In Ya Face Records

IYF Artists

Vida Guerra
July 28, 2008 0 Comments
VIDA GUERRA

“I’ve never been a stranger to hard work and I am living proof that despite the odds, dreams do and can come true.”

Vivacious. Courageous. Resilient. These are just a few words the describe Latin Bombshell Vida Guerra. From the pages of popular national men’s magazines such as FHM, Smooth, Source and DUB, to music videos, television commercials and hit feature films, sultry Cuban model and actress Vida Guerra is by far one of today’s hottest Latin stars taking the entertainment industry by storm. Few know the epic story and struggle behind Vida’s overnight success, which tells of overcoming the odds and realizing a dream when hope was all she had.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Vida’s meteoric rise to fame told of very humble beginnings. Vida and her family fled their homeland of communist Cuba when she was just five years old in hopes of leading a better life in the United States and to achieve the quintessential American dream. Vida and her family’s tumultuous journey included growing up poor, living in a one bedroom apartment, being homeless, and at times living with nuns in a convent. While longing to reach U.S. soil, Vida would occupy her time by writing poems to her brothers and strengthening her English by reading short stories. During this time, Vida fondly recalls discovering her deep family values through watching her parents as they struggled to provide their family with a better life. Ever since Vida was eight years old, she dreamed of stardom and remembers signing autographs for her soon-to-be adoring fans. In addition to poetry and short stories, music also had an overwhelming influence on young Vida. As she matured, it became clear that she craved stardom and sought the limelight, further motivating Vida to pursue her aspirations of becoming a performer. After Vida and her family’s escape from Cuba, the family landed in Costa Rica which then led to a short stay in the Bahamas and finally to Miami- where she lived for one month before her father found work in New Jersey at a family owned bodega. Soon after, due to an unforeseen tragedy, Vida and her family was forced to change their focus yet again and find another means to survive.

Not one to shy away from hard work, Vida remained steadfast about realizing her ultimate dream of reaching super-star status. As Vida grew up she would start to develop a tireless work ethic that she witnessed in her parents as a child. Vida worked restless days and nights as a Computer Technician and Loan Officer in New Jersey before fate stepped in and changed the course of her life forever. Vida never anticipated the response she would receive when a friend sent in a sexy photo of Vida to FHM Magazine for an amateur photo contest. Vida’s sexy photos caught the eye of an executive at FHM and the rest as they say is history. In December of 2002, Vida exploded onto the scene with her first official spread in FHM Magazine. The issue was met with an overwhelming response from fans all over the world, and FHM Executives scrambled to schedule more photo shoots for their newest Latin Superstar. Shortly after her FHM debut, an unprecedented 70 percent of reader mail was dedicated to Vida. As a result of her success, FHM named Vida FHM Model of the Year in 2004 and invited her to return for an exclusive encore photo shoot. During this time, Vida also caught the eye of some Hip Hop’s biggest names and was invited to appear in a number of high-profile music videos alongside renowned artists such as Nelly, P. Diddy and Kanye West. Vida continues to enjoy a successful working relationship with FHM Magazine, as well as DUB, Playboy and other prominent national publications. Vida’s official website www.vidasworld.com has become the centerpiece of a massive internet brand marketing strategy that globally connects her work with her fans. Her online accomplishments include being voted Yahoo!’s 2005 Most Searched Model.

This sexy beauty quickly established herself as one of the most sought after Latin swim suit models in the industry. When asked her opinion on Latin women, Vida proudly asserts that, “Our bodies and our flavor rock. A lot of men out there… want a voluptuous woman.” Vida credits hard work and a solid foundation between family and friends for her astounding rise within the industry. Without help from others, Vida succeeded in navigating the sometimes murky waters of the entertainment industry alone. After establishing a successful modeling career, Vida yearned to be on television and films. Her television credits include seasons one and two of the ever-popular Dave Chappelle Show starring comedian Dave Chappelle. Vida also won the 2006 Spike TV Best Performance by a Human Female Award for her work in the 2006 videogame Scarface: The World is Yours. Vida’s film credits include National Lampoon’s Dorm Daze 2, Fake Preacher, Tamales and Gumbo and Strawberries for the Homeless.

