On May 18th, San Antonio's own 106.7 Jamz hosted what I would call the biggest Freestyle event the south has seen in years, The Pepsi SI Summer Jam 2002!!! The artist line up included some of Freestyle's premier acts including the new artists that are keeping this music alive!!!

With the prescence of the Freestyle Kings like Johnny O, Stevie B, & TKA, there was no doubt that this show was going to be off the hook!! Ashley of Flipzide Records, Alex of Latin Nation, Lil Suzy, Jeannie, Stigma, Gerardo, MSM, Cyrstal Waters, & Amber also performed and represented Freestyle to its fullest.

As I got there, the Freeman Coleseum, where they were all scheduled to perform, was amazingly a pretty huge place. Unfortunately, the doors, which were scheduled to open up at 3pm, didn't open up until 3:45pm and forced TKA to cut short their performance. TKA was scheduled to perform first because they had to catch a flight leaving for Chicago at 6pm to perform at the Chromium NightClub in Chicago.

The special effects and grand entrance that all of the artists made were spectacular. After a few technical diffuculties, TKA came out singing all of their greatest hits and ended their show with the classic Freestyle anthem, "Maria." Bein that it was my first time seeing the guys perform, it was a great performance; however, I was a little disappointed that they did not sing any of their new songs from their current album, "TKA FOREVER," on TommyBoy Records. I had a chance to talk to the guys backstage, and Tony expressed that they were excited in being there and that TKA is still here making the music!!! Big Ups to the guys and if you haven't checked out the exclusive interview that Freestylemania did on TKA....Check it out, TKA Interview.

After TKA left the stage, several of the personalities on 106.7 Jamz kept us entertained with stage gimics and free t-shirts. Jeannie was the next freestyle artist to take the stage and let me tell you, I was impressed. She began her performance with the classic freestyle beat with some hellified dancers who mixed in breakdance with some new flava. Jeannie is from San Antonio and you can reach her at: JeanniePrado@Hotmail.com . For Booking, please contact Margie or Richard Prado at (210) 656-4472. Any if you wish to send her fan mail, you can address it to Big M Productions P.O. Box 18656 San Antonio, TX 78218. I also had a chance to speak with Jeannie backstage and she is a very sweet talented artist and wish her the very best!!

Then my boy, Alex of Latin Nation, came onto to the stage and kept it true with some Estilo Libre (freestyle). He sang 3 songs and one from his new album!!! The crowd was realy feeling his song, "Nunca," and showed San Antonio how the new school is putting it down. Also, I spoke with Alex backstage and wants to inform all of you that he will now be the opening act for the upcoming Johnny O tour! So, keep an eye out for that and pick up a copy of his soon to be released album!!! You can reach alex at: LatinNation4da@hotmail.com.

My girl, Ashley from Flipzide Records, came onto the stage with her classic, "Quit All Of Those Games," and had all the ladies chanting to that song!!! Now, if you want to hear some really good freestyle, you guys got to check out her new single on Flipzide's new compiliation, "Moving On." This track is very powerful and beautifully produced by Nathan Lee of Flipzide. I was really impressed and know this song will tear up the charts!!! It was a pleasure meeting Ashley that day and wish here the very best!!!

By this time, the crowd was really into the music and had some more entertainment from Jeannie's dancers who got the crowd and especially the ladies going with their hot and seductive moves. However, I was disappointed in the two acts who performed: MSM (The New Miami Sound Machine) and the Funky Green Dogs. I can appreciate what Emilio Estefan was trying to do in re-inventing his old group, the Miami Sound Machine, with a more teenage appeal with 3 beautiful girls. However, I feel that he has missed the train on this one considering the girls lack coordination and vocal talent. It is to my understanding that they are doing well on the charts, but, in my opinion, does not justify true talent...look at Britney Spears!!! Now, The Funky Green Dogs.....what can I say!! The producer who arranged the beats and melodies did a great job!! However, the crowd was not appeased by that considering that the she kept on repeating the same verse for like over 5 minutes. I really felt bad when she asked the crowd if she could do another song, and the crowd answered with a big NO!!!!!!!!! I know she must of felt uncomfortable and more so proved this by replying, "You Guys Are A Trip!!" However, I must commend that she recovered nicely and stood with pride and sand her lungs out on the last song and got her respect back by the crowd giving her a big clap for her performance.

Now, the next group to perform was a local one from San Antonio called, STIGMA....let me tell you...these guys tore the house down!!!!!!!!! They had that Miami DJ LAZ sound with lead vocalist sounding all most like MIKE D from the Beastie Boys!! Their dancers including the 2 guys from Stigma had the entire crowd on their feet with their hot track, "Strawberry Jam." Big Ups to these guys and know you will be hearing from the soon!!!!!

