“I never thought I’d be in Oklahoma with a crowd of kids singing our song,” says Jean Paul Makhlouf, lead singer of Cash Cash, in awe over the popularity they have received on their current tour. “It’s a feeling you can’t describe.” Not a small accomplishment for “this little band from Jersey.” In fact, this is exactly the type of moment that occurs when you are a hot band on the rise.
“Party In Your Bedroom” streaming audio:
Cash Cash is an exciting techno-pop group from the 2 mile long town of Roseland, New Jersey. The band consists of Jean Paul Makhlouf (vocals, guitar), Alex Makhlouf (keyboards, programming), Samuel Frisch (vocals, bass), and Anthony Villacari (drums, percussion). With a sound that is refreshing, electric and infectious, Cash Cash is able to seamlessly tap into 70s funk, 80s anthem pop and 90s mellow alternative all at once. Their mission, described perfectly by Jean Paul, is to “Bring back some of that 70s funk guitar, mixed in with the life and fun of the 80s.”
And they have done just that.
But how has Cash Cash reached the precipice of stardom? You would have to go back to the third grade, because that is how long Jean Paul has known Sam Frisch. Playing together since they were kids, the band originally formed as The Consequence in 2002, a predominantly studio-based act that released a 5 song EP titled “Your Own Place” in 2003. After releasing a self-titled LP in 2005, the band began to lose focus, using a myriad of musicians as various members decided to go off to college. “Being in our band was like being on the show Survivor, we were going through bass players, drummers, keyboard players …” says Jean Paul. With the future of the band nebulous at best, younger brother Alex Makhlouf jumped on board, and he and Jean Paul began refocusing the band: “I knew I had to get the hell out of school, so I did the complete opposite and dropped out of college,” recalls Jean Paul. “My brother and I knew what we had to do and decided to give it one more stab.”
The brothers decided to spend an entire summer crafting new material and honing a sound, day in and day out, virtually living in Jean Paul’s home recording studio. At summer’s end, they knew they created something special. By fall the brothers, stacked with backpacks full of cds, began an arduous, yet fulfilling campaign to make their music heard. Storming clubs in and around New York City, including Pete Wentz’s AK-47 club, the brothers partied, networked and hustled as many A&R men and record executives as they could find. But the real turning point came when Rob Hitt of Crush Management began DJing their song “Party in Your Bedroom.” The infectious, easy-to-sing-along-with, pop sound of the song began turning heads. Shortly thereafter, Jean Paul’s Gmail account began filling up with offers from record labels. Changing their name to Cash Cash in March of 2008, the band, with Frisch aboard as bass player/art director, and Alex’s friend Anthony Villacari locked in on drums, signed a record deal with Universal Republic records and is poised to premiere an EP in October of 2008. Consisting of 5 songs, including the driving force of “Breakout” and an acoustic version of “Party in Your Bedroom,” the EP has all the hallmarks of a band that not only is burning with confidence, but is comfortable with their own sound.
Having just completed their first tour, a tour which not only expanded their fan base, but further matured and coalesced the band in ways only riding a bus can, Cash Cash is mixing a full-length album and setting their sites for a release by year end, with a much larger tour in 09’ in support of it. Extremely fan friendly and very much aware of their roots and the influences that drove them, Cash Cash reaches out to their fans at concerts by meeting them outside for impromptu acoustic performances. That extra effort, a sound work ethic, their melodic pop songs with fantastic 3-part harmonies, and the confidence that motivates them are all the ingredients that really separate Cash Cash from the rest of the pack. No “get rich quick scheme” for Cash Cash – they’re taking this all the way to the bank.
Cash Cash on MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/cashcash
Tour Dates:
10/22 - House Of Blues w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Cleveland, Ohio
10/24 - House Of Blues w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Chicago, Illinois
10/25 - Clutch Cargo’s w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Pontiac, Michigan
10/26 - Kool Haus w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Toronto, Ontario
10/28 - Showcase Live w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Foxborough, Massachusetts
10/29 – Nokia Theatre w/ Metro Station & Tyga - New York, New York
10/30 - Starland Ballroom w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Sayreville, New Jersey
10/31 - Sonar w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Baltimore, Maryland
11/2 - The Electric Factory w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11/4 - House Of Blues w/ Metro Station & Tyga - North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
11/5 - Plush w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Jacksonville, Florida
11/6 - Jannus Landing w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Saint Petersburg, Florida
11/7 - Revolution w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
11/8 - House Of Blues w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
11/9 - The Masquerade w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Atlanta, Georgia
11/11 - House Of Blues Houston w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Houston, Texas
11/12 – House Of Blues Dallas w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Dallas, Texas
11/13 - La Zona Rosa w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Austin, Texas
11/14 - Cain’s Ballroom w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Tulsa, Oklahoma
11/15 - Sokol Underground w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Omaha, Nebraska
11/16 - Gothic Theatre w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Englewood, Colorado
11/18 - In The Venue w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Salt Lake City, Utah
11/20 - Showbox w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Seattle, Washington
11/21 - Roseland Theater w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Portland, Oregon
11/22 - The Warfield w/ Metro Station & Tyga - San Francisco, California
11/23 - Senator Theatre w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Chico, California
11/25 - Rialto Theatre w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Tucson, Arizona
11/26 - Soma w/ Metro Station & Tyga - San Diego, California
11/28 - Club Nokia LA w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Los Angeles, California
11/29 - The Grove of Anaheim w/ Metro Station & Tyga - Anaheim, California
12/19 - The Chance Complex - Poughkeepsie, New York
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As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. But sometimes being patient in the rap game can lead to obscurity. Q, the first artist signed to Tag Records and Island Def Jam, landed one the most exciting new artist deals in recent history thanks to his tireless determination to be at the forefront of the music industry. With the backing of Procter & Gamble (the Fortune 500 consumer goods corporation behind Tag Body Spray) and Island Def Jam, the rapper born Kareem Savage will have a steady stream of marketing dollars for his yet-to-be titled debut album, which is expected out later this year.
