Mass Appeal Entertainment

Music:

Member Since: 15/04/2008
Band Website: www.massappealmusic.com
Band Members:

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When one thinks of Latin pop icons with distinct vocals and a large influence on the music and world communities, it’s not surprising that the legendary Lisa Lisa is the first name that comes to mind. Historically acknowledged as the originator of the Latin Hip Hop/Freestyle genre, Lisa Lisa gave rise to powerhouse divas such as, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Selena, and Jennifer Lopez. Born and raised in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, Lisa Velez had grown up dreaming of someday being a performer. Lisa fearlessly pursued those dreams and at the age of 16, snuck out of her family apartment to head to a local club called The Fun House, which at that time served as a haven for local break dancers and rappers. Hearing that Madonna was discovered at The Fun House, Lisa Lisa knew that hat her call to fame could be at the same club, and she was right.

At The Fun House, Lisa gained the attention of Mike Hughs, a member of Full Force. However, Lisa Lisa didn’t know at the time that this relationship would catapult her into a super successful, lifelong career in the music industry. Full Force was in need of a singer, which presented a great opportunity for Lisa Lisa. She was asked to audition and was welcomed into the group with open arms. During the course of her career, Lisa has also been featured in many television shows, starring for two years on the Nickelodeon network’s “Taina” and has appearing in numerous Broadway and Off Broadway shows. Still making records and performing today, Lisa Lisa is far from finished. Her genuine persona exudes through her music, embracing the fans into a care-free environment. It is no wonder Lisa Lisa has and will continue to reign as the Queen of Latin Hip-Hop. With six top selling albums and more than 20 million records sold worldwide, this international superstar and leader of one of the biggest dance-pop/R&B groups ever is still blessing the stages across the country with her high energy style performance that will have you engulfed in the music from “Head To Toe”.

Suzanna may have started out as a golden girl with an angelic voice, but since the release of her debut solo album, Without You In This World (Sem bó nes mund), she’s become even more - a voice for young women striving to reach their goals. In a number of countries, her concerts are usually sold out the minute they go on sale and her CD’s are some of the best sellers in the Lusophone market and beyond.

Born in the Cape Verdean Islands, Suzanna Lubrano and her parents moved to the Netherlands when she was four. She started to sing when she was still a young child, but picked up singing professionally when she was eighteen. She made her debut as a professional singer in the popular Cape Verdean band Rabelados. In the meantime Suzanna had already started a solo career, which has resulted in three solo cd’s: her debut Sem bó nes mund, the successful follow up Fofó and the latest one, Tudo pa bo.

Suzanna has since become one of the most demanded Cape Verdean female singers within the Afro-Portuguese community worldwide. She has performed live on stage in European countries such as France and Luxemburg, Spain and Portugal, Italy and Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. She also performed on stage in the United States, her home country the Netherlands and has attracted large audiences with her performances on the Cape Verdean Islands, Angola, Senegal, Mozambique and South Africa. Since the music industry in Mozambique has officially started to track CD sales, Suzanna has received both a gold and platinum CD in this Southern African country. Her performances at the famous Gamboa and Baia da Gatas Festivals in Cape Verde, were transmitted live by Portuguese Satellite Television RTP Africa. In December 2003 she won the prestigious Kora All African Music Award for both Best West African Female and Best African Female at an event watched by over 600 million TV viewers worldwide.

Suzanna’s music can be best described as a mix of Zouk and R&B. Most of her songs are in Cape Verdean Creole, which is closely related to the Portuguese language. Her next album to be released by Mass Appeal Entertainment will also include a mix of cutting edge zouk tracks combined with English and Creole lyrics and melodies.

RYAN TOBY is a name that is synonymous with success. The Singer/Songwriter/Producer has finally decided to make his next project a solo effort. Ryan’s musical chronicles began when his manager Marvin Thompson introduced Ryan to then RCA Records A&R Director Kenny Ortiz, which eventually lead to a meeting with Disney & Buena Vista/Touchstone Pictures Executives. The company was looking for young actors/singers for their upcoming project titled Sister Act II: Back In The Habit (starring Whoopi Goldberg). Landing a principal role at 16 years old, the talented singer/actor was featured on the accompanying soundtrack. He wrote the rap part to the much loved single “Joyful, Joyful” which also featured newcomer Lauryn Hill and was a featured soloist on the single “Oh Happy Day”.

