Oh this is so great! We are finally in the studio working on our first release! This is so exciting! We have been waiting for this moment for a long time and it's HERE. We are going to have a lot of surprises on this disc as well as some familiar faves. Stay tuned for updates and studio pix as we go thru the process!

coming soon....

The Mass Industry Committee nominated R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop act Velvet Stylus as a contender for the Best Live Group Category at the First Annual M.I.C. Hip-Hop Awards. Velvet Stylus is the only nominee in the category who are not fronted by an M.C., though the group backs rappers on a regular basis. The event takes place on 6/17/06 at the Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkeley Street Boston, MA at prompty 6:17PM! Voting takes place until June 10th, 2006 at Massive Records 1105 Mass. Ave in Cambridge, MA and at Shockwave, 5 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA. You may also VOTE ONLINE by registering as a user on the M.I.C. forums. For registration and voting links please visit http://velvetstylus.tripod.com For all other M.I.C. information please visit http://www.massindustrycommittee.com ###

Project: Think Different will present a live version of it's EmPOWERment: the power to break you free Compilation CD at Harpers Ferry! Sunday May 14, 2006 Doors at 7PM Harpers Ferry 156 Brighton Avenue Allston 18+ $5 Scheduled to perform are Velvet Stylus, Lyrical, MC Exposition, Lauren Flaherty, Melissa Li, Sad Marvin, Heist, Shuman, Sofia Snow, Media Fiend, Iyeoka, and The Foundation Movement. Music that is empowering for social change, and friendly for all audiences, this will be a lovely cap for Mother's Day! Hope to see you there! Darcie, James, Tony, and Jay

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Hip-Hop Anonymous last night - we had a blast playing for AfroDZak (a real good sport after surgery and ALWAYS on point!!) and One Love (they've really got it TOGETHER - niiiiiiice!) plus backing Brent from Melodesiac ( he can SANNNNNG!), AfroD, Metaphorick (you KNOW you got skillz for dayz), and Lucky Dice on the cipher. (Dice, hope you had a good time, man - it was on the fly and people in the house were like "wow that cat's really GOOD!") Darcie really appreciated the cake and card from the M.I.C Fam - NICE! We regretted we could not serve it up - we didn't think to bring plates and forks... :( BUT the cake is beautiful and she really was so honored! Stay tuned for more updates on Hip-Hop Anonymous at http://www.myspace.com/hiphopanonymous Thanks for making March 21 a Night to Remember

Our very good friend, Boston Hip-Hop artist DL, released his newest album entitled THE SUPPRESSION. The CD comes with a bonus DVD featuring some "home movies" of DL and some of Boston's finest MCs in casual and performance settings. DL was kind enough to feature the WHOLE performance that we did with him at the Middle East when he opened for Royce da 5'9 and Devin the Dude. Working with DL means a lot to us and we thank him for including us in his shows and on the DVD SO GO GET IT! http://www.daniellaurent.com/finallyhere.cfm And watch for DL on March 25, 2006 at the Middle East Downstairs as he opens for Sony artist JOE BUDDEN and Boston's own DRE ROBINSON who recently penned a major-label distribution deal. For prices and directions please visit http://www.mideastclub.com

We are really grateful to DL for having Velvet Stylus as his special and indeed surprise guests on 11/3 as he opened for national Hip-Hop acts Royce da 5'9 and Devin the Dude. The Stylus backed him on his hit Contagious and a portion of his follow up Point of No Return. The show was hosted by DJ On and On of 97.1FM and Hot 97.7's Peter Parker. To a crowd of 350+ pleased fans, DL brought it home. After the set, On and On kept Darcie on deck. After calling her "the Mary J. Blige of Somerville" he asked her to sing an a capella hype up for Royce - also well received. Here's some of the feedback we got - DL, we thank you. "Since DL and Darcie killed the song "Contagious" at the Middle East last week, that's been one of my words. Hun, honestly that was crazy... everybody was asking who you were, and I was like THAT's A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE! and DL too... I'm feeling the way D played on the crowd, also the diversity and creativity of his music and stage performace is something cats to take notes from. I Salute you both and good ish to the band as well..." - Danejaruss Material "...Whoever missed DL's set last night missed the Self Made/Commonwealth socrates at his best...he opened up with "Headlinez" feat yours truly and Lord Linz...we literally RAN from our parking spot. through the doors and onto the stage just as the song began!!! I luv this job. The highlight of the performance had to be "Contagious" performed w/ the live band, and the Middle East fukn EXPLODED when the band dropped Led Zepplin and DL spit 48 bars of fury through the heavy guitar riffs...classic shit!!!" - Tek.MP from Cekret Society "That was definitely my highlight of the night.Too bad more people didn't see it... One thing that I need to add is how dope Darcie was doing the hook to Contagious. I had heard she sings...but i didn't know the extent of it..." - Jaytee "DL's set = fiiiiiiire!!!! Darcie gave us goosebumps with that devine voice. Shit's contagious!" - Crazy Nice "Boston MVP award goes to DL. Beastmode son!!!. He had me totally confused and what he was doing and he came out and KILLED IT!! For those who missed it, Im sorry." - Edu Leedz (the person who put the show on) MENTION (not by name) in the Boston Herald Hub's hip-hop favorites mix it up at Middle East By Chris Faraone Saturday, November 5, 2005 "Even before headliners Devin the Dude and Royce da 5'9 entered the building, hip-hop fans got their money's worth Thursday at the Middle East. The show was a historic showdown in Hub hip-hop, with sharp local artists welcoming visiting A-list rappers. ... Opening act DL brought a live band to back his rhymes. Keyboard, drum and bass trio backing is new for the Roxbury MC, but the crowd caught on when his single "Contagious" struck the same chord it does on record..."

This is a a most devastating event. Our keyboardist James is from Biloxi, MS and by God's grace, his family was spared. His sister lost her house, sadly, but his dad's house is intact. BUT there is so much relief that is needed. People and businesses are so deeply impacted. PLEASE HELP at http://www.redcross.org The repair and reconstruction and the restoration of the lives of these people will take so much. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP! We personally thank you. Best, Darcie

Hey everyone! Welcome to our BLOG! We are FINALLY in the recording studio - thanks to TONY! We laid down some trax on Sunday and are really looking forward to recording an album for sale - won't that be NICE? Stay tuned for the latest details in future posts...