal Attractions Agency (UAA) boasts locations in the heart of New York City and Los Angeles. The agency’s celebrated history includes launching the career of the legendary soul singer James Brown and representing him for more than 40 years, in addition to a truly jaw-dropping list of talent on its rosters, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Smokey Robinson, and the Miracles, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, the Staples Singers, The Grateful Dead, Sepultura, Salt-N-Pepa, Coolio, Naughty By Nature, UB40, The Jacksons, New Edition, MC Hammer, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and so many more.
UAA has proven itself as an industry leader among talent agencies, continuing to help direct the careers of some of today’s most prominent artists, comedians, and entertainers. To find more information about Universal Attractions and the agency’s roster, visit the official UAA website.
Rapper/Actor Treach, Of Naughty By Nature Fame, Signs Exclusively With Universal Attractions Agency
November 12, 2024 – New York, NY: Treach, actor and legendary frontman of Naughty By Nature, has signed exclusively with Universal Attractions Agency and will be represented by UAA co-owner Jeff Epstein and agent Ben Sauberman, the agency has announced.
Treach of Naughty by Nature performs during the “Dj Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live” at Radio City Music Hall on July 21, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Richard Bord/Getty Images)
Treach is a mainstay on the acclaimed “I Love The 90s Tour” produced by Universal Attractions Agency. Entering its ninth year, along with Treach, the lineup includes Vanilla Ice, Color Me Badd, Rob Base, Montell Jordan, and many more. The I Love The 90s Tour” averages 5,059 tickets per show as reported to Pollstar, and grosses $243,652.
“I have known Treach for some time now,” Epstein says of his latest signing. “He’s a true hip-hop legend, a friend, and has been integral to the ‘I Love The 90s Tour’ for nearly a decade. We welcome Treach to the UAA family once again and are excited for his upcoming 2025 projects, which include a major touring stage play and continued touring with ‘I Love The 90s Tour.’”
Naughty By Nature was formed in 1989, releasing their first album under the name The New Style that same year. In 1991, Treach would find widespread acclaim with the self-titled follow-up Naughty By Nature. The sophomore album produced the hit songs “O.P.P.” and “Everything’s Gonna Be All Right,” which peaked at No. 6 and No. 53, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the two singles propelled the album to platinum status.
The third Naughty By Nature album, 19 Naughty III, proved to be equally successful, achieving platinum status and another mega-hit in “Hip Hop Hooray,” reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the accompanying music video being directed by Spike Lee. Poverty’s Paradise in 1996 earned Naughty by Nature the award for Best Rap Album at the 38th annual Grammy Awards that same year.
With increasing fame and popularity, Treach entered the world of acting, landing his first role in the 1992 acclaimed film “Juice” thanks to his friend, the legendary Tupac Shakur. Alongside his impressive recording career, Treach continued to appear in roles in features such as “The Meteor Man” (1993), “Who’s the Man” (1993), and the acclaimed “Jason’s Lyric” (1994).
The 2000s saw Treach land his first leading role in “Love and a Bullet” (2002) and appear in several hit TV shows such as “The Sopranos” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Recently, Treach played a recurring role as Brother X on BET’s “The Family Business” and starred as Nino Brown in the nationally touring stage play “New Jack City Live.”
About Universal Attractions:
In business since 1945, Universal Attractions Agency (UAA) boasts locations in the heart of New York City and Los Angeles. The agency’s celebrated history includes launching the career of the legendary soul singer James Brown and representing him for more than 40 years, in addition to a truly jaw-dropping list of talent on its rosters, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Smokey Robinson, and the Miracles, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, the Staples Singers, The Grateful Dead, Sepultura, Salt-N-Pepa, Coolio, Naughty By Nature, UB40, The Jacksons, New Edition, MC Hammer, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and so many more.
UAA has proven itself as an industry leader among talent agencies, continuing to help direct the careers of some of today’s most prominent artists, comedians, and entertainers. To find more information about Universal Attractions and the agency’s roster, visit the official UAA website.
