The Ground Level Coffeehouse is located at 2636 W. Central Ave. Toledo, OH 43606

YASU has been enjoying “new” Motherhood. Her son is now 5 months and healthy! Though she has spent the last year with her family, she has still worked on a few projects…

Music

She is featured on “Afterlife” by D.C. MC Enoch 7th Prophet, produced by King Cee. It was the first single released from his 4th  album, Data Frequency (available online). Enoch is the host of Mental Salvation Radio which won Podcast of the Year **2008** respectively.  An independent artist, Enoch’s pod cast introduces its audience to Independent Artists from singers to authors to emcees. If you tune in, you will not only hear some of Indie music’s hottest rising artists, but you will have the opportunity to chat as you listen to the cast, call in, and also comment on the show. The topics range anywhere from how music affects children to relationship issues, and the business of independent music. Check out his Myspace page to see where you can hear him Live. To purchase his album please email enochtones@gmail.com. Check out the video below and feel this moving story.

Enoch 7th Prophet “AfterLife” feature Yasu & Lucille (Produced by King Cee) from Enoch 7th Prophet on Vimeo.

YASU has also collaborated with local MC Elevated Thinkin’, DJ Sid Deluxx,  and Producer Reed Russell to form the new group IndieSol Rey.

They have been recording since last summer and have a few songs in their catalogue. They introduced themselves in a live performance for SOUL-OH, a musical experience, showcasing Northwest Ohio’s Independent Soul Music artists, which YASU also hosts once a month @ The Ground Level CoffeeHouse. You can listen to “Perfect” written by MC Elevated Thinkin’, recorded locally. Mc Elevated Thinkin’ is the kind of emcee that speaks to the heart of any matter, whether it be social issues or the love of music. There isn’t an emcee who can illustrate a lyric as he, and you have to see him live to witness it for yourself.  The music of Producer Reed Russell is heard throughout the region and is contrived manually. He is a musician and demonstrates his skills from song to song. His data base is vast and he still creates new music daily! He is passionate about his work and is diligent in seeing things to its end. DJ Sid Deluxx has the respect of his listeners! Currently in Columbus, OH, he is spinning throughout this region! His timing is perfect! He captures his audience from the first sound that is projected from his hand! If DJing was a fine art, and it is, he would be displayed in a museum.  Also a producer, Sid has created some of the hottest tracks ET and YASU sing and rhyme to. Stay tuned to hear more from them.

Business

YASU also writes a column, The Solo Culture, for Reversed Ink Magazine. This online entity highlights The Hottest in Indie Recording Artists, Filmmakers, Authors and Models.

Let’s mention that since YASU has spent much of the last year on the home front, she has taken on the hobby of jewelry making. She is revamping her other website, but some of her first works can be seen and purchased here.

Last but not least, YASU is the resident host for Toledo’s SOUL-OH! A showcase for local independent artists, held once a month as a concert series. She has welcomed local gems, Leigh Ashley, Aye Dee, Darron Scott (all of UGE); Jesse Coleman Sr. (saxaphonist) Poets Naki Akrobettoe, and Melvin Douglas Johnson and IndieSol Rey.

An extension of SOUL-OH! is The Soul of Music Faith Edition which has showcased Toledo’s rising stars in the Gospel music Industry. Tymara Spears and Brotha Al of Project360 Records were recent features as well as Apphia and Heart Musik, MC/Poet Eternal Fiyah and Open Mic. The next Soul of Music Faith Edition will be Friday October 9th @ 8pm. Featured artists will be MC Kelsey Heard, Phillip Jay, Tiffanie Campbell, Monnie Soul, Poet Levarine, Pastor Bryann Rogers and Open Mic. You don’t want to miss this event!

This is all possible as YASU has taken on a role with  the events team for The Ground Level Coffee House co-owned by her husband Imani Lateef and Jesse Lipman. Lipman and Lateef are poets who have been featured throughout the region, Lipman making an impact in Hawaii and Chicago. Lateef has been host to local ciphers for over 10 years. The Ground Level serves locally roasted coffee, produce and pastries. Open Mic is on Mondays and Thursdays. The event room is available for meetings, reuinosn, Cd releases, theatre and more. Call for information 419.671.6272 or Visit them online www.groundleveltoledo.com.

UT Impact was in the house!!! Whoop whoop! Old fiends from school and church; and from growing up were all there. Family, friends and co laborers in the ministry all came out to support an awesome night in the Lord!

We laughed and joked, went old school and were all the way live!! Many thanks to the <3 Musik band. Cam, Gav, Keem and Dev!!!! Yall were HOTTTTT!!! Check them out on MYSPACE!!!!
GP and True Religion, Win So Cal, Project P Hood, Beatmaster

A devoted husband,father and business partner (project360studios) Brotha Al hyped it up with 2 Holy Hip Hop Joints, The Race (my fave, and On the Move (pardon if I got the title wrong). His CD, plow the dirt is available at www.cdbaby.com/brothaal.

