Femme Fatale (2 Free TIX) Contest!!

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"CHICAGO: Want 2 FREE TIX to see @SashaGoHard perform at Reggie's on April 3??? 

 Well all you have to do is: 

 1. Follow @TheLab3L on Twitter AND Instagram

 2. Repost/Tweet this picture. 

 3. Tag '#TheLab3L' in your post and tweet!! 

GO!! Tell your friends to increase your chance of winning. Contest and Concert presented by On The Grind Management. #giveaway #free #concert #hiphop #chicago #nuttyworld #sashagohard #TheLab3L #Reggies "

Will you be the wonder of 'The Lab3L's Official Guveaway????

Two Visions Creating One

Here at The Lab3l we love finding out about different artists we've never heard of before. We also love seeing our own friends bring their beautiful ideas to life. If you haven't seen or heard of Double Vision you should get hip soon because their future is very bright.

                         (Image by @twjohns)

The duo, Sophie and Dominique, is based in Asutin, Texas and recently launched their blog which will "document personal connections, natural experiences and honest emotions." Sounds cool right? We wouldn't steer you wrong. Check out their video documenting their SXSW experience below. You can also follow them on instagram and twitter @ATXDoubleVision !

SXSW 2014 by Double Vision from Double Vision on Vimeo.

See more from Double Vision on their blog http://doublevisionatx.tumblr.com.

-LAB

Drill Princess, Sasha Go Hard: Femme Fatale Concert

Inspired by artist like Trina, Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj Chicago rapper, Sasha Go Hard proves to be of the hottest emcees coming out the Windy City.  Her latest mixtape 'Nutty World', landed her on sites like The Fader, Complex, XXL and Pitchfork and it wasn't her first time. Breaking out of the title local rapper, Sasha has globally made a name for herself with only 2 years in the game. She's recently returned from a European tour, where she once performed on the same stage as artists like Iggy Azelia and Diplo.

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Sasha will be headlining in 'Femme Fatale' brought to you by On The Grind Management in Chicago at Reggie's. Talented Emcees Chellah H., Bebe O'Hare, Assata Jones & Mobo will also be in attendance on April 3rd at 8PM. 

#THELAB3L will be GIVING AWAY a pair of tickets this weekend so please stay tuned for what you can do to score you and a friend tickets to this show! 

If you are not lucky enough to win the tickets, stop by Ticket Fly and purchase tickets for this highly anticipated concert. You can also check out more information on Facebook.

Entourage the Movie

If you loved seeing what Vinny Chase and his crew were up to in the crazy world of Hollywood throughout the Entourage series, we know you're excited for the movie that is set to be released in June of 2015! 

The cast along with several special guests making cameos are currently shooting in L.A and seem to be having a blast. They plan on picking up where they left off in the series and even Kevin Connolly, who plays Vince's best friend Eric, breaking his leg while filming won't slow them down. 

How do you feel about the Entourage cast reuniting for a movie? Click Here to take our latest poll, or take it on the right of the screen.  

The Adventures of Milo & Otis.. The Band

M & O aka Milo and Otis, (not to be confused with popular californian EDM DJ's or the 80's Japenese movie) is an increasingly growing "Adventure Soul" duo from Chicago. Well as much as Chicagoans love to claim whoever will allows us, only part of this dynamic duo is from Chicago. Jamila 'Milo' Woods, vocalist, writer, and guitarists is a Chicago native who took her talents to Brown College where she met Owen 'Otis' Hill who is from Boston. The musical adventures of M & O encompass much of the 'cute' friendship between kitten and puppy played out in the film. Take a listen to Joy, their debut album and you will understand perfectly what we mean.

Their music reminds you of you're favorite barbecue sauce on a summer day. Now, before you go twisting your eyebrows in confusion, their music truly is a perfect blend of SWEET, soulful melodies mixed with a few SPICY topics here and there. But when brought together, it is one smooth entity that you can not get enough of. Above that, their music is definitely one of a kind amongst the repetitive songs that artists are producing today. Needles to say, we will take homemade bbq sauce over store brought ketchup any day.

Milo singing at Bottom Lounge, Chicago IL

Otis playing at Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL

M & O

Seeing them live is an even better delight. Owen recreates the track live on the keys and guitar as Jamila works the crowd with her soulful ballads and audience participation. She surely has a way of making you feel unashamed to sing at the top of your lungs even though it is nearly impossible to emulate her unique voice. 

Jake Krez interviews M & O after the show

"I usually don't say this but they are really cute" 

                    - Writer, Jake Krez

If you missed this incredible show, I'm sure you are now wondering how you can catch them again. Well lucky for you Chicago Residents, they are having a release show for their upcoming album Almost Us on April 3 at Double Door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Ticket Fly. No Name Gypsy and the band SHE will be opening, making this a one of a kind show you do not want to miss. Purchase advance tickets today.

