Thank you for your continued support of Red Baron.  2011 proved to be a year filled with tremendous blessings for Red, both personally and professionally.  What follows is a description of some of the more notable blessings the Lord bestowed upon Red Baron, along with the fruit the Lord graciously allowed Red Baron to bear, as he labored to serve the Philadelphia area and beyond.  It is Red’s prayer that the following updates encourage you, as you see the fruit of his labor.

Throughout the year, Red Baron continued his musical pursuits, participating in numerous concert events across the country, including The University of Baltimore’s Homecoming Concert, The 2011 eXtreme Tour’s launching event, The Objective, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s First Annual Hip-Hop Day, Shades of Grace Release Party, Kingdom Kafe Second Anniversary, Rapfest 2011, Student Justice for Palestine Event at Temple University,  Christ Center Church of God Christmas Day Service, etal. Red Baron also appeared in the official music video for Shamika Phoenix’s On the Rise and released the official video for Mr. Incredible.

In April, Red Baron released his critically-acclaimed sophomore studio album entitled Shades of Grace. The album has been described as “a masterpiece” and “hip-hop in its purest form.” The album was also listed as a top 10 release of 2011.  It includes the uplifting single Have Plenty feat. Tomeka Carroll (Grand Prize Winner in the Hip-Hop Category of Session 1 of the 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Contest), the rousing counter-cultural anthem Ready to Live (remix) feat. You, the riveting retrospective works: Southern Comfort (Hue I Am) feat. Lisa McClendon, A Black and White Affair, Life is Beautiful feat. Tomeka Carroll and more.  If you do not have it already, you may download Shades of Grace for free by clicking here.

Shades of Grace is the natural progression of Red Baron’s critically-acclaimed debut, Paint the Town Red. The music itself has heavy fusions of gospel, jazz, blues, soul, rock and yet still rings true of hip-hop. Its content wrestles with some of the more compelling issues of our day–conversion, the intersection of race and faith, the search for love, satisfaction and purpose–all neatly packed into one incredible cd. You may learn more about Red Baron by visiting here.

In the spring, Red Baron became a contributing writer for Hip-Hop Stardom 101 and Gospel Rap Fan.  As a contributing writer for Gospel Rap Fan, Red Baron wrote reviews for Conquest’s RAGEep, Omega Sparx’s Sleeping Giants, Rkitect’s Revolution Doctrine, Alert’s All I See is Red, Stack City’s Five Star General, Omega Sparx’s Juggernaut, Primisis’ Reconstruction Mixtape Vol. 2, Verbal Kwest’s Batman & Batman.  As a contributing writer for Hip-Hop Stardom 101, Red Baron wrote an article reflecting on the life and legacy of Tupac Amaru Shakur.

In May, Red Baron also appeared on Part 2 of the Oprah Farewell Spectacular with a few hundred of his colleagues from Morehouse College, as they surprised Ms. Winfrey in order to thank her for the scholarship, named in her honor, they all received as a byproduct of her generous giving to the college.

Over the summer, Dr. Nathaniel Norment, Jr., Chair of The Department of African American Studies at Temple University, appointed Red Baron as an adjunct professor in the department.  Red Baron is charged with teaching Hip-Hopcrisy: Hip-Hop and Black Culture, a Special Topics course designed to offer its students with in-depth analysis of hip-hop culture, the music the culture influences, as well as the relevance of hip-hop’s role as the preeminent modern black aesthetic.

In November, Red Baron and his wife celebrated three years of marriage and welcomed their second child into the world.

Red Baron served, and continues to serve, as legal counsel for Executive Producer of the official soundtrack for an upcoming major motion picture, participated in the negotiation and securing of $750,000+ major label distribution deal for platinum-selling American R&B group and negotiated and secured major label distribution for Philadelphia-based production company.

Shades of Grace

Shades of Grace recently received favorable reviews from Cross Rhythms. You may read an excerpt of the review below.