“I’ll be featured in every Tag commercial and every magazine ad,” says Q. “I’m filming a MTV Diary right now. Being a new artist out of nowhere doing and MTV Diary? That doesn’t happen! They’re in the studio with me filming the making of my album.”
Check out the lead single:
Q Da Kid - ‘On A Mission’ ft Jermaine Dupri
While the majority of the country may be meeting Q for the first time thanks to an incredible amount of instant exposure, New York City rap fans have been acquainted with the Brooklyn-born MC for quite some time. In the late ‘90s, Q dropped out of Kingsborough College to pursue a career in the music industry. He was offered a deal with Violator Records along with fellow Brooklyn rappers Red Café and Gravy. The trio called themselves Da Franchise, a name they came up with in high school.
During their stint at Violator, Da Franchise was featured on multiple mixtapes and both Violator compilations. Even though their work was well received, the group was never given the opportunity to release their own album. “We were signed for like three years but they wasn’t really trying to push forward,” says Q. “We were just stuck on the label and they didn’t know what to do with us. I was the first person to branch off and leave.”
Hoping to write his own destiny, Q moved to Miami in 1997 and recorded a demo with super producers Cool & Dre. He was introduced to a bevy of industry bigwigs and even offered a deal with one of the country’s most notorious heavyweights. “I met up with Mike Tyson and he was starting a label and he wanted me to be his first artist,” says Q, “but I was not trying to be back in the same situation as Violator so I went into the studio by myself and just kept recording more and more songs.”
During his four year stay in the Sunshine State, Q became a mainstay in the M.I.A. club scene known for his spontaneous live performances. He would team up with DJs like Khaled and Irie and kick live freestyles over whatever record was a hit at the time. After building a name for himself in Miami, Q decided to pack up and head to Atlanta in 2001, which was quickly becoming a hip-hop hotbed.
Once he settled in ATL, Q befriended DJ Shakim who was Bow Wow’s DJ and an associate of Jermaine Dupri’s. Shakim was impressed by Q’s lyrical prowess and the innovative freestyles he tacked onto the end of popular records. Before long, Shakim was playing Q’s homemade remixes in Atlanta’s hottest clubs. “Shakim kept telling me, ‘Yo, I’ve been hollering at JD and we’ve been having conversations about you,’” says Q. “Then one day I was in the club and I heard Shakim call me to the DJ booth. When I got there JD was in there. He was like, ‘What are you doing with yourself?’ I was like, ‘Trying to get it, here’s my number.’ He called me the next morning and I went into the studio with him the same night.”
In the summer of 2006, Q signed with So So Def/Virgin and appeared on a number of songs with A-list artists including, Fabolous’ “Make Me Better,” featuring Ne-Yo, “No One” by Alicia Keys, “Fine” by Mary J. Blige, and “Can’t Help But Wait” by Trey Songz. When Jermaine Dupri was named an executive at Island in early 2007, Q wasn’t sure how he would fit into JD’s new situation. “While he was getting established in the [Def Jam] building he kept telling me, ‘Be patient, I got you,’” says Q. “He told me that for a good year and a half straight. Then he called me one day and was like, ‘I might have a situation that would be good for you.’ We sat down and that’s when he told me about the Tag deal. He said it would be a good look for me and that I deserved it because I grind hard for what I want and that’s what the whole brand is about.”
Dubbing himself “The new breed of hip-hop,” Q is now ready to take over. With production on his debut album so far from No I.D. and Jermaine Dupri, Q promises his first LP will be a proper introduction to exactly who he is and what he stands for. “When I really put it together, I could be in the category of Rakim, Nas and Jay-Z,” he says. “Most rappers just be in the streets talking about selling drugs and stuff like that. I’m more into telling my story. Big was someone who was into telling his story, ‘Pac was a person who told his story, Jay is a person who tells his story.”
Thanks to the help of Jermaine Dupri, Q will not only get to rap about the world as he sees it, but he will also get to rap over the contagious club bangers executive producer JD is known and loved for. “JD told me, ‘Don’t stop grinding and being the person that you are,’” says Q. “’Just like you were determined to meet me and it took a minute to get it going and you was always in the studio, don’t stop now that you’ve got a deal. Just act like you ain’t got it. Stay hungry and be consistent.’ I told him, ‘Dawg, I’m gonna make you proud.’”
Q Da Kid
Debut Album Coming December 2008
TAG Records / Island Def Jam
www.tagrecords.com
www.myspace.com/qdakid19
Last month, Danish noiseniks The Raveonettes announced a string of digital-only releases for the home stretch of 2008. Fresh off the success of February’s critical smash, Lust Lust Lust, the band coupled the announcement with a free remix EP featuring Lust re-envisionings, before offering up the electronic-influenced Sometimes They Drop By in late September. The series continues today with the release of Beauty Dies, which further cultivates the Rave’s signature guitar-led noir rock sound.
Listen to The Raveonettes’ Beauty Dies
In other Raveonettes news, the band will follow up their EP series with a short run of dates on both coasts, stopping in Boston, New York, and DC, before making a trip out West to play San Francisco and LA. All dates below.
Raveonettes Tour Dates:
01-15 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
01-16 New York, NY – Webster Hall
01-17 Washington, DC – Black Cat
01-23 San Fancisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
01-24 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre
