I can make it good, I can make it hood, I can make you come, I can make you go! I can make it high, I can make it fly, make you touch the sky, hey maybe so!
Believe me, I adore playing an old school hit like nobody's business, but sometimes there's nothing better than putting on one of your favorite long players, enjoying it for what it is: a tip-top, start to finish "headphone masterpiece".
2004 was a bad year for R&B. Albums by artists within the genre were either too generic, overblown, or over-hyped. Aside from a few ass shaking, head nodding singles, nothing was original or completely satisfying. And then in August Jill Scott came back with her much anticipated sophomore album Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2. For those of you who don't know, Jill Scott is a welcome breath of fresh air in the R&B field. Armed with classic soul-laced vocals and a taste for lush melodies, jazz scats, and lyrics on love that sound neither trite nor old, Scott takes you to a time when Minnie Rippertons, Gladys Knights, and Roberta Flacks ruled the airwaves. Another artist who succeeds in reminding you of the past while moving beyond it. Key Tracks: My Petition, The Fact Is (I Need You), Golden
Damn straight. And off the top of my head, I can think of two other reasons why, [along with that stellar disc presented above] in 2007, the album is not dead:
Just another Thursday morning. I got the undershirt on, but I'm still rocking the pajama shorts. Water's boiling, blinds been turned to let the sun shine in, and the paper has moved from the front lawn to the middle of the kitchen table. Just another gorgeous morning in Southern California.
It was supposed to rain.
The sun is out, [slightly], but it ain't chilly. [yet] I'll rock my Black cardigan just in case. Add a little warmth and show a little solidarity. Just another sunny day in Los Angeles.
And I'm in a good mood as I walk through these streets that make up the region they call South Central to the bus stop to get to that job on the Westside.
Talib's playing in the ear. Cousin Lil Bro put it in his car after much hype from me about how bangin it is. He was finally convinced one day as Hot Thing blasted through the house, prompting him to inquire "yo who this is?" after he realized that he was feeling whatever was reverberating through the house for a good ten, fifteen minutes.
"What you think about that Talib Kweli?"
"Oh it's tight. Definitely feelin it."
Had to put it on.
And as I approached my stop with the rest of the early morning commuters, the clouds began to part slightly, and the sun provided a little more heat. And all around me, on this corner, that corner, this bus stop, that crosswalk, Black teens and a few Hispanic ones waited for their rides, loaded buses, and walked around, clad in black, making a statement for the Jena 6. And all the while I walked, amazed, smiling brightly, sun shining, rocking my black cardigan, listening to Talib Kweli. This song, presented below, hitting my Ear Drum. It felt so right.
Before you go any further, I just want to go on the record and say that I did not spend my childhood and adolescent years listening to nothing but Destiny's Childs, 702s, 3lws, Xscapes, SWVs, and the like. I just happened to give them more love than a young black man should have. Word Up![magazine]
A few days ago. Six something in the morning. Had to download this track. The chorus and the melody had been in my head for weeks. Gotta download it and put it on the pod before heading out to work.
Cut to a few weeks back. Mid-afternoon. Hungover. Weekday. Unemployed. MTV Hits. What is this? Can't look away. Quirky little no-nonsense video. [That also hits a little too close to home in some parts] Oh shit. It's them. Completely forgot about em. Still love that debut. And I like this song. Watch it start to finish.
Cut to a few days ago. Six something in the morning. Had to download this track. The chorus and the melody is stuck in my head. Gotta download it and put it on the pod before heading out to work. Definitely one of my favorite singles of the year. Must check out the rest of the disc.
So I'm online at TicketWeb last night getting me some Diplo and Switch tickets right, and all of a sudden I look up and I see something that just confuses me to know end. Tell me, why in the world is Rihanna performing at the Beverly Hills High School Stadium on October 7th, at 5:30 PM? I thought Umbrella and Good Girl Gone Bad got us away from such shows? Ain't that more We Ride, Music of the Sun territory?
Whatever. Maybe it's 1996, and said show is taking place at the peach pit, and her name ain't Rihanna, it's Joan Osbourne or Cree Summer trying to break into the music biz [remember that?] or some shit.
Oh late Summer/Early Fall 2006. Oh how I yearn for thee. Fresh out of college, still unemployed [though Round One of "Oh shit a nigga is about to be creeping on the come up at MTV!" was about to kick in], and making up for lost times with all the wonderful ladies and gents I call my friends.