Standout song Have Plenty raises some hard-hitting questions for anyone who can relate to the lyrics “we have what we don’t want, we want what we don’t have”. It’s a song packed full of wisdom as the Philadelphia-based emcee raps, “If I have need of anything, I have need of the king.with him I have all that I need. I have plenty”. Red Baron showcases his talent for writing both serious and light hearted lyrics throughout the album. “I was getting more ‘A’s than a pack of Duracells,” he says recounting his school days on A Black And White Affair.  Southern Comfort contains more great lyrics mixed in with a brief rendition of classic hymn Blessed Assurance.

You may read more of the review by clicking here.

Red Baron exclusively debuted the official video for Mr. Incredible with ILiveHipHop.  Check out the video here.

Red Baron was recently interviewed by ILiveHipHop.  You may read an except of the interview below.

And what are your views on how hip-hop is misunderstood by the media? How do you think hip-hop can rectify this problem to show it is a culture based on making a positive impact?

Hip-hop, when done right, is merely a microcosm of a larger cultural, economic, historical, political, spiritual struggle of African Americans in their quest for developing an identity in American society initially, and now other cultures across the world who have subsequently become impacted by that expression.  We have seen that recently with protests in the Middle East; some of its more prominent voices were hip-hop artists.  That is what hip-hop should be, an expression of the people.

The media has misconstrued some of this at times and cast it in an unfavorable light, but some of that falls on the artist and consumer.  We say this music speaks for us, then, “All we ever talk about is Ex and Coke/Sex and dope/Bling-bling and the gleam on the Lexxus spokes.”  The change has to “come from the lifeline, those who right rhymes.”  We as artists must be more responsible with our output.  If the artist will not be more accountable for their work, then the consumer must be more responsible by not purchasing music that promotes violence, denigrates women and endorses rampant drug use.  Hip-hop is more than that.

You may read more of the interview by clicking here.

Shades of Grace

I Live Hip-Hop recently reviewed Shades Of Grace.  You may read an excerpt of the review below.

Shades Of Grace is a great addition to hip hop and to my collection of music, I will for sure be keeping this album amongst the many great albums I have collected. Red Baron has done a great job in capturing his thoughts and emotions and presenting these two aspects of his personality to the world through music, Red Baron’s lyrical ability to construct a masterpiece is evident on every track of the album. Shades Of Grace tackles some real topics but has a very positive outlook, it will leave you feeling good and at the same time very open minded about the world and the life which we lead.

You can read more by clicking here.

Shades of Grace iPod Touch Contest Rules

Apple iPod Touch (4^th GEN) Regular 8G Giveaway

Red Baron is giving away an Apple iPod Touch in association with the release of "Shades of Grace." Enter for your chance to win!

Red Baron is giving away a free iPod Touch in association with the release of his sophomore album Shades of Grace!  Red Baron will simply ask his family, friends and supporters five questions related to the album.  Those who answer the questions correctly are automatically eligible to win the iPod Touch.  You may find the five questions, contest entry and official rules below.

Contest Entry Form

Apple iPod Touch (4^th GEN) Regular 8G Giveaway Contest Entry Form

General Information:

Full Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Preferred Name (if different): _____________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________

City: _____________________            State: ____________________            Zip: ________________

Telephone Number:            (            )______________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: ________________________

What is the best means to contact you? _______________________________________________

Are you on Red Baron’s mailing list?  If not, would you like to be added?

__Yes                        ____No

How did you hear about Shades of Grace?

Shades of Grace Questionnaire

Note: The Shades of Grace Questionnaire has two questions which refer to Red Baron’s debut album Paint the Town Red.  You may access Paint the Town Red on iTunes, CDBaby and Great Indie Downloads.

1. In his song entitled Southern Comfort (Hue I Am) feat. Lisa McClendon, Red Baron says he was, “[B]orn by the river/In a land where the vehicle of choice was a ‘Lac or Chevy pickup . . . In a city where blue was the hue that would color your mood.” In the same song, he also refers to the same city as, “The city that slayed the king that daydreamed.” In the next song, he later states the name of that city.  What is the name of the city, and in what song does he say its name?