In 2007, Vida Guerra signed on to host the automotive lifestyle television series Livin’ the Low Life on SPEED TV. Debuting in February 2008, the series will bring Vida into 77 million homes throughout the U.S. each week during primetime. When asked about the series, Vida says “With Livin’ the Low Life, I’m just being myself…hanging out and having fun. I must admit, I didn’t know much about cars when I landed the gig, but I learned by asking a lot of questions. I hope that people will learn to appreciate not only the cars but also the people who build them and the culture they represent.”

2008 will also mark the beginning of Vida’s music career. She is currently signed to In Ya Face Records and is currently working on her first full-length album, slated to drop in Fall 2008. The future is bright for this vivacious star that never gave up hope or lost sight of her dreams. Vida remains humble and grounded in her Cuban roots and ultimately wants the opportunity to give back to her community by mentoring and inspiring young Latinas and kids around the world, to strive for their dreams no matter what hand life may deal them. As Vida’s star continues to rise, there are no limits to the many opportunities and challenging ventures she has yet to pursue. Vida’s journey has been a tale of resilience, hard work and inspiration to all who come to learn of her inspiring road to success.
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Holly Rae
June 10, 2008 0 Comments
The road to stardom for new In Ya Face Records Pop/R&B diva Holly Rae is paved with early lessons on self reliance and hard work. Feisty and fearless, her music and imagery are a reflection of her influences both classic and contemporary. They are the fusion of the sophisticated vocal stylings of Mariah Carey coupled with the carefree lilt and fashion forward tastes of Rihanna.

Born to a highly musical family, Rae was blessed with a huge voice and enormous personal charisma. However, as a teen Rae grew up fast, tired early of family life and struck out on her own at age 16. She began a hard scrabble life that lead her to often work 3 jobs just to make due. "I believe my struggles as a teen have helped prepare me for all the work I need to do as a new recording artist and performer. This is a very tough business and I think giving up my early teens to support myself has given me endurance I need to make it," said Rae.

The challenge was equally daunting because Rae is from the San Francisco Bay area, not Los Angeles where the action is. However, shortly after leaving home she met Rawle 'Raw' Galvan, then a street hustler who was rumored to be starting a new record label. She auditioned for Galvan and he fell in love with her voice and her uninhibited personal style. "I just remember being blown away by this 5 foot 4, 16 year old girl. If I could have, I would have signed her on the spot and I secretly hoped no one else would find her before I was prepared to make her a star myself."

Fate intervened and Galvan was forced to put his plans on starting a label on hold but he never forgot the little girl with the big voice. In the interim Holly Rae became a fixture on the Bay Area club scene. Armed with a fake I.D., she set out sharpening her reputation as the wild child with the tomboyish steak who loves fast cars. "I was out there, everybody knew me and I enjoyed the attention."

A couple of years passed and Galvan got his upstart record company In Ya Face Records off the ground with the help of partner Howard Misle. Soon, Galvan got re-acquainted with Holly Rae and was delighted to find that she was still a raw undiscovered talent. After a knock out a cappella version of Jessica Simpson's hit "I Wanna Love You Forever," Rae became one of In Ya Face Records first signings. She admits "I knew this audition was a big step for me, but I had waited so long to get this break, it just felt like it was a destiny fulfilled." Determined to capitalized on the ever changing world music tastes, Rae, Galvan and Misle all agreed that J.R. Rotem who was flying high with the global success of both Rihanna and Sean Kingston was exactly the producer they needed to shape her new CD. Beefing up her street credentials Holly Rae also collaborated with Poli Paul, who is know for his versatility working with everyone from The Black Eyed Peas to Christina Millian and Chingy. The result is a CD that is masterfully primed from the urban pop tastes of today's youth. The CD fuses the sultry sounds of everyone from Janet Jackson, one of Rae's early influences to the soulfulness of Christina Aguilera who is also a great inspiration.

Not one to rest on beauty and vocal skills alone, Rae has put her strong work ethic to good use in her home studio honing her writing skills. "I recognize that there are a lot of talented female singers out there but the ones who write have the edge," observes Rae. "I think a lot of music fans can identify with a lot of my personal stories, so I'm making them part of my work. I think that is the only way your fans really know exactly who you are."
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Eva
June 9, 2008 0 Comments
"Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a singer," confesses Eva in a bubbly confident voice. The 19-year-old curly haired pop singer is positioning herself to follow in the footsteps of some of her former idols, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson, with a debut CD on In Ya Face Records.

