Local hip-hop producer DJ Pain 1 is Madison music's breakout story of 2008. He landed a track on the new album of Atlanta's multi-platinum rapper Young Jeezy this fall. That album debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart in September. Last week, Pain sent me an email with news that the album has been certified gold.
Austin-based country music songwriter Owen Temple spent a year in Madison (2006-07), going to school, meeting local musicians, writing songs and playing gigs at the old Wonders Pub. Now he's about to release an album that includes two songs co-written by friends he made in the Dairy State. "Broken Heart Land" was co-written by Madisonian Jeff Burkhart, of the Dirty Shirts. Chris Anderson (of Milwaukee's Heavyheads) shares the songwriting credits on "Making a Life." Temple will be back in town for a gig next Wednesday, Nov. 5 at (where else?) Alchemy, the old Wonders Pub.