After working on the film, Ryan attended Grambling University and during this time Ryan was put in touch with Jazzy Jeff (of The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff fame), he was invited to Philadelphia. Jeff and Ryan bonded and he was asked to sign to his Touch of Jazz Production Company. It was during that time that Will Smith visited with Jeff. Smith was working on his upcoming album titled Big Willie Style. Smith heard Ryan and wanted him to work on his album. The music/rap turned into Smith’s hit single “Miami”. Ryan received writing credits for “Miami”, “Don’t Say Nothing”, “I Loved Her” and “Candy”. The album sold over 20 million copies.

While enjoying the success of working on the Will Smith project, Ryan ran into his old manager Marvin Thompson again. Thompson was working with an artist signed to Wyclef Jean’s Booga Basement/Interscope Records label. Jean invited Ryan to sign with his label when his deal with Jazzy Jeff was no longer in existence. Ryan was partnered with Robby Pardlo by Thompson. Nevertheless, Wyclef heard a female voice on some of their demos. That voice belonged to Claudette Ortiz. Wyclef decided that he wanted Ortiz to join the group so he could create another Fugee’s. Ryan, Robby & Claudette named the group City High. The self-titled debut album released in 2001 garnered a Grammy Nomination. The albums sold millions worldwide and the threesome toured for approximately two years.

It was also during that time that Ryan and Ortiz fell in love, producing a son in June of 2003. Once back in New Jersey he connected with Super Producers Vidal Davis and Andre Harris. Davis and Harris were working on songs for platinum plus recording artist Usher. The threesome collaborated on several tracks and three were chosen. “Caught Up”, “Superstar” and “Follow Me” made the 2004 chart-topping Usher album titled Confessions.

To date, Ryan’s production discography reads like a who’s who of music royalty. He has written for Mary J Blige, Brian McKnight, LL Cool J, Ruben Studdard, Joe, Amerie, New Edition, Ginuwine, Charlie Wilson, ll2, Monica, Tyrese, Kevin Lyttle, Mario, Chris Brown, Darius Rucker, (of Hootie and the Blowfish) and Sunshine Anderson to name a few.

Soul Of A Songwriter is a modern testament to timeless quality. When asked about his upcoming solo project Ryan explains “I think the industry is ready for good songwriting. Most of the songs I’ve written for other people have been hits so I thought that it was time to write some for myself”. Ryan’s favorite cut on the album is titled “So Good”. A track he describes as the new wedding anthem. Says Ryan “No one writes songs for women anymore; no one really makes the ladies feel special. My album is about love, relationships. Its time for a true R&B collection. What real R&B is about!” Ryan has an inescapable presence and a solid track record. Soul Of A Songwriter will undoubtedly be noted as one of the most prolific and popular albums released in 2008.

A combination of impassioned delivery and gritty lyrics has many saying, Mass Appeal recording artist Dre Robinson, is the one to watch. With an ever-raising national profile he's doing his part to not only secure his future but to focus Hip Hop's spotlight on his hometown. Lyrical giants like Nas, Rakim, Jay Z, and Notorious B.I.G. turned him on to the power of words. However it was an up close and personal view of Hip-Hop that helped him decide the mic was for him. "There were these real popular local groups and they were up there rapping and dancing. And I'm like...they are not really doing anything I can't do. I always liked dancing and entertaining and the attention but I'm a fairly shy dude. So I tried to write, started writing, and I just stuck with it."

Dre was born in Jamaica and moved to Brooklyn. Both of his parents were involved in the street life which ultimately caused devastation. His father was killed when Dre was just 10 years old and then his Mother uprooted him and moved their family to Boston. When Dre was 23, his Mother passed from cancer. Dre has had many troubles and struggles from helping to raise his family and stay above water financially. He has been forced into situations that many wouldn’t dream of and this brings an authenticity to Dre’s music that few can claim. His choice and freedom of expression made Hiphop his passion. Writing served as stress relief. "I've got a lot of anger in me for what I've been through growing up. And when I get in the booth I can let that out. I can just let it loose and when I come out, I'm pouring with sweat. I feel like I just finished working out."

