PJ Morton
Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Producer, and Music industry Executive PJ Morton is a 5-time Grammy Award winner. PJ has topped charts and received nods for numerous BET, Soul Train, and NAACP Image Awards honoring the six albums he has put out since his breakthrough, Gumbo, in 2017. And all of this comes in addition to touring with Maroon 5 and running his own label. PJ has written Over and Over performed by Trin-i-tee 5:7, Let Go and Let God performed by Dewayne Woods, Best Days Yet performed by Bishop Paul S. Morton, and the Better Benediction.
HaSizzle
HaSizzle is the pulsating thump and the vivaciousness known as Bounce music. Never heard of him? Then you’ve probably never been to New Orleans. To save you the trip, I suggest turning on Drake’s “Child’s Play” to hear his voice being sampled.
“She rode that **** like a soulja.” But Drake’s recognition is only the tip of the iceberg for HaSizzle, who’s been making music for nearly 15 years.”Bounce music is 100% party music. Meaning, dance music… that Pop/Rock booty shaking sound that you rejoice in and enjoy yourself. I want the world to know that no matter what type of Bounce song you hear, slow or fast, you’re gonna have a good time.”
His charming, Southern personality is so refreshing that non-natives forget the faux-pas of asking about Hurricane Katrina. “I’m out the Calliope, and I was raised all over New orleans. The jungle was the name of the hood. In the song I have, where I say ‘she rode it like jungle soulja’, that was for the girls in the hood.”
HaSizzle is the magic of New Orleans personified; he refuses to let tragedies drown his spirit—this reverberates through his music. The title of his latest Album The Voice 4 Church of Twerk, is also another example of his fabulous uniqueness. Not only is Getcha Sum ,” a single off of the Album, a radio and club banger in his city, it also is has a full signal regarding popularity when you search it on all digital music sites.
Teedra Mosses
Grammy-Nominated songwriter and BMI songwriter of the year, New Orleans Own Teedra Moses has written songs for Christina Milian, Mary J. Blige, Macy Gray, and a host of others and executively produced and penning her “critically acclaimed”album Complex Simplicity which spawned records such as Be Your Girl, Backstroke and Take Me featuring Raphael Saadiq, Teedra Moses has released three independent, all-original “Mixtapes”for fans.
Tonya Boyd Cannon
After ranking in the Top 20 on Season 8 of NBC’s Emmy-Award winning show “The Voice.” The classically trained vocalist Tonya Boyd Cannon continues to wow audiences worldwide with her unique mix of Jazz, Funk, Classical, Rock, Gospel, Reggae and Neo Soul sounds. Tonya released her sophomore album “MUZIC Is Life” in 2016. The album landed in ten categories in the first round of “The GRAMMY’s. The former New Orleans sheriff’s deputy is a graduate of Warren Eastern Fundamental High School and Tulane University and when she’s not on stage she’s in the classroom pouring into the next generation as a lifelong educator.
Ledisi
Growing up, Ledisi was heavily influenced by many soulful music icons, but especially Dr. Nina Simone. Ledisi, in 2021, released her dream project on her label entitled, “Ledisi Sings Nina” with the Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra conducted by Adonis Rose. This tour de force jazz project garnered Ledisi her 14th Grammy nomination and received rave reviews, prompting John Legend to say, “In terms of her range, dexterity, clarity, and versatility, she can do anything she wants. She’s one of the great singers in the world, period.”
In addition to a Grammy win and nominations, Ledisi has garnered three Soul Train Music Awards, 19 NAACP Image Award Nominations, an NAACP Theatre Award, and an NAACP nomination for Breakthrough Performance in a Film for her role as Mahalia Jackson in Remember Me. Ledisi also received two LA Alliance Ovation Award Nominations, one for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, CA, Ledisi has earned a place in the pantheon of the greatest singers of her generation. She has headlined nationally sold-out tours, and performed alongside Dave Matthews, Gary Clark Jr, Vince Gill, Keb Mo, and Maxwell as well as jazz greats Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, and Patti Austin.
August Alsina
August Anthony Alsina Jr. is an American singer whose talents have set him apart in the industry. He’s a Virgo, born on September 3, 1992, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He’s of African-American descent. Alsina attended middle school in his hometown and was inspired to start singing after watching Lauryn Hill in “Sister Act 2.” He began uploading videos to YouTube in 2007. After Hurricane Katrina, Alsina’s mother moved him to Houston, Texas, for a fresh start. His father died soon after, and he relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to focus on music.
Big Freedia
Known as the larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans Bounce music, Big Freedia is a nationally recognized hip-hop artist, TV personality and cultural influencer. Most recently she made headline news for her feature on Beyoncé’s Grammy-Award winning single, “Break My Soul,” released in 2022.
In addition to three critically acclaimed EPs, ‘3rd Ward Bounce’ (2018), ‘Louder’ (2020), and ‘Big Diva Energy’ (2021), Big Freedia, known as the Queen of New Orleans Bounce, also appeared on numerous high profile projects, including Beyoncé’s Grammy award-winning, “Formation,” and on Drake’s “Nice For What,” where she brings her distinctive voice and signature catchphrases to all her work. In 2021, she covered “Judas” on Lady Gaga’s Born this Way The Tenth Anniversary album.
Tank and The Bangas
Tank and The Bangas don’t go anywhere quietly. They are a beacon of life. And it’s that life that you hear in their music. That’s what makes this five-piece band one of the most thrilling, unpredictable and sonically diverse bands on the planet; a unit where jazz meets hip-hop, soul meets rock and funk is the beating heart of everything they do.
