News

SMU Meadows School of the Arts: "Complex Movements, 2015 SMU Meadows Prize Winner, to Present Free Interactive Performances"

Posted on November 10, 2015

SMU Meadows School of the Arts recently published an article exploring the work of Complex Movements in anticipation of the art collective’s upcoming residency in Dallas. Check out the article for a great introduction to Complex Movements’ approach to interactive performance installation and community engagement.

“The work of Complex Movements exemplifies an interdisciplinary approach to art-making, alongside placing community at the core of their practice. We are interested in presenting various models to our students and to the city at large of work that reflects these myriad artistic forms and events,” said Clyde Valentín, director of the Meadows School’s Ignite/Arts Dallas initiative, which oversees the Meadows Prize.

Read the full article here.

Invincible named 2015 United States Artist Fellow

Posted on November 10, 2015

Emergence Media artist

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Finale's 'Odds and Ends' Release Party

Posted on August 12, 2015

This week marks the release of Odds and Ends, Finale's long awaited collaborative album with producer Oddisee. Coming six years following Finale's critically acclaimed album, A Pipe Dream and a Promise, the new record  illuminates a deep personal and musical growth from the Detroit wordsmith known for his incisive and honest content, as well as unorthodox flows and rhyme schemes.

The first single from the project showcases Miz Korona and Homeboy Sandman on the brutally direct "Just Due". The second single features ill weaver/Invincible and Detroit vocalist Pierre Anthony on the poly-rhythmic "The Revival".

The Odds and Ends release party takes place this Saturday at the Shelter in Detroit.

RSVP on Facebook.



ODDS & ENDS : ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

Hosted by:
LEAF ERIKSON

Beat Showcase by:
APOLLO BROWN

Featuring:
FINALE
with special guests
HOMEBOY SANDMAN (NYC)
AWESOME DRE
HASSAAN MACKEY (Rochester, NY)
MIZ KORONA
BIG TONE
CLEAR SOUL FORCES
NOLAN THE NINJA
THE GORILLA FUNK MOB

Sounds by:
K FRESH
P DOGG THE TURNTABLE BULLY

Location:
SATURDAY AUGUST 15th, 2015
THE SHELTER (Saint Andrews)
431 E. CONGRESS ST.
DETROIT, MI 48226

DOORS 9pm - 2am
18+ $10 ENTRY

SHOW STARTS AT 10pm (GET THERE EARLY!)

Joe L @ I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape (VIDEO)

Posted on July 29, 2015

In this video we feature Joe L, who performed at our “I Do Mind Dying” event last Summer. As the grand finale to the I Do Mind Dying: Live Mixtape event, we feature the legendary Joe L singing live for the first time in over two decades. The lyrics to this song, “Please Mr. Foreman”, were authored while he worked in an auto plant, and lent themselves to both the title of the book Detroit: I Do Mind Dying, and this event. There is also a forthcoming documentary about the water movement in Detroit directed by Kate Levy borrowing this powerful lyric and statement of dignity and power.

Joe L is a lifelong Detroiter who grew up in the Del Ray neighborhood of the city, and after many years writing, recording, and touring classic records with several soul record labels, he went on to become involved in supporting families through his church who are impacted by the prison industrial complex and the criminalization of black youth. We hope to amplify more of Joe L’s powerful music and stories soon.

This video of Joe L is produced by Emergence Media, filmed and edited by Tim Jagielo.

Emergence presented the "I Do Mind Dying" Live Action Mixtape on July 19, 2014 at Detroit's New Center Park. The event was hosted by and featured performances from Invincible, Miz Korona, and Tunde Olaniran.

Additional Musicians Featured in the Video

Gayelynn McKinney (drums)
Ibrahim Jones (bass)
Tony Gordon (keys)
C Sharpe and Detroit Urban Stringz (string section)
DJ Los (turntables)

Don’t Miss Our Next Event

“Emergence Media and Dirt Tech Reck presents…Alright!”
Thursday July 30th 6-9pm at New Center Park in Detroit
Free. All ages. Wheelchair accessible.

ill Weaver @ I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape (VIDEO)

Posted on July 29, 2015

Invincible (who now also goes by their name ill Weaver), co-hosted our I Do Mind Dying event last Summer and (reluctantly) performed their song “No Fear”. Since February of 2014 they no longer perform solo, so this collaboration with the Renaissance High School drumline and the Live Action Mixtape band (headed by music director/drummer Gayelynn Mckinney) was a rare Invincible performance, as ill currently performs exclusively with the Complex Movements collective.



This video of Miz Korona is produced by Emergence Media, filmed and edited by Tim Jagielo.

Emergence presented the "I Do Mind Dying" Live Action Mixtape on July 19, 2014 at Detroit's New Center Park. The event was hosted by and featured performances from Invincible, Miz Korona, and Tunde Olaniran.

The song “No Fear” was originally written in collaboration with Waajeed and the Catalanian hip-hop group At Versaris. A year later Invincible expanded the song to include a verse about gender-non-conformity and trans identity:

“No Fear / Of gender binaries / when the line’s blurry / they look at me / and they can’t define clearly”

The epic contribution of the Renaissance High School drumline heightens the fearlessness this song conjures. It also relates to this Nina Simone quote from the recently released documentary about her life: “I’ll tell you what freedom means to me: No fear.”

