Nas
Rafael A. Martinez
Rafael A. Martinez "Popo", 61, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, passed away unexpectedly in Hartford Hospital, on August 22, 2018. Born in Havana, Cuba, he was the son of Estrella (Hernandez) Martinez and the late Rafael E. Martinez. Rafael worked as a master electrician for the city of Hartford. He loved his family and living the simple life. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a story teller who loved the Florida life. Rafael leaves behind his beloved wife Marie Martinez of Port St. Lucie, FL, their son Manuel F. Martinez and his spouse Lucelly Garcia, and their daughter Monica M. Martinez and her spouse Khalif Jemison, all of Hartford. He is also survived by his...
Related "Nas" Articles
Rafael A. Martinez
Rafael A. Martinez "Popo", 61, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, passed away unexpectedly in Hartford Hospital, on August 22, 2018. Born in Havana, Cuba, he was the son of Estrella (Hernandez) Martinez and the late Rafael E. Martinez. Rafael worked as a...
Who's Playing This Week: Charlie Puth, Nas, Miranda Lambert, Et Al
Charlie Puth
Singer, songwriter and producer Charlie Puth is a serial collaborator. He’s worked with Maroon 5, Trey Songz, Livingston Taylor, Pitbull and One Direction’s Liam Payne. Puth, 26, majored in music production at Berklee, and he’s done a...
Lawyer: No justification for fatal police shooting of unarmed, fleeing teen in East Pittsburgh
A 17-year-old boy fatally shot by a police officer in Pennsylvania seconds after he fled a traffic stop did not pose a threat to anyone, a lawyer for the family of the teen said.
Civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt said late Wednesday that he doesn't...
Music Festivals And Concerts Not To Miss This Week
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band shows in Hartford have become legendary. Part of that is due to the occasional outbreak of excess and rowdiness by concertgoers, but the shows are noteworthy for being another summer ritual for fans.
DMB is a little...
Inside Kanye West's album-listening extravaganza in Wyoming
"After all this," said one fellow traveler as we walked off of our unexpected Gulfstream G400 private jet to Wyoming for Kanye West's album-listening event, "we gonna HAVE to say the record is fire!"
While that doesn't begin to unpack the mixed...
Kanye West drops new song, 'Ye vs. the People,' a fierce debate with T.I. about pro-Trump stance
On Friday night, three hours after Kanye West dropped a nonsensical ditty on his website called "Lift Yourself" that, combined with weeks of unhinged pro-Trump tweeting, had many thinking he'd truly lost it, the MC dropped an actual song at midnight...
With 'Black Panther,' Kendrick Lamar is the latest artist to curate a major soundtrack
Those of us on the edge of our seats in anticipation of Marvel Studios' "Black Panther" film might soon just fall off.
The studio announced Thursday morning that rapper Kendrick Lamar and record label chief Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith will curate and...
Rappers Westside Gunn and Conway At Toad's Place
Buffalo, New York rappers Westside Gunn and his brother Conway, who together rap in the duo Hall N' Nash, make street music. The brothers were both signed to Eminem's Shady Records earlier this year.
Steeped in early Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, Westside Gunn...
NAS At The Dome At Oakdale
Nas has been a restless voice in hip-hop since the early '90s. His debut record "Illmatic" came out in 1994 and it remains a defining statement of East Coast hip-hop. He had a line: "the rap game reminds me of the crack game."
A little over 10 years...
Absent Jay Z inducted to Songwriters Hall by Obama via video
Jay Z, whose wife Beyonce is expecting twins soon, was absent from the 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame, where he was inducted by a charismatic longtime fan: former U.S. President Barack Obama. Obama, appearing in a taped video, told the audience Thursday...
Trap Music Titan Jeezy At The Dome At Oakdale
Jeezy is one of the pioneers of trap music. Venerate him or blame him, depending on how you feel about the hip-hop subgenre.
Born in South Carolina, Jeezy grew up in Atlanta, and he's been connected with rappers like Gucci Mane and T.I., fellow titans...
'Hot felon' Jeremy Meeks makes NY Fashion Week debut
Philipp Plein, reveling in his disruptor status and usually a mainstay in Milan, didn't disappoint. Social media viral sensation Jeremy Meeks, the "hot felon," was on his runway alongside rappers, an army of people dressed as Statues of Liberty, and Times...
Apathy Talks Hip-Hop In CT And His New 'Handshakes With Snakes'
Connecticut's own Chad Bromley, 37, better known by his stage name, Apathy, is one of the most consistent acts in hip-hop. Hailing from Willimantic in Windham County, Apathy also stands tall as Connecticut's underground king.
Apathy has been on the scene...
French Montana At Toad's Place
French Montana raps a lot about weed and cocaine. And also about not worrying about anything.
The rapper is often in the tabloids for a variety of reasons — beefs with other rappers, notable girlfriends, fashion choices, and for his fondness for exotic...
Coachella 2016: Vince Staples, Run the Jewels add an urgency to the day
In a Sahara tent known for sensory overload and cut-loose fun, the Long Beach rapper Vince Staples delivered a bracing jolt of the reality behind Coachella's traditional escapism.
"See this weight is on my shoulders, pray Jehovah lift me up / And my pain...
Kendrick Lamar didn't win the Grammy for album of the year, but he's moving rap to a bigger stage
At the end of his emotionally charged performance at the 58th Grammy Awards, rapper Kendrick Lamar stood in front of a screen that projected an outline of Africa with his hometown, Compton, superimposed over the continent.
He rapped of police brutality...
Joss Stone explains the worldly influences on 'Water for Your Soul,' her new album
Joss Stone was wandering around a Hollywood record store when she found herself in the world music section.
"How fitting," she laughed, flipping through a crate of vinyl that covered everything from European dance music to reggae.
After breaking out a...