The 2nd Annual Day After Christmas Show

Madison!

Your support and love has truly been a blessing and as we continue to expand our live show globally please do know that words can never justify our appreciation...So instead of talking, we work. We practice. We write. We spin. We produce. We direct. We execute.

This show consist of the usual suspects: DJ ...Vinnie Toma on the 1's and 2's, Legendary Jackson displaying what made their hit song "Swagger like Barack Obama" part of the Onion's A.V. Club gift package to our leader (EFFING AMAZING!) and Special Op's, who captures our musical journey cinematically - stretching the realms of the common live show experience. These fellas collectively also make up the Dirty Disco Kidz.

THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SHOW IN MADISON BEFORE TOURING ABROAD.

In the words of Katjusa Cisar of The Capital Times:

" The only performer who walked away from the entire show absolutely shining was the first opener, F. Stokes, a Madison- and Chicago-bred rapper now based out of New York. He and his DJ Vinnie Toma owned the stage for a full 45 minutes -- no flab, no hangers-on. Stokes' style is sincere but impish, and intensely personal without closing in on itself. If more rappers took his lead with their live shows, maybe more people would come out to hip-hop shows."

Friday, December 4th, the Annex, nuff said.

Madison, we love you more.

Stokes

AV Club "On Repeat" : F. Stokes' Death Of A Handsome Bride: "Trapped inside these raggedy-ass tattoos"

On this year's Death Of A Handsome Bride, rapper F. Stokes--collaborating with producer Lazerbeak of Minneapolis' Doomtree crew--carries on the refreshing blend of street reporting and raw intellect that propelled artists like Gang Starr and Nas to stardom in the early '90s. The short album's nine tracks bounce from cautionary memoirs of coke abuse and poverty in Chicago to criticisms of hip-hop culture and destructive relationships. However, it's also tinged with the perspective that comes with overcoming a rough past and putting together a better life. That's a timely vibe for Stokes, who recently put out both Death and its remix companion F.I.L.M. (or Forever I Love Madison, featuring production from Madison DJ crew Dirty Disco Kidz), and returns yet again to his onetime hometown to open for Ghostface Killah at the Barrymore Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

On Death’s closing cut, “Too,” Stokes hits the listener a cappella with a sharp blast of poetic imagery, gathering momentum with lyrics like, “Run through plush hotels and leave with the condiments / You know, soaps and shampoos / Trapped inside these raggedy-ass tattoos / Too skinny, too fat, too black, but ain’t black enough for the black dudes.” He clicks best with Lazerbeak on the album's finest jam, "Jeremiah," spitting out couplets about the hopelessness of impoverished street life over wobbling synthesizer, warped piano, and vintage soul samples. “Fresh out the womb we got penitentiary memberships / But we just shy babies trapped in our mama’s belly / Watchin’ the world through the windows of they navels,” Stokes pleads as Lazerbeak’s witty production thumps underneath.

Over the brilliant horn-driven sampling of “Hang On,” Stokes channels Jay-Z in his prime: “Who’d ever thunk it? The kid who sold crack for dope kicks would get his opportunity and punch it through the ceiling.” But he's not keeping too tight a chokehold on the King Of Hip-Hop, considering how intensely "Sparse Parts" vents his annoyance with the hip-hop world’s obsession with superficial street cred. “If I listen to Rick Ross and Murs, can I still speak on how my dawg was left on the curb? / Or would the underground write me off as a typecast?” Stokes asks, before fuming out an answer: “Fuck y’all, I don’t gotta sell my soul for one listen.”

Stokes also knows how to hit from left field, for good and for ill. Some of the lyrics can be brutally discomforting in their realism--"So Into You" reflects on “Babies born preemies out of rotten cunts/ Spoiled milk in they bottles/ as uncles finger-fuck they nieces while they drunk.” On the other hand, Stokes launches into the first verse of "Soul Clap" with the line “I be fresh as breast milk from Oprah," which is either embarrassing and absurd or just really fucking funny. Though the tracks on Death and F.I.LM. jump all over the place in a pretty short time, Stokes’ sincere and self-conscious lyrical flow keeps him high in the ranks of Wisconsin-connected rappers. Here’s hoping he can charm a potentially tough crowd of Ghostface Killah fans at the Barrymore next Tuesday.

by Joel Shanahan for AV Club. Article Here


Tickets for Ghostface Killah w/ F. Stokes HERE

Download FILM (FOREVER I LOVE MADISON) for free here

Listen to Death Of A Handsome Bride in its entirety here

F. Stokes In The Press

Midwest Broadcast

http://midwestbroadcast.blogspot.com/2009/09/f-stokes-dirty-disco-kidz-film-death-of.html

http://midwestbroadcast.blogspot.com/2009/05/f-stokes-lazerbeak-death-of-handsome.html

"It’s clear from the EP’s opening song that F. Stokes is unabashedly honest in his songwriting."