A family of musical lifers, none of them ever thought twice about quitting through years and years of grinding it out on local live circuits. That time gave them the best foundation for their onstage chemistry and dexterity. Since they won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2017, they’ve gotten signed by major label Verve Forecast, released two albums (“Green Balloon” in 2019 and “Red Balloon” in 2022), were nominated in 2020 for the Best New Artist Grammy Award, and taken their multifaceted sound around the world. Tank and the Bangas are in the vein of bands that believe there are only two types of music: good music, or bad music. “If it’s good, it’s good!” says Tank. Despite their newfound global focus, they remain a New Orleans band at heart. New Orleans is a lawless place for creatives—there are no rules.
Luke James
Raised in New Orleans, LA, Luke was exposed to the rich musical heritage of the city at an early age, even taking up the saxophone for a number of years. As a child, he was heavily influenced by an array of artists, from Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin to Miles Davis and D’Angelo. It was after seeing D’Angelo in concert at age 11 that Luke decided on music as his career path.
Luke is perhaps best known for his successful music career and is now set to release a brand-new album, “to feel love/d” in early 2020. The album, which can be read as a dual title: “to feel love” and “to feel loved” embodies two different perspectives. The album will also feature guest performances from BJ The Chicago Kid, Ro James, and Samoht, and marks Luke’s much-awaited return to music, having released his last single, “These Arms” in June 2018.
Throughout his career, Luke has also written songs for the likes of Justin Bieber, Snoh Aalegra and Chris Brown. He has also performed alongside the late Prince and is one of the very few artists to ever open for Beyoncé, which he did during her Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in 2013. In 2012, he received his first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance for his hit song “I Want You” (from his first mixtape “#Luke”) and received his second Grammy nomination in 2015 for Best R&B Song for “Options” ft. Rick Ross (from his self-titled debut album “Luke James”).
Ambre’
Born and raised in the melting pot that birthed jazz music, this self-taught musician, producer, and writer has crafted an amazing work of art dedicated to her city – the aptly titled 3000°. The EP’s name initially came about as an ode to the classic projects from two New Orleans legends, Juvenile’s 400 Degreez, and Lil Wayne’s 500 Degreez. It also signifies the city’s traditionally hot climate, especially during the summer months.
Lloyd
Lloyd Polite, Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 3, 1986 to Lloyd Polite, Sr. and Robin Lewis Polite. Lloyd was raised in Decatur, Georgia, and joined N-Toon, the teen pop group put together by Klymaxx’s Joyce Irby in 1996 and appeared on their 2000 album Toon Time, released by DreamWorks. Later that year, MCA Records crossed over into its parent company, Geffen Records. Many of the artists on its roster were let go, including N-Toon. The group disbanded early 2001. The same year, Polite signed his first solo record deal under basketball player Magic Johnson’s MJM label.
Normani
The New Orleans/Texas-raised talent rose to international renown as a member of pop juggernaut Fifth Harmony, performing to sold out arenas, gathering awards, and releasing a string of multiplatinum hits. In 2018, she kickstarted her solo career with the quintuple-platinum “Love Lies” [feat. Khalid]. She joined forces with Sam Smith for 2019’s “Dancing With A Stranger,” reaching quadruple-platinum status and marking her second Top 10 bow on the Billboard Top 200. Following the platinum “Motivation,” she linked up with Megan Thee Stallion for “Diamonds” from the blockbuster soundtrack Birds of Prey: The Album. Meanwhile, she ignited 2021 with the platinum “Wild Side” [feat. Cardi B], which ascended to #1 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip Hop Airplay Chart. NPR predicted the latter “pushes the Fifth Harmony breakout star one step closer to pop sensation.” In between tallying billions of streams, she garnered six BMI Awards, two iHeartRadio Music Awards, a MTV VMA, and a Soul Train Music Award. Along the way, she has also given back at every turn. The Cybersmile Foundation tapped her as Diversity Ambassador, while the American Cancer Society named her a Global Ambassador.
Lucky Daye
Born David Debrandon Brown, Lucky Daye is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. Raised in a cult that forbade secular music, he nonetheless discovered an innate knack for singing. After his mother left the cult, Brown immersed himself in classic R&B and eventually fell particularly hard for the likes of Stevie Wonder and Rick James. Uprooted by Hurricane Katrina, he moved to Tyler, Texas, but soon relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue music. He established himself as a songwriter and background vocalist, and across 2008 and 2009, landed credits on material by Keith Sweat (a handful of cuts on Just Me) and Ne-Yo (“She Got Her Own”). Brown wasn’t as active the next few years — he did write for Boyz II Men (“Believe Us”) — though he shifted gear during the latter half of the 2010s. During 2016 and 2017, he co-wrote songs released by Keke Palmer (“Enemiez”), Ella Mai (“10,000 Hours,” “Down”), Trey Songz (“Song Goes Off”), and Mary J. Blige (including two tracks off Strength of a Woman), among other contemporary R&B artists. Signed as a recording artist to the RCA-supported Keep Cool label, Brown — by then living in Los Angeles — made his debut as Lucky Daye in 2018. First was “Little More Time,” a Victoria Monet collaboration included on the soundtrack for Insecure’s third season. Next came the single “Roll Some Mo,” followed shortly thereafter by I, the song’s parent EP. These six cuts, all written with and produced by D’Mile, prompted comparisons to Frank Ocean but also fell somewhere between comparatively soul-rooted progressives BJ the Chicago Kid and Daniel Caesar. ~ Andy Kellman
Wynton Thomas (Kevin Stylez)
Singer •Writer •Musician •Actor ⚜️Contestant on ABC’s American Idol #Season2⚜️
