Hersh, Brooklyn Native R&B Artist Review

Celia Herrera
Cherre12@mscd.edu

R&B and hip-hop have fused over the last decade, breeding a new genre that has yet to be named or even acknowledged. Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans, 2Pac and Jon B., and more recently, Jay Z and R. Kelly sealed the deal between R&B and hip-hop. Nonetheless, this nameless genre exists, and Hersh has spent the past three years with the Unbelievable Music label trying to equally satisfy the cravings of neo-soul fans and hip- hop heads.

Originally from Brooklyn, Hersh's love for music started from the inside out, with his father singing in an R&B group. He grew up with musical influences from all sides-family, church, and friends-and during his high school years, Hersh went from loving music to making it.

Now at the ripe age of 25, Hersh, or to some, Blair Calaway, has finally seen the fruit of his labor come to life. Just this past August, Hersh performed live and took home the gold for Best Male R&B Artist at the 3rd Annual Underground Music Awards hosted by MTV's Amanda Diva. Although they knew about his nomination, the award came as a complete surprise to the whole crew. "I'm down in VIP sitting there and we're packing up getting ready to go. Then they announce Male R&B Artist of The Year and they said 'Hersh'." He approached the stage with what he referred to as "a real humble thank you."

Unbelievable Music took off in 2001 just as many small endeavors do. A few friends, a few tracks, and a few risky investments were the foundation for the label. UM has now turned into a golden opportunity for artists like Hersh. Hersh has worked with prominent industry artists like Queen Pen and major producers, making for an optimistic lead into the entertainment industry. From the ground up, the UM slogan "Making something out of nothing" holds true to the groundwork of hip-hop.

With an active tour schedule and a full-length album slated for release in March 2006, Hersh stays on the move. This year alone, Hersh has appeared in front of audiences from Queens to Cancun. Although he's familiar with the streets of New York City, Hersh didn't jump at the opportunity to be braggadocio with his street credibility. "I'm a positive guy and I like to have fun. Sometimes we forget to smile and have a good time. For the most part, I make feel-good music and I'm real creative. Creativity leaves you with no limits."

You won't find much in the way of novelties on Hersh's latest release, Watch My Moves, Vol. 1, but, believe it or not, one of Hersh's strengths has nothing to do with his voice at all. He has avidly played the acoustic guitar for several years and has crafted his own seductive sound. Hersh said playing the guitar helps with his song writing, and without live instrumentation music can "lose the authenticity." This talent will undoubtedly set Hersh apart from a sea of singing sensations.

While a treacherous climb up the entertainment ladder awaits Hersh and his Unbelievable Music family, He has creative direction on his side. "Creative control means a lot to me," Hersh said, "I write what I want to write." With an Underground Music Award under his belt, Hersh is ready to go wherever his creativity is willing to take him. "As long as you have creative control, people can see who you are. "For more information and free downloads on Hersh, visit www.unbelievablemusic.com.