DX News Bits: Jasiri X, K'wan, Import/Export at CMJ

– Jasiri X, a fixture of the Pittsburgh Hip Hop scene, has signed with Canada’s just established Wandering Worx Music label. The Steel Town emcee has a single, That Funk, all ready to go and will reveal it this Friday, October 15^th, on his Bandcamp page. 2011 will see the release of Jasiri’s first full length for the Vancouver based label, Ascension. Previously, Jasiri X’s independent work has been highly decorated in his home city where he’s won multiple Pittsburgh Hip Hop awards. Rodney Davidson, co-founder of Wandering Worx Music, had this to say about his recent signing, “Jasiri X has raw talent and his thought provoking lyrics are a refreshing change from the usual boasting about cars and money that permeates some of the popular hip hop out there today.”

– K’wan, author of thirteen books including “Street Dreams, “Gangsta”, and “Road Dawgz”, is set to release his newest work, “Welfare’s Wifey,” through publisher St. Martin’s Press/Griffin. Subtitled “A Hood Rat Novel” the book tells the story of the drama fraught lives of reoccurring K’wan characters such as Gucci, Animal, and Don B as they navigate their way through the streets of New York. K’wan is giving away a free, autographed copy of “Welfare Wifey’s” to the first 100 people to send their email address details to blackdawnbooks@yahoo.com.

– Promoters Digiwaxx, The Bloom Effect, and artist Miz Metro are set to put on the Import/Export showcase at this year’s CMJ Festival in New York City. Import/Export will be the only show at the festival to feature Hip Hop from across the globe. Bloom Effect CEO Fiona Bloom explains why the organizers’ motivation, “CMJ is a perfect place for a global Hip Hop event like this… I’m still baffled that we’re the only showcase of its kind [at this year’s CMJ.]” Import/Export will be hosted by Canadian up and comer Eternia and is scheduled to be held October 21^st at 92YTribeca and features a lineup that includes Emmanuel Jal of the Sudan, LidoLido from Norway, Sagol 59 from Isreal and others. M    ore show details can be found here.