The stunning blonde teen who recently left her home in Northern California to enroll in college, the University of Arizona, to be exact, has been rotating her schedule, taking the required freshman courses, joining a sorority and penning introspective lyrics to accompany the pulsating tracks for her highly anticipated release.

"We tried to get a lot of the material done before I started college," she continues, "but I've been writing creative stories since I was a little girl, so it's natural for me to continue to write. Some of the material is romantic, no central theme, although I will say I keep my music pretty upbeat; I don't have any heartbreak songs."

Eva, who describes herself as "an outgoing person who wants to have fun and make people laugh," enjoys life to the fullest. An outdoors person, she cut her teeth on fresh air and plenty of physical activity, having spent seven years at summer camp, her home away from home.

Eva's passion for music brimmed under the surface as a child, where she listened to the radio and TV, but it wasn't until she was a sophomore in high school that she actively began to pursue a career in the performing arts. "Prior to that, I was shy," Eva recalls. "My family and friends didn't even know that I liked to sing because I was so shy and had stage fright. I got over my fear by appearing in high school musicals like Bye, Bye Birdy and Thoroughly Modern Millie. My first performances were background roles, but I started opening up. Once I made by decision to record an album, I decided not to be so nervous, that I would get over it and sing in from of people in the studio that I don't know."

Now that tracks have been recorded for her debut CD, Eva's ready for the spotlight. "The danceable tracks on my album are my favorites, but I really like the contributions that I made to the album, especially the song, 'My Everything."

Eva's CD's loaded with pumpin' club tracks like "Get Crazy," on which she boldly challenges her listener with lyrics like, "So what you gonna do now?" Other stand outs include "Get Away," any young woman's freedom song, and "One Night Stand," which reflects the views of modern day romance.

Defying the typical image one conjures up of a singer ("I'm fit, not flesh and bones"), Eva, who describes herself as person with a passion for fashion and looks forward to being a role model to teens, just as female pop idols were to her. "I'm up for it," she affirms. From the days of performing in Thoroughly Modern Millie to becoming a throughly modern sexy songstress, Eva plans to pursue her dreams, singing and dancing her way into her fans' hearts. Let's go!
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Sonny Blaq
May 19, 2008 0 Comments
R&B music is enjoying a commercial resurgence. Sonny Blaq wants to give the genre a substantial creative jolt. “I’m trying to evoke passion, emotion and vulnerability,” the Kansas City-based singer says. “I’m trying to put soul on records, where you can feel everything that is said as opposed to just going to the club.”

As Sonny works on this forthcoming debut album, he’s well on his way to accomplishing his mission. Sonny at the age of 17 years old was signed to RCA records as the lead singer of a group called Kansas City Original Sounds, then went on with the same group a few years later, came to the attention of R.Kelly who signed the group on the spot and changed the name to TALENT, a So as you can see Sonny is not new to the game of music, Sonny decided that maybe he should try his luck at solo, after all the years in a group, so as you see Sonny today is on his solo mission, which seems to be what the world has longed for. Music industry titans Clive Davis, LA Reid and Babyface are among those already savoring Sonny’s “What It Takes” single. The tune’s current yet timeless qualities make it the type of cut that crosses generations thanks to Sonny’s powerful yet comforting voice.

“It’s a feel-good record and it puts you in the frame of mind of the ‘80s,” Sonny says. “It’s music where you can close your eyes and you can go somewhere when you hear it. It makes me feel like something my mother and father would listen to. At the same time, it’s sexual but it’s real subliminal.”

The rest of Sonny’s music is equally evocative. The cinematic, piano-driven “Movie” features a gripping storyline where Blaq suspects his lady is up to something, but he ignores his instincts. The melodic “No More Secrets” details the emotional tug-of-war that transpires when people keep their emotions from their loved ones, while the pleading “Messages” finds Sonny Blaq apologizing to his girl for his mistakes. He then regrets not paying enough attention to his lady on the rueful “Why O Why.”

On all of his songs, Sonny brings the listener into his world, one that is instantly relatable because Sonny presents himself as a well-rounded person, someone who loves but who is also vulnerable. His singing style is ripe with emotion without veering into histrionics. “I’m willing to be me,” he reveals. “I’m willing to be very, very open to everything. A lot of guys don’t want to say they’re vulnerable. That’s not me. I’m very real.”