2. In his song entitled The Way, Red Baron describes religious debates he had with two of his classmates while in college.  He states in the second verse, “And one scholar he, said he had possibly read the anthologies of Kemetic philosophies/The Crito and The Apology by Plato and Socrates/He was the one who had paid his college fees and felt like he had gotten deep.”  These lines are an allusion to a song on Red Baron’s debut album, Paint the Town Red.  What is the name of the song to which Red Baron alludes?

3. On which song does Red Baron compare the search for the truth to the search to find Osama bin Laden?

4. Red Baron begins the final verse of A Black and White Affair by saying, “There’s no escaping it, ‘One ever feels this two-ness’/Two souls, two thoughts beneath this human.”  This is an allusion to an acclaimed writing of a famous 20^th Century African American scholar, historian, sociologist and civil rights activist.  Who is this person, and what is the name of the work to which Red Baron alludes?

5. Red Baron has been blessed to collaborate with a number of artists throughout his career.  Nevertheless, there is only one artist who he has collaborated with on both his 2005 debut (Paint the Town Red) and his latest release (Shades of Grace).  Who is this artist?

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

How to Enter

The Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest will begin Tuesday April 19, 2011 at 12:01am and end on Friday May 20, 2011 at 11:59pm.

To participate in the contest, you may enter via the following method: Entries will be accepted twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week during the contest period.  To submit:

(1) Visit: www.paintedred.net, click on the Design (News) Tab and complete the submission form, along with the corresponding questionnaire;

(2) E-mail your completed contest entry form and questionnaire to contact@paintedred.net

1. Only one e-mail entry per e-mail address will be accepted.
2. Participants must provide a valid means of contact with their submission.

All submissions gathered with completely correct answers to the questionnaire are eligible to win. One iPod will be given away to an eligible contest participant.  Peradventure no contestant answers all the questions in the questionnaire correctly, Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG will deem participants eligible who answered the most questions correctly.  Contest winner will be selected at the close of the contest after all final submissions are gathered.

Eligibility Restrictions

(1) The Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest is open to all listeners of Shades of Grace.  Employees of Sanctifly Music Group, LLC (“SMG”), its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates, its advertising agencies, participating sponsors/promotional partners and members of their immediate families are ineligible to participate or win.  Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited.

(2) Only one grand-prize winner will be awarded the Apple iPod Touch.

(3) SMG reserves the right to broadcast the winner’s name and likeness for promotional purposes.  Winner is to sign a liability release form and release SMG, clients and subsidiaries involved of any liability, claims, actions of any kind due to injuries, damage or loss, to persons or property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt of the prize listed below.

Grand-Prize

(1) At the end of the contest, Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG will select one eligible contest participate to receive one Apple iPod Touch (4^th GEN) Regular 8G valued at $229.00.

(2) The grand-prize winner must claim his/her prize within ten business days of notification.  The grand-prize winner will forfeit the prize if he/she fails to claim within ten business days of first notification, and Red Baron or an authorized agent of SMG shall give the grand-prize to an alternate contestant.  Grand-prize winner may claim his/her prize by contacting Red Baron or an authorized agent of SMG and furnishing him with a valid mailing address. Red Baron or an authorized agent of SMG will mail the prize by certified US mail to a mailing address provided by the grand-prize winner, at no cost to the grand-prize winner. Red Baron or an authorized agent of SMG shall provide the grand-prize winner with all pertinent tracking information for the grand-prize.  If the grand-prize winner resides within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, or within a reasonable driving distance, the grand-prize winner may elect to pick up the grand-prize from Sanctifly Music Group, LLC located at 2424 E York Road Suite 325 Philadelphia, PA 19125.  The grand-prize winner must notify Red Baron or an authorized agent of SMG in writing if the grand-prize winner elects to pick up the grand-prize. Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG shall arrange for a mutually convenient time for the grand-prize winner and Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG to deliver the grand-prize.

