Freedom Justice Laughter: Red White And Blue Humor
Event Information
Description
Location: Freedom Theatre 1346 N Broad St Philadelphia PA
http://www.FreedomJusticeLaughter.com/
Must Be 18 & older with ID
10% Discount for Military, Educators & Medical Professionals.
or text AMERICA to 55469
Rapper. Singer. Comedian. Dancer. Host. Actor. Keith has the gift of many talents, but his supreme calling is now clear. Someone is urgently needed to make hip-hop fun again! And KeithFromUpDaBlock is ready for the challenge.
Raised in Philadelphia and schooled at the famed High School Of Creative and Performing Arts (
Keith calls it “B E T for brothers that don’t have cable.”
On “Urban X-pressions,” Keith’s talents as hilarious host and funnyman quickly caught on among the many ‘hoods of Philly. Keith interviewed 50 Cent, Jay Z, Beyonce, Beanie Segel, Music Soulchild, The Roots, Isaac Hays, Violette Wallace, LL and many more. More often than not, he made these big stars crack up, and the laughter was infectious.
To keep his show going, Keith started producing television commercials, directed by and starring himself. The spots took on a life and humor of their own. TV ads for car dealers and nightclubs never had so much low-budget flair or street-wise humor. A comedic star was being born.
Then, a new ad campaign called for Keith to record a full music video, and his potential as an entertainer was realized. Keith recorded a parody of the Kelis hit “Milkshake” and called it “Cheesesteak” to promote Larry’s Steaks on 54th and City Line in Philly. The video became one of the most-requested on “Urban X-pressions” and Keith saw a new direction for his talents. He has since produced several more “Cheesesteak” songs and videos.
Keith began writing and recording song parodies of popular hip-hop and R’n‘B hits, releasing them on mix-CDs that he distributed himself throughout Philly. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Weird Al Yankovic, Keith injects a street edge that parody music has never seen. Keith not only writes hilarious lyrics, he sings and raps so well, the songs feel original and fresh.
The CDs were a street hit, and Keith began performing in comedy clubs and other venues around Philly. To keep his dance steps on point, the chubby sensation joined the Broad Street Beefcakes, a troupe of overweight dancers that entertain the crowd at 76ers games during half-time with their amazing moves.
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Keith continues to perform frequently and develop his craft. At one of his shows in downtown Philly Keith met hip-hop entrepreneur Jonathan Shecter (aka Shecky Green) president of Game Recordings,an innovative hip-hop entertainment company. The two shared a common feeling for the music. Soon after, Keith was signed to Game and Shecky committed to making sure the world laughed along with Keith.
“I’ve been a hip-hop fan since 1980, and there’s never been anyone like Keith,” Shecky says. “His humor and his writing is so real, it’s the breath of fresh air that hip-hop really needs. Yes, he’s a clown, but he’s also a real performer.”
Says Keith. “Even though peeps will compare me to Weird Al, I wanna distinguish myself from him by offering more music and more ways to be entertained from the start. I can make music all the time. Of course I'm gonna do as much as I can creatively. I have never felt more prepared for anything in my life.”
Unfortunately, Chrysalis folded a year later, and Bahamadia chose to wait out her contract before resuming her solo career. In the meantime, she made a string of musically adventurous guest appearances that solidified her underground reputation: the Roots (Illadelph Halflife's "Push up Ya Lighter"), Sweetback (Sade's backing band), drum'n'bass auteur Roni Size (the title track of the landmark New Forms), Towa Tei, acid jazzers the Brand New Heavies, the Herbaliser, trip-hoppers Morcheeba ("Good Girl Down"), Rah Digga, Slum Village, and Talib Kweli's Reflection Eternal (their collaboration, "Chaos," appeared on the seminal Rawkus compilation Soundbombing, Vol. 2). She also hosted a hip-hop radio show in Philadelphia from 1997-1999. In 2000, she signed with the L.A.-based indie Goodvibe and released the chilled-out seven-track EP BB Queen (as in "beautiful black"), which received excellent reviews.
Shang has come a long way from the boroughs of New York. Originally from Brooklyn, this Carnegie Mellon University graduate and aspiring illustrator began his comedy career on a dare. A friend bet him $50 to take the stage during open-mike night at a local comedy club, Shang won the bet. He felt It was a way to get the things that he was passionate & angry about that he saw in the world.
So he caught the comedy bug & quickly became an underground favorite with his dark, edgy avant-garde, socio-political style. The charismatic comic has proven his premiere stand-up skills withAppearances nationwide and abroad With one of the most memorable performances of 1995 on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” & won Two half-hour Comedy specials on BET’s “Comic View Grand Stand.
Shang has cemented his position as one of the brightest funnymen in the business & his political and explosive humor has been showcased on HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival Special “Best of the Fest”. Other appearances include “Politically Incorrect,”& the BBC’s Funny Business,Mun2’s Loco Comedy Jam, NBC’S Comedy Showcase, MTV’s Choose or Lose, National Lampoon’s New Faces, Comedy Central’s Jamie Foxx-presents “Laffapalooza”& was a Co-Host on Russell Simmon’s “One World Music Beat.
Shang also is a Co-producer & host of BET’S Access Granted & is a regular on Bet’s Comic View, which airs weeknights at 10pm. (Incidentally, BET reaches 80 million cable households according to Nielsen Media Research). In addition, he has displayed impressive comedic acting & writing ability as a series regular on the late-night laugh-fest “The Newz” & a contributing writer for George Magazine.
Now Shang has been making headway into the acting field with recent guest starring roles on episodes of On CBS’s “NCIS”, ABC’s “Zack & Cody”, NBC’s “Passions,” WB’s The Jamie Foxx Show & just finished shooting a pilot for FOX TV Called “FACELESS” written & directed by hot new director Joe Carmahan (“Narc” & Smoking Aces) & Produced by Tony Krantz ( “24” THe PJ’s & Sports Night).
The debut of Shang’s first major release CD entitled “SHANGRY!!”, on Uproar Records is in stores now & has one of the most played Comedy Specials on XM Radio called “Live on Broadway” taped at the world famous Caroline’s on Broadway In NY. In addition, he will be featured in several Upcoming international televised shows in Japan, Ireland, London and Amsterdam. Shang will continue to rise to the top of the comedy ranks with high-profile acting &televised stand up & personal appearances.
August Wilson, and other African-American playwrights. Its performing-arts training program blossomed to reach as many as 800 students annually; its graduates include Gary Dourdain of television's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Wanya Morris of the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singing group Boyz II Men.