Then the infamous Gerardo came onto the stage with some new songs from his new album on Thump Records. I have to admit that I was not to anxious to see him perform but he gave me a shock. His new song was actually good and had a really good beat. For all of you ladies out there, "YES,"...... he did peform without his shirt and had to show the San Antonio ladies that this 30 something still has the body from way back when!!! He ended his performance with his classic, "Rico Suave.".....awww shucks ..I was actually waiting to hear, "We Want The Funk!!" (LOL)...I can't lie..I use to jam to his music way back when.

Then the original Pimp, my man...DJ LAZ...took onto the stage and like always showed the crowd how its really done!! Laz is Miami's king of dirty south booty dance and after seeing his show...there is no stopping him. He did all of his classics and that night proclaimed himself, "The Pimp with the Limp." His dancers were really good and my wife couldn't keep her eyes off of them especially when the poured water all of over themselves!!

Throughout the concert, I was going in and out of the backstage area interviewing and meeting various artist and industry personnel. I had the pleasure to meet an upcoming artist by name of Ayna on ELI Records...Freestylemania will soon follow up on her!! I also met some of the peeps from Freestylemusic.com who were there covering the event as well!! I talked to Johnny O before his performace and noticed this unique energy that flowed through him. It was there that he informed that Cynthia, who was scheduled to perform, was a no show because of flight schedules. Also, Rockell was a no show as well and am not to sure what that came about!!!

The time had come for what the entire crowd was waiting for and that was the performance of Johnny O. The moment he stepped on stage...the crowd jumped off of their seats and gave him the loudest shout and respect I have ever seen. His energy was seen through his fans. He began with one of the new tracks off of his new album, "Sounds Of My Heart," called, "Settle Down." He then stopped and thanked everyone and gave a huge shout out to Freestylemania...(thanks johnny!!)... and began to accapella all of his classics. He tore the house done and gave his fans an unforgettable experience. Johnny had moved liked I never seen anyone move before....he is a dancing machine!! Let me tell you how quick he moves..."so quick that when he turned his head...the very sweat from his face stood still in mid-air,"...you are fast johnny..lol!!!! He finished his set with his classic, "Fantasy Girl." Johnny's new single, "Diana," is out and can be purchasd on ZYX Records or can log on Tower Records and pre-order the album or single.

Since Cynthia and Rockell were a no show, they gave the spot to Ayna of ELI Records to perform her single and she really rocked the house!! Then, a few more stalls from 1067.7 came about such as giving away free t-shirts and prizes. It was about 10pm until Stevie B came on. I had the chance to speak with Stevie backstage but was unable to interview him because his dancers never showed up. He was basically running up and down trying to round-up some of Johnny's and Stigma's dancers to perform with him. He ended up having 7 dancers on stage. I was impressed on stevie's look. The last time I saw him was about a year ago and he looked a little tired. The Stevie I say at the concert was fit and nicely built from what I could see and even my wife was surprised (Way To Go Stevie). Dressed in black slacks with a body shirt, he began taking the crownd back to 1986-1990 with all of his classics. I enjoyed his performance especially when he invited over 20 ladies to join him on stage as a finale to his performance.

As I was looking for Stevie backstage, I happen to see Lil Suzy or as she likes to be called now, Suzanne Casales, standing beautifully by the backstage steps. Of course, me being a huge fan and have really never spoken to her..only by email...i was alittle nervous. Also, lets also not forget the I think she is outright gorgeous and suddenly I began to experience the feeling of a highschool kid asking your dream girl to a date. Anyway, I approach her an introduced myself and found her to be very sweet and nice. I even got a picture with her...not bad for someone who studdered the whole time I talked to her..LOL!!!!! Needless to say, I did not find Stevie and learned that he high-tailed out of there!!! Oh well, maybe next time!!!

Lil Suzy took that stage and sang 3 of her classics: Promise me, Now & Forever, and of course, Take Me In Your Arms. I tell you...I don't know how she does it...but she manages to still dance with her high heels....ahhh...what a woman!!!

By now, it was almost 11pm and two more acts were left: Crystal Waters and Amber. To be honest, I have not much to say about these two talented divas. I am a big fan of their music but by this time just was almost exhausted of standing up and walking around, shaking hands....blah blah blah!!! So, I just chilled. Soon into the Amber performance, me and my crew left the concert in hopes of attending the after party at Joe's Volcano!! Unfortunately, we did not make it in time because for one thing.....eveything in Texas closes at 2am...ok..i am use to New Orleans...were our city's clubs close whenever you want..so, by the time we were heading on our way to the club..it was almost 1am. Secondly, we could not find the club....all I knew that it was on INGRAM STREET......and the Ingram Street we found was a lonely dark road...So, we got lost and didn't get back to our hotel until 3am. So, we took on last pic of all of us..drank a few more beers and called it a night considering wer were leaving in about 4 hours back to New Orleans...and that folks was the Pepsi Si Summer Jam Experience!!

- Luis (FM Media 2002) -