Here's a snippet of last nights performance.

Chicago Welcomes, The Internet

As fans hurdled in to witness The Internet's debut performance in Chicago at Bottom Lounge, you couldn't help but notice the diversity in the audience. The atmosphere was filled with a mixture of fans from different backgrounds, and we are not just talking racially but down to the age, occupation and sexual orientation of the crowd. Being in such awesome company only enhanced the good energy flowing from the surrounding speakers.

For those who may be a little confused as to who we're talking about here, The Internet is a soulful band formed by Odd Future members, Syd The Kyd & Matt Martians. Later the band grew to feature Patrick Paige II (bass), Christopher Allan Smith (drums), and Tay Walker (keys) and now Jameel Bruner (keys). Their sophomore album, Feel Good is a wonderful compilation of jazz, soul and R&B that can be played in a few settings like, cooking dinner for your sweetie, spring cleaning or just cruising around on a Sunday Afternoon. It's honestly the kind of music your parents won't mind you blasting when you ask to be the DJ. No matter the occasion, The internet delivers good vibes to any type of day. 

Being that it was our first time seeing them perform, we were blown away.  The soft, sultry sounds of Syd the Kid warmed up the whole room as the group performed an array of songs from Purple Naked Ladies and Feel Good, as well as covers of big named artists, like Justin Timberlake's, "Señorita". Knowing the journey of Syd the Kid starting as a producer and engineer for Odd Future to her courageous step in taking it center stage, makes you enjoy their live performances so much more. 

Patrick Paige II, Jameel Bruner & Syd The Kyd at Bottom Lounge

Syd The Kyd

Bottom Lounge, Chicago IL

We can honestly say we watched her grow into the humble star she is today and we definitely believe their is much more to come. Syd said it herself, "You can hear the growth right?" and truthfully speaking she is blossoming well. She's backed by a very talented team and there are no worries of her soft voice getting lost with the impressively talented musicians jamming in the background. Syd took a few breaks to just vibe with the audience and the guys definitely held their own. Truly is a remarkable team and we are excited for what's to come from The Internet, we love what they have to offer. Awesome bands like The Internet,  prove music has no bounds and has a cool way of bringing all people together under one vibe.

Matt Martians posses Backstage

New Video From Fare Games: "Heir Trill"

We featured this young Chicago artist on the blog earlier this year when he was apart of L. F. Entertainment Radio's showcase at Red Kiva. It was our first time seeing Fare Games perform and we were not disappointed. He's back with another dope visual directed by the talented Crishonne Givens. So check out "Heir Trill" below and vibe out! 

If you haven't already, make sure you follow him on twitter @FareGames! 

-LAB

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SXSW: "Why So Serious, It's Just Another Music Fest"

So you want to know what the hype is all about, maybe you know and you're still trying to decide if it is worth the trip, or let's say you made up your mind about attending, yet you know little to nothing about the event itself. Well, no matter what your knowledge level is, The Lab3L has you covered. 

For starters, South By South-West is not just another music festival. It is a HUGE deal mainly because it is the largest festival of its kind, in THE WORLD. This festival is not only one of the biggest music events, it has become a networking hub for over 30,000 new artists, start up companies, blogs, and innovators looking to expand their market. While there are tons of networking opportunities in music, SXSW also provides many networking opportunities for tech heads, film buffs and creative, innovative thinkers that are looking to mingle with like minded individuals. 

Having a successful run for 28 years, SXSW started off as a music festival people attended primarily for entertainment. It later expanded into film and once internet technology was popularized, it's interactive market became the main focus of the festival. This years running time for the festival is March 7 - 16th, with many inspirational, entertaining and memorable moments in store all starting at the Austin Convention Center in Texas. 

INTERACTIVE

SXSW interactive Festival brings you five days of showcases, presentations,  panels, hands on training, exclusive tech and gaming previews and much more. Everyday has a strenuous schedule of events whose soul purpose is to make for a fun, interact live learning events for individuals looking to take their start up business, creative ideas or digital innovations to the next level.

FILM

This edition of SXSW Film Conference and Festival should 'inspire and share visions that will galvanize the filmmakers and ideas of tomorrow. Including Screenings, trailers and several film conferences that will revolution alias the way filmmakers create film. Not enough? The Jimmy Hendrix film is said to be premiering at this event, so that means Andre 3000 maybe in attendance. 

MUSIC

As the worlds leading music and media conference this years attendees can start their day exploring panels, talks, trade show, the music gear expo and many other conference activies to expand their knowledge on the music industry. And as the night approaches, SXSW sponsors bring you over 2,200 artists over 100 stages showcasing their best music. These artists are hand picked so nothing mediocre is expected.