Eternal Fiyah spit “His Eye is on the Sparrow” an original poem that reflected on what we take for granted that even the birds appreciate and give God praise for. He also held it down with an original track (Jesus on my heart) That’s a hot track! There was some finger snapping and toe tapping. E.F. tells the truth in a common sense way that people can understand. He is deep but not so far away that people can’t be reached. I like that.

Apphia and Heart Musik, Lord, her writing is amazing! Not only was the music a perfect blend of acoustic soul, and an occasional jazz chord (lol)), she still took us to church with her lyrics and the delivery of a message so powerful! Released is THE song, every time I fall in love with one of her songs, she comes with something new that inspires me all over again. She has a soul winning ministry and it is a true testament to who God is to her. The crowd was on their feet singing “…anoint my head with oil”…hands uplifted…Thanks Apphia <3

Tymara!!!!! She is a powerhouse with a message and a sound that commands attention! It will certainly destroy yolks, her voice is an authority! You must listen to the way she executes each lyric, you know they come from her heart and soul. She sang “Infatuated” and it was great! Everyone felt it as she sang about the way she feels toward God. She is working on an album and it is sure to top Gospel charts the moment it is released! You can download her single, “My Prayer” at www.cdbaby.com/tymara

We also had open mic and that was filled with surprises! Brittony came forth with an original tune, “Plan for Me”. Now her voice is like that of a hummingbird, sweet and airy. She has this Debra Killings meets Lisa McClendon sound…

Armonn followed up with a song that went into a “Yes” mode, and we worshipped! I like this guy He had a raspy voice that made each note sound like it was an instrument-a tenor sax. You can tell from the way he sang, that he was sincere and yes, the whole coffee house joined in to sing with him!

Andrea took us to a place of worship with her rendition of “I Love you Jesus”. We all joined in to share the worship experience. She has a nice full voice with those velvety tones that we love to hear with India Arie and nem Thanks, Andrea for sharing your gift with us and you looked lovely, too.

Clarence came and danced to “Yesterday”. While Coko was playing in the background, the peeps cleared the floor for him to dance. When he took his shoes off, they said “It’sserious when the shoes come off” LOL We had a few LOL moments ya know? But he ministered in his own unique way, that young man can dance!!! Everyone watched attentively as he went forth, and of course sang along. (How can you not) He was excellent.

Our last open mic performer was Bruce Kelley. He sang an original song called “As we go”. He reminds me of the crooner Aaron Neville who has a southern feel to his vocals. He is an honest singer/songwriter who conveys a message of encouragement as we walk with the Lord. I’ve known he and his wife Rachel for years now. They are a couple who honors the Lord in their marriage and with their lives. Thank you for coming to support and lend your gifts as well.

Yours truly sang a few tunes (Yall don’t hear me, Never Say Never and Made It Thru-you can iLike my music on FB:)) I was the host and DJ ( ima need some equipment-lol) and I want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting this event. It could not have happened without you. The only thing I forgot was my camera, but I saw video cams, tripods, cell phones and digitals, so if you have footage and pics, PLEASE post them and tag them or email them to me yasuembassy@gmail.com

So Toledo, you cannot say there isn’t a place for you to enjoy good coffee, good company and good music! Many thanks to Jesse Lipman and family and Imani Lateef who lent the space, and served the best in locally roasted coffee, fruit smoothies, and foods.

Visit www.groundleveltoledo.com for upcoming events, the coffee/smoothie/food menu and to print coupons.

Summer has gone, Autumn is here. Even this season seems to be breezing by with the dips in temperature as of late. Over the summer, I took time off to vacation with my family. At summer’s end we learned we are expecting a baby in the Spring! This is an exciting time for us.

In the coming months, I will not be doing shows, but may make appearances at special events, including the holidays. This week I will be at Friendship Baptist Church for their “Holy”ween Family Night. It is a time for the community to come together and have a safe, fun-filled night as an alternative to Trick or Treating. Friendship is located at 5301 Nebraska Ave. Toledo, OH 43615 and the festivities begin at 6:30pm. On November 14th, I will be at Crusaders for Christ 908 Woodville Rd. Toledo, OH 43605. This is a youth service, free and open to the public and begins at 8pm.

As you know, I write in different genres, but my main focus is on life situations. Recently, I began working on an idependent project with a few local artists, Elevated Thinkin’, ReediusMaximus and Sid Deluxx. Together we four are called Indie Sol Rey. The root of our collaboration is a combination of sounds, hip hop and neo soul; and lyrics that are relatable, realistic. New music may be released soon so stay tuned. If that weren’t enough, I am outlining a book that will be published in the near future.

The Yasu Embassy is the umbrella for all of my endeavors. YASU is a Japanese nickname, the actual name means Peace and Sound. And embassy is housed with ambassadors (people on missions). It provides a home for me to explore my ideas and passions and gives me a vehicle to share them with you. My mission is to write and sing about my life in as many ways I possibly can, and I am always endeavoring to live in peace with a sound mind.  The Yasu Embassy is the ink that illustrates this for me.