"Nonetheless, Death of a Handsome Bride is a testament to the determined, “do it yourself” mentality in underground hip-hop. F. Stokes deserves praise for his introspective and forthright, yet still evocative lyricism, and Lazerbeak once again validated himself as the one of the best producers in hip-hop that no one knows about. Death of a Handsome Bride shows that listenable, thought-provoking hip-hop is out there, it just might take a little extra work to discover."

Flawless Hustle

http://www.flawlesshustle.com/music/f-stokes-dirty-disco-kidz-present-forever-i-love-madison-f-i-l-m-free-download/

"Don’t be confused y’all, this project is real serious."

OG Hip Hop

http://oghiphop.com/2009/09/artist-spotlight-f-stokes/

"I saw this dude live in the Lower East Side and the man can build up a crowd and tear a stage down. I would highly recommend giving a few of his tracks some spins."

MUCH LOVE to Midwest Broadcast, Flawless Hustle and OG Hip Hop

Download F.I.L.M. for FREE and hear for yourself.
FILM=FOREVER I LOVE MADISON

Checkout the official F.Stokes YouTube channel where you can watch music videos, live performances AND hear the Death Of A Handsome Bride EP in its entirety.
F. Stokes Official YouTube

Moments from FILM

F. Stokes with Ghostface Killah at Barrymore Theatre in Madison

F.Stokes & Dirty Disco Kidz Present F.I.L.M.

With great honor we present to you.. F.I.L.M.

Click Here To Download F.I.L.M.


Track Listing:

1. F.I.L.M. Intro (Produced by Mr Physix)
2. Sparse Parts Remix (Produced by Mr Physix)
3. Soul Clap Remix (Produced by Mr Physix & Vinnie Toma)
4. Pretty Shit Remix (Produced by Dahnamics & Mr Physix)
5. Hang On Remix (Produced by Mr Physix)
6. So Into You Remix (Produced by Dahnamics & Mr Physix)
7. Blessings Remix (Produced by Mr Physix, Dahnamics, Vinnie Toma & Special Ops)
8. Jeremiah Remix (Produced by Mr Physix)
9. Go (Produced by Dahnamics)

Bonus Track:

Tickle me vs. Cossa Frenzy (Mr Physix Mash up & Re edit)


All Scratches by: Mr. Vinnie Toma

Mixed & Mastered by: Chris Miedaner


Myspace.com/fstokesmusic

Dirtydiscokidz.blogspot.com

Myspace.com/dirtydiscokidz

F.I.L.M. = Forever I Love Madison

F.I.L.M.= FOREVER I LOVE MADISON

Madison,

This pass year has been incredible. The support we've received from this small town that sits on a isthmus has not only eclipse my initial expectations, but rejuvenated the city's hope and belief in a legitimate hip hop artist. We are yours to claim. F.Stokes to Madison is what Murs is to LA. What Brother Ali is to Minneapolis. What Common is to Chicago. Madison, I'm yours.

About once a month the good folks at the Doomtree compound in Minneapolis send me a nice check to account for cd's sold etc. A shit load of these albums are being sent to Wisconsin, so to thank you guys I've teamed with the Dirty Disco Kidz (Mr Physix, Dahnamics, Vinnie Toma and Special Ops) to produce F.I.L.M., a remix of my EP Death Of A Handsome Bride. This remix was made specifically to show my appreciation and gratitude for Madison and its free. Its a gift. Enjoy.

Vinnie Toma is the fucking truth. Number one DJ in Madison (soon to be the world...Denmark in a few months baby!) Vinnie is the motor that keeps the F.Stokes show going. Period.

Dirty Disco Kidz (Mr. Physix, Vinnie Toma, Dahnamics, Special Ops) Will Make your ears bleed (in a good way) and has been described as Electro/ Hip Hop and there children. These guys are guaranteed to throw down a progressive set with benefits.

Also performing at this show is Legendary Jackson, these cats are a phenomenal live act who combine superb production with sick flows. Serious.

And Rambunxious, my brethren from another. In just a matter of months Ram has turned Madison upside down with mic prowess and golden stage presence. So proud of you my dude.

F.I.L.M. will be available at the show ONLY so get there early as supplies will not last. Don't front, all you late comers will still be able to download this puppy for free the night of the show, and knowing my giving spirit, I will probably have a few more tucked away for even the late.

THE ANNEX! THURSDAY OCTOBER 1ST!

Peace sign high,
F.Stokes and Vinnie Toma