Sonny was instilled with such a personal fortitude in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. He came from a musical family, one that performed together in church. By singing in church, it didn’t take long for Sonny to appreciate music.

“It made me see how you can touch people,” he recalls. “Even if you had a bad day, if you hear the right song, it would make everything fade away and clear out. That’s what really made me latch on to it and really want it.”

Unfortunately, Sonny had to fade away from a family rife with drug and alcohol problems. Music was his safety net, as was his namesake, his Uncle Sonny, who taught his nephew about life, from music to women. They had such a strong bond that people would call him Little Sonny.

Sonny’s powerful voice helped him gain a few promising leads in the music industry. Through a producer, Sonny was introduced to Howard Misle of In Ya Face Records. Floored by Sonny’s passionate vocals, Misle signed Sonny to his label, which will release Sonny’s forthcoming album.

Thanks to his own connections and those of In Ya Face Records, Sonny has surrounded himself with a talented group of writers who will help him execute his musical vision.

So, get ready for Sonny Blaq -- the man who will put the soul back in R&B. “I’m doing music that is set to stand alone,” Sonny says. “Ten years from now you’ll be able to put on a Sonny Blaq record. I want to have that mark where I touch people mentally and physically. That’s one of the great things about music. It’s something that you can’t touch, but you can really feel it. I want to have that effect.”

All it takes is one listen.
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Big Work
May 19, 2008 0 Comments
Standing 6 feet tall, weighing 260 pounds Cheron McKinnon, known in the music industry as In Ya Face hip hop recording artist Big Work, blends old school R&B with his raw street edge.

Work, who uses his old block name for his musical moniker, was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, where he developed a passion for the music game through hearing the sounds of such 90’s artists as Heavy D, Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Smif-N-Wessun, among others. But then, like many other dudes, Big Work found himself getting into “trouble,” and wound up serving two three-year stints in prison. Once he finished parole, he moved to California where he pursued a career in music. “I didn’t want to get into trouble anymore. Since I always loved music, I got involved with an independent situation, and through that situation, I met Howard Misle, CEO of In Ya Face Records. He signed me, I was given some projects to do and I have been busy for the past year working on my album.”

Since then, things have been looking up. Through a relationship Wyclef Jean forged with In Ya Face Records, Big Work was able to collaborate with the Fugees’ founder on one of his songs, ‘Streets Ain’t Hollywood,’ which is a song giving listeners the inside track on Work’s former hometown, Hartford. “Hartford isn’t much different than New Orleans, Newark or Baltimore, but since the city is smaller, everybody knows about everything that happens. Every street corner is like a block…it’s bad. There’s nothing for kids to do, and there’s not enough jobs for people who actually live there; most of the jobs go to people who are outside of the community. So, everybody’s hustling.”

The music collabo between Wyclef and Work developed into a more extensive musical alliance, and in recent months, Work has spend significant time recording product in Wyclef’s Platinum Sounds Studio in New York. A musical mentor to Work, Wyclef has encouraged this new artist to express his creativity in the studio. “It was an honor to have Wyclef involved with my project. After all, he’s sold millions of albums. We’ve developed a good vibe,” Work goes on to say. “Wyclef is down to earth. He took the time to really work with me and taught me a lot. I really listen to him, especially since he could be doing something other than working with me.”

Presently living in Sacramento, not too far from the In Ya Face Records location in Palo Alto, California, Work is putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming CD, Big Dreams And Ambitions. Among the songs that have been recorded are one of his favorites, “Take Your Time,” which is a throwback to the popular R&B classic ”Mama Used To Say (Take Your Time Young Man)” released by Junior in 1982. Both Ne-Yo and the late Tupac Shakur are sampled on the hook through the creative efforts of the song’s producer and beatmaker. Another standout cut, “Purple,” is Work’s tongue-in-cheek weed anthem. He laughs, “Everybody thought it was about a girl because in the lyrics I say, ‘I never felt this way about you.’ Once you hear the song again, you’ll say, ‘oh, s---t! He’s talking about weed!’” Another one of his favorite cuts, “The Streets Goin’ Drive Me Crazy,” is bananas. “It’s kind of like my life story and about how hard I’m working in the streets.”

