Sunday, 29 January 2006 16:27

In January, Rap artist Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R.’s lead single “Always” debuted at #6 on Billboard’s U.S. Hot R&B/Hip Hop and #81 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart. “We’re definitely proud of Spaide and all that he has accomplished so far with [“Always”],” says Hassle Life CEO BooO. “However, this is just a start for us. We plan on making some major moves in the ’06 and we look forward to dropping hit single after hit single.” Spaide’s album This Herre City will drop in early 2006.

LOJIC’s new CD, The Manual, is available at Vintage Vinyl and online at www.cdbaby.com and iTunes. www.planetlojic.com

Mad Art’s monthly Mad Jazz Series featuring local jazz, experimental, and world musicians continues through March. Visit www.madart.com for more information.

Jason McEntire, who has worked with acts such as Ludo, Tobi Kai & the Strays, Dionysia, and Jon Cour, expects his new studio to be open in April.

Tech Productions’ album Slightly Beneath the Surface, featuring a new generation of St. Louis hip-hop (Spaide Ripper, Ebony Eyez, Ruka Puff, and others), will be debuted Feb. 13 at the Hi-Pointe Café.

Hit the Halo Bar for free hip-hop every Fri. from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

On Feb. 18 at 5 p.m., The Ground Floor in Belleville will host the B-Boy Jam. Artists from around the Midwest will come battle it out for cash prizes. Mark Lewis and DJ Trackstar (Gabe Moskoff) hold down the turntables

The last two Free Family Days at Craft Alliance (6640 Delmar Blvd.) take place Feb. 4 & 18 from 1–2:30 p.m. for children ages 6–12 accompanied by a parent. For information, visit www.craftalliance.org.

The St. Louis Art Museum will premier the remainder of prizewinners from the 23rd annual Festival of International Films on Art (FIFA) Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. The series of films about artists includes Around (directed by Pappi Corsicato), Eternal Gaze (directed by Sam Chen), and Spot: Olafur Eliasson (directed by Joe Adlesten). www.slam.org

Local artist Jeanjoel Spatafora’s show, “Passion Fruit,” is on display in Subterranean Books’ gallery through Feb. 12.

Donny and the Feelgoods’ CD release party for An American Pop Record will be Feb. 11 at Off Broadway; $7 gets you in the door and a CD. (www.feelgoodsmusic.com)

Lackluster Pictures’ Daniel Bowers left Missouri for San Luis Potosi, a colonial town in the Sierra Madres of Central Mexico to finish his latest film, a mocumentary about a handful of misfits in a 12-step program. Bowers holed up nine months completing the editing and post-production on the film. www.lacklusterpictures.com

Modern Day Zero has won “Airwalk’s Unsigned Hero 2006” title. www.moderndayzero.com

105.7 The Point Local Show finals winner My Weapon of Choice will be opening for 10 Years at Pop’s Feb. 13. www.myspace.com/myweaponofchoice.

The Big River Hurricane Benefit Concert held at the Sheldon Dec. 29 raised $20,000 for the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund and Oxfam America’s Hurricane Katrina Response and Recovery Fund.

The St. Louis Weekly Poetry Slam, hosted by Cinnamon (from 104.9), takes place at Club Dreams every Tues; doors 7:30, slam 8; $75 prize.

Singer Kevin Butterfield has teamed up with several local musicians—including Scott Swartz on pedal steel, Greg Lamb on bass, and John Baldus on drums—to form alt-country band The Linemen. www.myspace.com/thelinemen