If you haven’t heard my album yet, you can hear samples here. As always, I am grateful for the support from near and far I have received this year. There is still a lot that can be done with the album, so I will continue promoting it. I have also been writing, lately the tunes have been leaning more to Worship Music, which is most dear to my heart. I also have written about more life situations, some of which will be recorded with Indie Sol Rey and some as a solo project. I am also accepting track submissions. Please e-mail me for further information: yasuembassy@gmail.com.

Finally, if you are in the Toledo, Ohio area and are looking for a recording studio or producers, check out Project360studios and OPM Music Werx. And if you love fine art and/or need an artist to custom design a logo or website, please visit Lateef In Stereo.

Photos from my Summer Shoot are courtesy of Brooks Photography. You can see them here.

Thank you stopping by The Yasu Embassy. Please check back for more updates!

Peace and Sound,

YASU

About 100 guests gathered Uptown at The Truth Art Gallery and Event Center to experience The Imitation of Life for the first time. Plenty of smiles, well wishers and music lovers greeted one another in celebration of a great accomplishment in the Toledo Community.DJ M.P.R.E.S.S, also representing Soulbeat, played the best in Neo Soul while Yusuf Lateef and UGE’s Adonis took photos. Imani “The Hype” Lateef hosted the event in his own unique way, giving accolades, moving the crowd and keeping them at the edge of their seats.Everyone waited patiently for the short live set as Yasu, singers Maurice Williams, Leonard Wilson and Chele Parker and musicians, J’Cole, Gavin Harvey, Akeem Coker and Jazmund Lyons handled the instruments.It was a great night for networking, supporting, showing love and experiencing Yasu’s debut album both on the turntable and in person.
In attendance were The Imitation of Life Producers, Mark Smaw, Jr., Chalie Numbas, Symonphoenix, J’Cole, Gavino, and Barry G. Yasu gave thanks for the gifts she received by meeting and working with these great producers, engineers, artists and writers. She looks forward to the next project already in progress.Video Production by Project360 Studios.

A ready crowd
Movers and Shakers

Eternal F.I.Y.A.H took the stage earlier that night

Humbly sharing the stage with local artists like Breeze, S.O.L, Brotha Al and Len Dow, Eternal Fiyah, and others, it was also a great honor was to be in the presence of Grammy Nominated Holy Hop Hop Recording Artist, Flame.

FLAME

Cross Movement Records has been a repeat supporter of The Jump Off, and the hundreds who filed into The University of Toledo’s Doermann Theatre, were well aware of the gift this man has. Emceed by Breeze and Pastor Calvin Sweeney, the red carpet was rolled out to a path that led to genuine hearts, celebrating Gods power and greatness.

The University of Toledo’s IMPACT and Toledo’s own Pinewood Tabernacle, together drew Holy Hip Hop Heads from Pittsburgh to Michigan to Missouri. Yasu was the 4th to take the stage with soulful renditions of Favor and Made it Through, from her upcoming Debut, The Imitation of Life.

Yasu

Cell phone faces illuminated the theatre as she sang about umerited Favor, the kind of blessings that come, just because, then she kicked it up with a joyful anthem, Made it through, both produced by JCole of Project360 Studios. Holding down the pre-show music and interludes was Toledo’s Best, Mark Smaw Jr. and Kiel “Styx” Newsom, together they kept the flow of things that also kept the crowd hype. “Su” loved being able to hear other local greats, like Eternal F.I.Y.A.H who came with a scroll! He spit poetry with conviction, and the crowd felt him. But the sweetness of Spirit was felt when the inaugural gift, Carlos took the stage with a combination of rap, spoken word, exhortation and strums from his acoustic guitar. From Pennsylvania, a youth group rocked the stage with a reggae beat then the vibrant young ladies from Pinewood Tabernacle danced to a Kirk Franklin joint, and everybody was feeling that!

In case you missed The Jump Off 2008, check the website to order the DVD from the event. The footage will prove what an awesome we had at UT.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one night, Yasu mosied downtown to a quaint spot that was home to A New Cultural Art Gallery. Sponsored by The Sojourner’s Truth, the event was held from 6-11pm, and served as a gathering place for local artists and artist lovers. Located on Adams Street, The Truth’s headquarters and gallery is home to numerous creative gems, from sketches to paintings to sculptures to instruments, there was art for every eye to view and buy. Yasu had her 5 minutes of fame to celebrate the event and the opening of a venue that will be a long standing pillar in the downtown community. Because it celebrates the arts and promotes local talent, Yasu was happy to support; singing a sweet lullabye called Heartbeat, also on the album, she captivated the audience whom she stood among to bless with her light and airy tones. Host, “Mr. Woodberry”, when introducing her, told the audience “The name of the song is called ‘Heartbeat’, hopefully everyone in here has one!” With giggles and chuckles, they listened in wonder to this undiscovered talent, and admired art, from right in their own back yard.

With only moments left until her debut, Yasu, is still working hard to make certain listeners abroad can hear the message behind her music. Tune in!