He also recorded, “Like B.I.G., ” a humorous testimonial in memory of Notorious B.I.G., to whom he’s often compared. “I hear this comparison all the time, but we are really two different people. I don’t think I sound like Biggie; I sound ore like Guerilla Black than I do Biggie. I think that Shyne actually sounds more like Biggie.”

Although Big Work has a strong work ethic leftover from his hustling days (“I work day and night and my girl always says, ‘can you just chill?’”), he plays Scrabble and trains pit bulls when the opportunity permits. But even when he knows he should be resting, he’s always tempted to go back into the studio, where he has amassed a collection of 100 songs which can be used on future projects, including mixtapes local DJ’s beg him to put together. He also loves listening to music on the radio even though “radio’s brainwashed these days. But I could listen to R&B all day long. A lot of rap is whack--- it’s too watered down. I want to hear 15 bangers.”

In addition to carving his niche in the record business, Big Work plans to become an entrepreneur. The gifted lyricist has big dreams and ambitions that he plans to pursue and he doesn’t plan to ever stop workin’. I’m in the studio night and day just like when I hustled.” Hustle never sleeps, does it?
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!ProHoeZak?
May 19, 2008 0 Comments
An unusual musical scent emanates from a recording studio in East Palo Alto. It smells a lot like "ProHoeZak?, one of the funkiest artists that has ever emerged from the San Francisco Bay Area. !ProHoeZak? (pronounced prozak), will release Smells Like ProHoeZak, in early 2007.

His unusual moniker is the ultimate attention grabber, but he doesn't mind repeating its origin to fascinated listeners. "I am a pro roller skater, so when I skate, everyone's always telling me to slow down because I skate too fast. I used to skate for at least two hours at a time and I would do all kinds of things with my skates. I have skated across freeways, I can do back flips, ad I have even escaped from the police on my skates. As a result of my hype nature, people started calling me Prozak because they thought I needed something to calm me down, so the name stuck. I just changed the spelling of it," he laughs.

!ProHoeZak? has been on the music scene since 1989, where he has worked with a who's who list of music types. !ProHoeZak?'s name has been associated with such celebrities as the late Tupac Shakur (an old friend), E40, Public Enemy, Digital Underground, and is actually Flavor Flav's cousin. The hip hop artist, who takes you black to the future with his music, is lauded in San Francisco's Hip Hop Museum and he has been credited as being one of the first artists to go on stage wearing a diaper!

Wait 'till you get a whiff of this album! Featuring songs like "Bang," a booty shaker made for the strip clubs, "It Looks Good To Me," which talks about jewelry, Bentley's and women (and not necessarily in that order!), as well as themes that mirror what's going on in the Bay Area -car riding, club hopping and partying. He also pays homage to his fellow artists on a rump slapping joint, "In Ya Face," which gives listeners the inside track on !ProHoeZak?'s label mates and how they like to party. Another club banger, "Don't Wait for No One Else," features Bay Area legend Too Short. "Every Wants To Be !ProHoeZak?" is guaranteed to get listeners to sit up and take notice. !ProHoeZak? produced all but two songs on the 14-track CD.

!ProHoeZak?'s deal with In Ya Face is the result of a long-term friendship with co-owner Paul Galvan. "I was producing songs for him and once he was in the process of relaunching his label, he suggested that it would be wise to let them put my music out. I met up with him and his investor, liked what I saw, and I became an artist for the label."

Although the public at large may not be that familiar with !ProHoeZak?, he gets plenty of love from other artists in the industry. "I've been droppin' for awhile," he admits. "So I have met a lot of people in the industry over the years."

Between appearing on label mate Vida Guerra's album, networking with the likes of Lil' Flip, touring with EPMD and reuniting for shows with Digital Underground, !ProHoeZak? plans to bring awareness to the talent that exists in virtually unknown East Palo Alto, California music scene. "East Palo Alto used to be one of the crime capitals of the United States, but it's gotten better. Along with the Hoodstars I am one of the only artists who has really emerged from that area. But there's definitely a music scene here. I have tried to open the doors in East Palo Alto by working with with various artists in the area.

!ProHoeZak? believes he will be successful as those who have heard his music say it's like nothing they've ever heard. "Yeah, my stuff is different. Very futuristic. It's like I got in a time machine and recorded the album in 3010. Where everybody wants to be !ProHoeZak?."
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