(3) There is no substitution, transfer or cash equivalent for the grand-prize, except SMG, may, at its sole discretion, substitute the grand prize of comparable value or cash.  The grand prize is expressly limited to the item listed above and does not include taxes, gratuities or any other expenses.  Other restrictions may apply.

(4) Grand-prize winner shall hold Red Baron, SMG, its authorized its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates harmless in the event the grand-prize is lost, stolen or damaged while in transit.

Winner Selection and Notification

(1) Decisions of Red Baron and SMG and/or its authorized agents with respect to the contest are final.

(2) The winner, and one alternate (peradventure the winner forfeits the grand-prize), will be hand drawn after the conclusion of the contest on or before Monday May 23, 2011 at noon.

(3) Odds of winning are dependent upon the number of entries received for the drawing.  Eligible participants must correctly answer each question in the Shades of Grace Questionnaire.  Peradventure no contestant answers each question correctly, Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG will draw names of contestants who answered the most questions correctly.

(4) Immediately following the drawing, the grand-prize winner will be contacted via the means the grand-prize winner provided.

(5) The grand-prize winner will be announced after Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG receives confirmation that the grand-prize winner received the prize.

Conditions

(1) By participating in the Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest, the grand-prize winner agrees to have his/her name, voice or likeness used in any advertising or broadcast material relating to the contest without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign publicity release confirming consent prior to acceptance of the prize.

(2) Prior to the awarding the grand-prize, Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG, in its sole discretion, may require the grand-prize contest winner to sign a liability release, agreeing to hold Red Baron and SMG, its authorized agents, its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest.

(3) Red Baron, SMG its authorized its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates reserve the right to make changes in the rules of the contest, which will become effective upon announcement.  “If due to circumstances beyond the control of Red Baron, SMG its authorized its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates, any portion of the competition or prize-related event is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Red Baron, SMG its authorized its licensee, its subsidiaries, affiliates reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel or modify the Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest.

(4) Failure to comply with the contest rules may result in an entrant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG.

(5) Red Baron and/or an authorized agent of SMG are not responsible for typographical or other errors in the display or printing of the Shades of Grace Apple iPod Touch Giveaway contest or the announcement of the grand prize.

(6) Contest of the written contest rules and announcement of the grand-prize winner (when selected) will be available during regular business hours at:

Sanctifly Music Group, LLC

2424 E York Street

Suite 325

Philadelphia, PA 19125

(4) An electronic copy may be provided upon request.

Shades of Grace received favorable reviews from Chican’s Choice.  You may read an excerpt of the review below.

A BLACK AND WHITE AFFAIR-LYRICS-5 PRODUCTION-4 FAVORITE BAR(2 WAY TIE)-”YOUR NOT WHITE, WHY ARE YOU USING PIECES OF PEACH?” “I WAS GETTING MORE As THEN A PACK OF DURACELS” This also is one of my favorite Red Baron tracks. Once again, Red Baron gives you a jaw dropping piece of art on “a black and white affair”. He speaks on racism and streotypes on both sides of the specturm. I can personally relate to this song-so it speaks to my soul. This song would make a great video and is a universal song that people of all races would appericate. Powerful song.

IF HIP HOP IS DEAD-LYRICS-LYRICS-5 PRODUCTION-5 FAVORITE BAR-”IF HIP HOP IS DEAD, IT’S BECAUSE YOU KILLED IT” All I have to say is…WOW! I feel as though Red Baron is in his lane on this track and when the beat breaks down…classic sound and classic flow. He took it back to the essence and sounded like hip hop it’s prime.

You may read the entire review by clicking here.

“Pour les Amateurs de rap conscient et real hip hop a decouvrir Red Baron Premier opus bientot dans les bacs.”  Check out Red Baron’s latest feature on Rap-As Tv‘s Blog One.  Rap-As Tv’s Blog One is the official blog for Rap-As Tv, the largest urban music television broadcast in Europe.  The television program and its corresponding websites provide daily coverage of news in entertainment, along with exclusive interviews, music reviews.