Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 01949 TPA TEXAS PUBLISHERS www.TheAustinVillager.com ASSOCIATION This paper can be recycled Vol. 45 No. 45 Phone: 512-476-0082 Email: [email protected] March 30, 2018 En Vogue and Johnny Gill INSIDE Headline 13th Annual Urban Music Fest During Texas Relays Weekend Kings, Celtics stand in solidarity for AUSTIN, TX - The Ur- RAPPIN’ Stephon Clark. ban Music Fest an- See SHIRTS Tommy Wyatt nounces its line-up of na- Page 2 tional artist who will be What’s performing during the fes- tival on Friday, March 30, happening at the 2018, and Saturday, School District? March 31, 2018 at the A few weeks ago we outdoor venue, Audito- rium Shores, 900 W. Riv- were very excited that an Mayoral candidate erside Dr. Austin, TX African American firm seeks to enhance had received a contract 78704. The Urban Music Austin’s quality of life. from The Austin Inde- Fest will include live mu- See MORRISON pendent School District as sic and DJ’s performing all Page 6 part of the multi-Billion festival long, with plenty Dollar bond program that of food purchasing was passed to work on the choices, and vendors to many problems with our make the weekend and countless of our other the gates at Auditorium Mason. who passed away school buildings and memorable. sponsors. It is becoming a Shores will open at tragically when a packaged facilities. It was reported According to Urban challenge to bring top 3:00PMwith the Friday bomb exploded at his home that the firm of Music Fest co-founder notch artists to Austin, Line-up Highlights to In- in Austin on 3/12/18. Donnie Little, “We are so however this festival is not clude: The Soul Tree Collec- Also on Friday, there Rapper apologizes McKissack & McKissack, for ignorant one of the most successful blessed to enter our 13th all about the artists, but tive (STC) named, “Vibing will be a smooth jazz per- year, but none of this it’s more about the Qual- Soul” this year, will be per- formance called, Texas comments on NRA TV Architect firms in the See WRATH would be possible with- ity of Life Initiative for East forming on both days, and Jazz Explosion with inter- country, had been chosen Page 7 as one of the firms to work out the support of the Austinites.” will dedicate a tribute to fel- national recording artist with the district. community, City of Austin, On Friday, March 30, low STC memberDraylen See JOHNNY GILL, pg 2 No Charges in But, as usual, the Alton Sterling’s district is playing games with the program. It SXSW MUSIC – VEVO HOUSE Fatal Shooting appears that McKissack By Associated Press was offered less than 1% BRINGS TOP TALENT TO AUSTIN of the projects that are approved for the first phase of the project. It appears that the AISD Board approved the companies, but left it up to the AISD staff to determine which groups would get the approved Louisiana’s attorney project for phase one. general ruled out criminal McKissack has been charges Tuesday against one of the most successful Tinashe opens for Common on Vevo two White Baton Rouge African American firms in Stage during SXSW Music Festival TINASHE police officers in the fatal the country for several in Austin, Texas. shooting of a Black man decades. Among their Photo by Jerri Starbuck/Naomi Richard. outside a convenience accomplishments, this store. firm served as project Attorney General Jeff manager for the Landry’s decision came renovation of Duke nearly 11 months after the Ellington School of the Justice Department ruled Arts in Washington DC. out federal criminal They are also providing charges in Alton Sterling’s program management By Naomi Richard | VILLAGER Columnist July 2016 death. services to the Texas AUSTIN, TX - On felt organic. “It was such a Landry made the an- Women’s University for a mance by August Greene, Also performing on March 4, 2018 the world real form of expression,” nouncement at a news new student union at the supergroup comprised the Vevo House showcase watched entertainers says Common, who’s conference after meeting Hubbard Hall on the of notable music stars were rapper Ludacris and Common and Andra Day earned three GRAMMYs, with family members of Denton Campus, just to Common, Robert Glasper Noah Cyrus. On March 11, perform their Oscar- an Oscar, a Golden Globe Sterling. name a couple of their and Karriem Riggins. Also Ludacris gave a special nominated song “Stand and an Emmy. “It felt natu- Veda Washington- projects. taking the stage was high- performance at the 508 Up for Something” (from ral. We all have an affinity Abusaleh, Sterling’s aunt, As we fight to save energy pop and R&B dar- Bar & Pelons Tex Mex in “Marshall”) during the for great music.” was in tears after meeting schools in our ling, Tinashe who kept the Austin. With a packed 90th Academy Awards. A As the trio created, with Landry. neighborhood, it appears crowd dancing during her crowd and lines stretching few days later, Common they began to notice “They said they that the district is trying to entire set. down the block, Ludacris arrived for Austin’s SXSW something different taking didn’t find anything,” she make sure that they are all In early 2016, musi- performed about 20 of his Music Festival as a key- shape—something rooted said. “They said it was jus- closed because they are no cians Common, Robert top hits including “Wel- note speaker and per- in the warm R&B sounds tifiable, what happened to longer safe to house our Glasper and Karriem come 2 Atlanta” and former. of yesteryear but still very Alton was justifiable.” students. The School Riggins found themselves “Money Maker.” The Vevo House set much in the present. It was Landry said his office Board needs to hear from in the studio, crafting the According to his biog- up residence during the soul music with a modern reviewed all of the evi- the community on this soulful backdrop of raphy, recording artist, ac- festival featuring incred- bounce, a jazz-rap hybrid dence compiled by the issue. And they must Common’s 11th album, tor and philanthropist, ible performances by in the spirit of A Tribe Justice Department, in- know in no uncertain the politically charged Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Common’s new group Called Quest. It fully en- cluding opinions issued by terms that we will do Black America Again. The first gained worldwide ac- known as “August capsulated the black expe- independent experts, and whatever it takes to insure three friends had known claim more than 10 years Greene.” This was the first rience and laid the founda- also conducted its own in- that our DBE companies each other since the late ago with his debut album, ever “live concert” perfor- tion for August Greene. get a fair shake. 1990s, so the camaraderie See VEVO, page 2 See TENSIONS, pg 7.