Latin rapper Down aka Kilo announced the release of his newest CD ‘Cholo Skate' at a red carpet event in Hollywood
By Eunice Moseley

"California Cowboy" in 2003 which featured heavies such as Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger and Nate Dogg to his current album "Cholo Skate," his forth project, which also features Snoop Dogg, along with Too Short, DJ Quick and the late Tupac. The new project is released on Fontana Universal, distributed through Imgrooves.

"'Cholo Skate' it came out September 1st," Down aka Kilo said at his red carpet launch party held recently in Hollywood. "The single is "Put Your Locs On"...the music video for it and ‘Cholo Skate' is on YouTube."

Kilo also told me that he just finished filming a Latin comedy "Lean like a Cholo" named after his hot single off his 2007 CD release "The Definition of an Ese." That single went platinum and sold ½ a million ringtones.

"It's a Latin comedy... It's positive too. So all you mothers out there take the little homeboys to the theaters to see it," Down said into my camera. "And if you don't want to go to the theater, you can even drop them off and pick them up later. I have no bad stuff here."

His launch party had a great crowd of celebrities with comedian/actress Luenell hosting the event. Others I saw on the red carpet included comedian/actress Anne McKnight who was there fresh from filming a movie in Arizona where she so-stars with KeKe Palmer and Nicole Parker; Ernest Thomas of "Everybody Hates Chris;" celebrity fitness trainer Sam Bell; reality star Juliette Fairley, Latin rapper Ronin Gray and R&B singers Une' and 2-U-Neek who just released their single "Party" now at all BestBuys.

I was pretty amaze with Down aka Kilo by the time I left the event, not only from all the love he was shown, but the more I listened to his music and watched his music video I started to see a Latin Dr. Dre. See for yourself log onto www.myspace.com/downakakilo for more on Down aka Kilo.

Tony Award winning Melba Moore joins R&B crooner Phil Perry in creating ‘The Gift of Love' on Shanachie
"Just the opportunity to do any record with a Tony Award winner, I had to rethink how I approach doing it as a solo artist...to do a duet," R&B crooner Phil Perry said about his newest CD project "The Gift of Love," a duet with legendary singer/actress Melba Moore. "Melba is so patient. I put pressure on myself to step it up."

Melba being the sweet and funny Melba we all (over 30) know said with a little chuckle, "Phil pretty much laid out the guidelines."

The CD offers so much love in so many forms you will get Melba's Tony Award winning vocals of love on "I Believe," which is just her voice accompanied by the keyboard and then there is the duo beautifully combining their vocals on such songs as "Give (The Gift of Love)" which has some powerful horns and a great message; "We'll Be Together" which has a Pop feel; "Survival Kit" with its orchestra effect is so uplifting and their cover of "Sadie" is very moving.

"In the beginning I was willing to follow Phil. Phil had success with Shanachie. He brought on board a wonderful producer Chris "Big Dog" Davis," Melba points out as to way she let Phil "lay out the guidelines."

"It's important for a producer to let an artist remain themselves," Phil said about working with "Big Dog." "If you don't feel it the people are not going to feel it."

Melba Moore became the first African-American who took over a white entertainment's role on Broadway, it was for Hair in 1968. By age 25 she won a Tony Award for her role in the musical Purlie and then she went onto a career in the music business. She formed Hush Productions with then husband Charles Luggins and launched the career of Freddie Jackson. She released ten albums during that time with "Livin' for Your Love," "Love the One I'm With" a duet with Kashif; "A Little Bit More" a duet with Freddie Jackson; her number one hit "Falling" and her powerful version of the black national anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" being her hottest hits.

Phil Perry was a member of an early 70s group, The Montclairs, who disbanded in 1975 forcing Perry to join with bandmate Kevin Sanlin as a duo for Capitol Records in 1980. In 1985 he married Soul/Jazz singer Lillian "Tang" Tynes and they formed a partnership that lasts even today. In the early 90s Phil released hit singles "Call Me," a remake of Aretha Franklin's 1970 hit; "Amazing Love," and "Forever" from his album "The Heart of the Man." "The Gift of Love" is his second Shanachie CD, the first "Mighty Love" garnered him a Male Vocalist of the Year Award at the SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards that year.

For more information on "The Gift of Love" CD log onto www.Shanachie.com. For more on Melba Moore log onto www.MelbaMoore.com and for more on Phil Perry log onto www.PhilParry.net.