Additional Musicians Featured in the Video

Gayelynn McKinney (drums)
Ibrahim Jones (bass)
Tony Gordon (keys)
C Sharpe and Detroit Urban Stringz (string section)
DJ Los (turntables)

Don’t Miss Our Next Event

“Emergence Media and Dirt Tech Reck presents…Alright!”
Thursday July 30th 6-9pm at New Center Park in Detroit
Free. All ages. Wheelchair accessible.

Miz Korona @ I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape (VIDEO)

Posted on July 27, 2015

In this video we feature Miz Korona, a co-host of our “I Do Mind Dying” event last Summer. In addition to co-hosting the I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape, Miz Korona also shared this personal gem titled “Everyday Struggles.” In it she rhymes candidly about growing up in Detroit and paints a vivid picture of the city. She ends with a long dedication list of recently gained ancestors, followed by these words of wisdom: “I know it’s hard right now Detroit- but we’re gonna persevere through all the adversity.”


This video of Miz Korona is produced by Emergence Media, filmed and edited by Tim Jagielo.

Emergence presented the "I Do Mind Dying" Live Action Mixtape on July 19, 2014 at Detroit's New Center Park. The event was hosted by and featured performances from Invincible, Miz Korona, and Tunde Olaniran.

About Miz Korona

Miz Korona is a born and raised Detroiter with a no-holds-barred approach to emceeing. She comes from a family of Detroit musicians. Her father was a member of 70’s R&B group The Floaters. He wanted her to sing, but she decided to rhyme as a way to express her stories and innovate the art form she grew up listening to, “If you stand firm, you make people pay attention. It’s about being assertive and letting your voice come out.” She has earned undeniable respect as a lyricist since first freestyling on the school bus, and since has gone on to smashing stages around the world. Miz Korona has opened up for hip-hop icons including Scarface and Run-DMC, and freestyled alongside Eminem and Xzibit in the blockbuster film 8 Mile.

Her namesake, Korona, references the outer perimeter of the sun, and she shines in her many endeavors, most recently on her self released debut album The Injection (2010), and mixtape Dope Muzik (2009). Upcoming projects include a collaborative album and tour with Finale and others on a France based Detroit hip-hop project, and her sophomore solo project, Sealy Posturpedic: The Most Slept On. In addition to making music she is also an event producer and host with a long track record including The Sleepover event showcase, and hosting music events of the Allied Media Conference for several years.

Connect with Miz Korona

Listen on Bandcamp

Follow on Instagram

Follow on Twitter

Additional Musicians Featured in the Video

Gayelynn McKinney (drums)
Ibrahim Jones (bass)
Tony Gordon (keys)
C Sharpe and Detroit Urban Stringz (string section)
DJ Los (turntables)

Don’t Miss Our Next Event

“Emergence Media and Dirt Tech Reck presents…Alright!”
Thursday July 30th 6-9pm at New Center Park in Detroit
Free. All ages. Wheelchair accessible.

Tunde Olaniran @ I Do Mind Dying: Live Action Mixtape (VIDEO)

Posted on July 27, 2015

In this video we feature Tunde Olaniran, a co-host of our “I Do Mind Dying” event last Summer. Tunde Olaniran performed his epic song “Cobra” which address state violence and police profiling.

Invincible notes: “Tunde always pushes the creative edges and inspires with tireless innovation and dedication. He is a true polymath skilled as a lyricist, singer, emcee, producer, fashion/jewelry designer, video director, choreographer, event producer, installation designer, science fiction author, and manages to give every single thing his all, not to mention a powerful youth worker and sex education activist, deeply committed to his community in Flint.”

This video of Tunde Olaniran is produced by Emergence Media, filmed and edited by Tim Jagielo.

Emergence presented the "I Do Mind Dying" Live Action Mixtape on July 19, 2014 at Detroit's New Center Park. The event was hosted by and featured performances from Invincible, Miz Korona, and Tunde Olaniran.

About Tunde Olaniran

A "unique mix of cultural bite, androgynous aesthetic, and a wildly impressive musical faculty" (AfroPunk) combine to make Flint, MI's Tunde Olaniran one of the more captivating American musicians putting his stamp on today's artistic landscape. Having lived various portions of his life in Nigeria, Germany, England and the United States, his unique take on Afrofuturism seamlessly blends the progressive ideals of pioneers such as Sun Ra and George Clinton with a modern production style all his own. Frenetic trap beats, soaring vocal prowess and playfully conscious verses all combine for a stunning end-product: an output that is as entertaining as it is enlightened.

His magnetic presence as a performer as well as songwriter has garnered him accolades as an "avant-garde genius" (MTV) and an artist who "stands out amongst a crowd of hip-hop, electro and indie scenes" (Examiner), leading to a recent partnership with Quite Scientific Records for the release of some of his most in-depth and provocative work yet. His most recent EP Yung Archetype, was described "an explosive, dynamic offering from what is clearly a restlessly creative talent" (Pitchfork), and his upcoming LP, Transgressor, is set to debut in 2015.

Transgressor is available for pre-sale here and will be celebrated with a release party on August 8.

Additional Musicians Featured in the Video

Gayelynn McKinney (drums)
Ibrahim Jones (bass)
Tony Gordon (keys)
C Sharpe and Detroit Urban Stringz (string section)
DJ Los (turntables)

Don’t Miss Our Next Event

“Emergence Media and Dirt Tech Reck presents…Alright!”
Thursday July 30th 6-9pm at New Center Park in Detroit
Free. All ages. Wheelchair accessible.