Take a look at a few of SXSW alumni, across several categories that have benefited from attending the event: John Mayer, Twitter, Four Square, Amy Winehouse, Katty Perry, Bon Iver, Foster The People, Skrillex, Artic Monkeys, M.I.A and Norah Jones.

So what are you waiting for? Badges are still on sale and start at $650 (Film), $795 (Music), $1295 (Interactive) all they way to $1695 for Film, Music and Interactive Film Festivals/Conferences. 

So what you can't afford to attend the festival this year. Doesn't mean you have to miss out on other ways of networking and partying. Making your way to Austin,Texas could potentially be one of the best decisions you made in your career or just the most fun.There are a surplus amount of free networking opportunities and parties that you can get into, just by RSVP'ing. So Start your search by looking at annual sponsored events from Taco Bell, The Fader, Spin Magazine, House of Vans, UMG, MTV, Spotify, Pandora and Red Bull to name a few. 

Chance the Rapper @ The Illmore

Interested, but just don't think you'll make it out this year? Start saving for next year and treat yourself or your business to something that has prove to be truly beneficial. 

Just so you won't miss out on anything, The Lab3L will be in the building keeping you up to date during the whole event. ;)

Tune In Tuesday

We have died and gone to music heaven. There has been so much new music dropped this past week but what is too much music anyways? Luckily if you aren't hip to any of it the Lab3l has your back. Check out a list of some of these hot new releases below!

Mastermind- Rick Ross

Rozay's 6th studio album dropped today with features from Big Sean, Kanye West,  The Weeknd, Jay Z and many more. Ross tweeted, "I put more into this #mastermind album than any other..my fans deserved that Rare Rosé." There are definitely some bangers on here so take a listen for yourself and see if Ross lived up to your expectations.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mastermind-deluxe-version/id816474784

G I R L- Pharrell Williams 

This is Pharrell's 2nd studio album and it was released yesterday through Colombia records with promotion of his own label, i am OTHER. This super fun and dope album includes features and appearances from Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, Tori Kelly, Jojo and many more! You will not be disappointed......Pharrell rarely does.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/g-i-r-l/id823593445

Oxymoron- Schoolboy Q

Groovy Q dropped the much anticipated Oxymoron last week with production from Pharrell, Tyler the Creator, THC, Mike Will Made It, and others. The deluxe version included five extra tracks in using features from A$AP Rocky, SZA and Suga Free. Check out his 3rd studio album on iTunes below.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/oxymoron-deluxe-version/id799676139

KiD CuDi- Satellite Flight: Journey to Mother Moon

CuDi surprised everyone when he decided to drop his album early on midnight last week. In a MTV interview he explained that this album would bridge the gap between Indicud and the third part in the Man on the Moon series. Check it out! 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/kid-cudi-presents-satellite/id826831540
 

Migos- No Label II 

If you don't think Migos has been a game changer then I don't know where you've been hiding. The ATL trip dropped a 25 track mixtape last week just in time for the weekends festivities. Download/Listen to the new mixtape below. 

 

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Lupita Nyong'o: 'It Was All a Dream'

The most exciting part about the Oscars is often hearing the inspiring acceptance speeches given by winners. Especially to the young aspiring actors, producers, animators and directors who are sitting attentively at home searching for inspiration. Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o's is now amongst those beacons of inspiration she was once mesmerized by. Her acceptance speech lit social media as her words were tweeted, retweeted and hashtagged, reminding young believers dreams really do come true. 

For starters, Nyong'o is the first Mexi-Kenyan to win an Oscar. Giving both Mexico and Kenya much pride. She became interested in film when she was 18 and her mother bought her a point and shoot Nikon for Christmas. A few years later, while home in Africa for the holidays from college, Nyong'o discovered that a film, "The Constant Gardener" was shooting in her neighborhood. Through a friend, she became a production assistant and remained on the crew for the rest of the 2 month shoot. Not even she knew that this would only be the beginning of her road to Hollywood and title as Best Supporting Actress.

After watching Steven Spielberg's, "The Color Purple" for the first time a child, Nyong'o knew after seeing someone that looked like her, she too could become an actress. But she didn't know on the first try she'd go on to be nominated in the same category as the woman who inspired her, Oprah.

Of 1,000 candidates for the role of Pasley  in Steve McQueen's, "12 Years A Slave" Nyong'o was the chosen one. She was just a novice in acting when she received the script making plans to launch her career, and just like that Blast off!

Nyong'o is bigger than an actress, she's a fashion icon and beacon of hope to many young women around the world with dreams. You don't have to be an actor to be touched by her story, she embodies that hard work truly pays off.

 "When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every child, no matter where you're from, your dreams are valid," - Lupita Nyong'o 

Whatever your dream, whatever your goal, the only validation you need is already buried deep inside your heart, you just have to be brave enough to trust it and let it guide you.