17 DEGREES AIN'T NOTHING!

It's been a while right? But with good reason!! Well Carlton Mackey as you all know has been working on some big things alongside Extraordinary Artist Dane Jefferson. Dane created this dope poster for the film by the way! Carlton and Dane both worked on a documentary about homelessness and asked me to do a song for the soundtrack. With out seeing the film (only having a conversation with Carlton) I created the title track for the Film "17 Degrees Ain't Nothing". (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN) With the help and Production of Christopher Rhodes Jr, I was able to create this song. I am so excited and Grateful to be blessed to participate in such a great cause!!!

Soooooooooo the film was premiered on May 27th, 2010 at the Plaza Theater. It was the WonderRoot's Generally Local, Most independent Film makers night. I was so excited!!!! The night was warm with just a tad of Breeze. My dad was there, my girl was there, Christopher Rhodes Jr., Dane Jefferson, we were just missing Carlton who along with his wife were off on business. We held it down for them though!!!!!!!! LOL. The night was great; the people was great and the other films were awesome!!!! Some funny,some creative, and some was artistic.

But when our Film came on the whole mood changed. The theater got very quite. Real life hit us in the face. And I had goosebumps and chills when I heard my voice. You could feel the others people energy in the room like what everyone was thinking in the room. It added substance to the list of films being showed. I heard my words from my song and was sweating bullets. It was beautiful to see the individuals from the video speak upon what they were going through. It put life in perspective!!!! I am proud of Carlton Mackey and Dane Jefferson for doing something that others in the world fail to do.......... CARING!!!! I am so grateful to be involved in such a project. Thank you guys!!!! Really I am Speechless.......... But here goes!!!! Stay tuned!!!!

New DRAKE SO FAR GONE RETAKES (EP)

Well everyone I told you guys that I had somethings brewing up...and finally here it is.
The Drake So Far Gone Retakes!!!!!

What started out as one song I just wanted to rap on has evolved into this whole body of work.

Shout out to Drake and the whole October's Very Own Crew, Carlton Mackey (You know We Major), and my new good friend Elle Aye. Their Music, Photography, and Friendship has been truly inspiring to me.
Click to get a FREE DOWNLOAD!!!!!
or listen and download below

Enjoy!!!
Stay Tuned
...ay, yo Drake....get at me!

Download the entire album and get bonus track featuring Alicia Keys!

WON'T SLEEP OR SHAVE TIL I SEE BETTER DAYS!

As you can see it's been a minute since my last post. This is only because I have really been working on a lot of music. I can't let the cat out the bag but God has truly been good to me. I have been introduced to new people and have been making a LOT of music. As you can also see I haven't shaved for awhile. LOL! I have really been focused.

I am still Chasing My Dreams in a major way. Thank you for all your patience and I will have something special for the whole world to hear very soon. Enjoy the Photos. You already know who took them!

STAY TUNED!

Shout Out to Wonderroot Community Arts Center

TODAY IS THE DAY

The wait is over. Today is the Day I drop the Chasing Dreams EP.

I started this process with just trying to get in touch with Carlton Mackey, take a few pictures, and hook up my myspace page. That's it. My mind was very limited at the time. I had one song at the time, Pavement Dreams. I didn't even know this world of bloggers even existed.
In four months, though my life has really changed for the best. It has all happened really fast, and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon.

I went from one song, to making a video, to opening up for a True and Real Hip Hop group(Shout out to Collective Efforts), to blogging, to meeting special people like you all -people who have not only inspired me to chase my dreams but helped me believe in my self.

My Confidence was not and my music was not on this level four months ago. Thank you so much for believing, listening, and following me as WE Chase our Dreams TOGETHER.

Today I'm not just dropping any old album. This is my life. These are my feelings -my thoughts. I cried making this album; I prayed writing these lyrics. I feel like through the process of making this album, I found myself...who I really am. I believe it will reflect, and you will hear it in my music.

I'm So Grateful. I like to thank all of my blog followers and ones who came to my blog and made comments. To Carlton Mackey who has believed in me since day one and took time out to do every thing he has done. I thank God for him because without him I would probably still be struggling as a artist rhyming about designer jeans and Air Jordans. LOL. So thank you my Brother. I want to thank God for blessing me with this gift of translating my feelings, my life, my dreams into words people can appreciate. And keeping me alive and sane to see this day. Everything happens for a reason.

I am Joshua Watkins. I am Chasing My Dreams. I Make Music To Help You Chase Yours.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD JOSHUA - CHASING DREAMS EP

New Music - CHASING DREAMS - The Title Track

It feels great to get a chance to speak on My title track "CHASING DREAMS" for the CHASING DREAMS EP that I am cooking up. It will be coming out real soon!!!

For those who were tuned into WMRE with host DJ BLK Orpheus, the album was slated to come out this month. It's, unfortunately, been pushed back to a later date. I will keep every one informed when it is coming out. I apologize for that.

I am really excited to share this track though. First I put my heart into this track. I do all of them, but this one is special because I produced the track, wrote the lyrics, mixed and mastered, and arranged everything. It's not a Kanye West Beat or Timberland, but this song is the epitome of what I mean when I say Chasing Dreams. If by any crazy chance you have any problems listening to the track in the player at the top left of this page, you can download CHASING DREAMS right here. Enjoy!!!

WMRE - Frequency Presents Nu Class of Soul 2009

As I said in the last post, I had a great time hanging out at WMRE earlier this month. Omotola aka DJ BLK Orpheus was a great host and I appreciate the opportunity to get some air play.

The station just released its latest issue of FREQUENCY, its Music and Culture Magazine. It's a great issue. Download it FREE here.

This issue includes a section called NU CLASS of Soul 2009. Included in it are several great artist...The incomparable Janelle Monae and the Golden Girl Brittany Bosco of THE BIG UP.

If you don't know about these artist, be sure to check them out.
...and look for me in the next issue!