Dre found his creative direction while mixing the story of his life and experience on the street with the poetics of Hip-Hop. Everyone that knew Dre recognized his talent for telling stories. It was around this time that Dre’s passion for writing turned into a career goal. Dre was the force behind his first group, the Mic Commandos. The MC's caught the attention of Joe Fergus Jr. a.k.a. Joe Politics, who gave up an A&R position at a local label to form Pollymore Music Group. Dre then teamed with DJ J-Saki and flooded Boston with freestyles and mixtapes.

That buzz reached Mass Appeal label head Marcus “DL” Siskind and his head of A&R, DJ Gee Spin. Gee Spin brought Dre to the radio station for his Sunday night show, ‘The Launch Pad’. Set to check Dre’s vibe, Gee Spin was impressed with Dre’s versatility and ability to hit 50 bars straight without a curse. After this encounter the team went to work!

First Single, Radio Play, Mixtapes, Love from DJs
The Jamaican born Boston-based lyricist kept the clubs and radio burning with his single "Get Right". Marcus “DL” produced the club banger and went straight for the remix featuring Mobb Deep. "Get Right" jumped into the club set lists and mixes of some of the nation's biggest DJ's. WILD FM Boston's Chubby Chubb and Statik Selektah all have it as a part of their mixes as well as Shade 45 and mixtape king Clinton Sparks. Hot 97 New York's Cipha Sounds and DJ Enuff as well as Power 105's Spinbad have given the song play. Felli Fel on LA's Power 106 played the original “Get Right” every night for a month and The Drama King Kay Slay has shown Dre love on his "Drama Hour" radio show. Kay Slay also hosted Dre's preview mixtape, "The Mass' Jewel”, mixed by Gee Spin.

Press
The Boston Phoenix spotlighted Dre in their New England Product column. Along with being the subject of the column Dre has been getting spins on the NEP show on alternative rock station WFNX. In the May 2005 issue of the Source Magazine he was spotlighted in the Off The Radar column as an MC on the verge of making a national impact. In addition he was picked as one of the Boston Globe's Top Ten Local Artists To Watch 2005 and was the subject of a Boston Globe Calendar section cover story on Boston Hip Hop. Dre stays humble and regularly thanks those that believe in him. "It makes me feel good to see people gravitating towards my music and it makes me feel good that DJ's at these power radio stations like my records and show me a lot of support. That gives me more drive to do what I do.“

Production
A life once consumed with the streets is now the foundation of Dre's Mass Appeal debut album, “This Is Me”. The album, an audio autobiography of a young man's struggle, is layered in its approach. Diverse yet cohesive tracks provided by a crop of new beatsmiths such as Marcus “DL”, Nelly ProTools, Smoov Jizzell, Tombstone, Shuko, and Clinton Sparks amongst others.

Album Collaboration
Lyrically, Dre expresses vivid portrayals of the good, bad, and ugly of his life in post Reagan America. Dre’s story easily resonates with the experiences of us all. "Oh Yeah" brings you to the celebratory excess of the club scene with bottles and models, while “Searchin” offers a tear inspiring tribute to his parents made all the more powerful by Ryan Toby (of City High) and his stirring vocals. It not only pays them homage but serves to help heal anyone who has lost someone close. "No, No, No", a collaboration with dancehall great Lexxus allows Dre to explore his Jamaican roots with the Carnival ready anthem. The club ready "Ghetto Mistress" featuring Remy Ma, along with the street anthem “Be So Cold” featuring New York’s hottest commodities Jae Millz and Papoose will be sure to please everyone. Dre’s working hard to hold the door open for his crew, The Jacob Family (named for the street of his childhood home.) and keep on track with his 5-year plan.

Dre says thoughtfully, "I'll be doing my thing 5 years from now. I should have established myself pretty well. And I'm looking forward to having my own businesses, my own record company or independent record company or other businesses, not music related. 5 years from now I see myself very comfortable and living. Hopefully a couple of platinum albums, who knows?"