One such night brought three of us to the Troubadour to catch my newfound favorite band [at the time], The Ark. Good tunes, great show, good times had by all. Shortly thereafter there we all stood in the lobby near the merch tables, refusing to call it night, chatting up the Ark's people [including their American, Michael J. Fox channeling manager, who I am sure was hitting on me], and the ladies of Rocket, who put on a fun opening set before the boys in the band took the stage to headline it all.
And there was also this one guy. He fronted this band. This Los Angeles band. And he was all Los Angeles, twenty-something I am in a band cool, but in a good way. And boy was he funny. And charming. Where the hell was the rest of his band? What was he up to tonight? Can we come too?
Shortly before losing him to the rhythms of the night, we found out that he was the lead singer of the band known to some of you as the Vacation. Glad to see that that wit and boyish charm he exuded in conversation is still alive and in full force. Or at least common amongst him and his people, as evidenced by that promo poster presented above.
Believe me, I adore playing an old school hit like nobody's business, but sometimes there's nothing better than putting on one of your favorite long players, enjoying it for what it is: a tip-top, start to finish "headphone masterpiece".
Kanye West. He talks a lot of shit, but he can back it up.
I realized this last Wednesday morning, September 12th, heading westward (ho! - God I miss Westside Connection) and Graduation came to an end. 51 minutes. 13 tracks. My iPod? Hovering somewhere near 7000 on the song tip. And what do I do? I go back and play it again. Start to finish.
And it's been like that for a minute now. Something keeps calling me back and in I go, pressing play. Do I love it more than his previous two efforts? No. Do I think it's the album of the year masterpiece many are proclaiming it to be? Torn.* But I keep coming back, letting it grow. And grow it has. Granted I still don't care much for the last three tracks, though I gotta show some love for the intro of The Glory where Kanye sings along for a couple seconds as the sample coos too, as if caught on tape is the moment Kanye put two and two together, not sure of where he was going, but sure that this shit, this shit right here?Straight fire baby.
Yeah not much to say about those last tracks. Homecoming can go completely. [Seriously what's with hip-hop and Chris Martin?] And I respect the heartfelt sentiment rarely seen in hip-hop with Big Brother, but I'd be lying if I were to sit here and tell you that I go back to this track constantly.
But one thing I can't lie about? The three tracks that come before The Glory; the one two punch of Everything I Am [imagined if this closed the album. Seriously think about that one for a moment], Flashing Lights, and of course, for some strange reason one of my favorite songs on the album, the Can sampling, haunting diatribe that is Drunk and Hot Girls featuring Mos Def.
I had been curious about this track from the get go because it featured Mos, but get this: the boy ain't rapping. And this was music to my ears. In fact, the first time I played Drunk and Hot Girls I sat on the edge of my seat waiting to hear Mos croon, for you see I am one of the few people who enjoys a good Mos track where rapping takes a backseat to him getting his Marvin Gaye on. That's why I have no problem waxing poetic about The New Danger, an album that got put back into rotation thanks to Kanye's Drunk and Hot Girls.
It's been a minute since we last heard from Mos. One of hip-hop's finest MC's has allowed himself to become preoccupied by movies and side projects with his budding rock group (Black Jack Johnson). Well, the wait was finally over three years ago, and we listeners were greeted with this: a slow grooving, balls to the wall experiment in rock and hip-hop. Before this album was released, Mos hoped to release a Black Jack Johnson disc, but said disc never came to light. For a large portion of this album it feels as if this could be a Black Jack Johnson disc with Mos Def at the helm. With Black Jack Johson uhh, backing him, Mos is able to accomplish something he hinted at on Black on Both Sides with the hugely popular single “Umi Says”: croon.
And the tracks on which he sings rather than raps actually turn out to be some of the best on the album—the New Orleans jazz-funk-soul of "Black Jack", the slow moving Marvin Gaye-esque “Modern Marvel”, and the all out sing till my lungs get sore passion of “The Beggar”. Don't get me wrong, this is a Mos Def disc, so he allows himself to shine on such raps as the biting state of hip-hop today/take on Jay-Z's The Takeover entitled "Rape Over", the aesthetically pleasing “Sex, Love, Money” (complete with horns and jazz flutes), and the old school throwback “Sunshine,” produced by the then new master of soul himself, Mr. Kanye West. Mos may have drifted away from the hardcore underground grit that his fans clamored for and expected, but it's a move that should warranted few if any complaints. Key Tracks: Ghetto Rock, Sex, Love and Money, Black Jack
*Actually I am not torn on that whole album of 2007 thing. I already picked my #1 album of the year for 2007, and I doubt anyone will top it before December 31st. And no, it's not M.I.A.'s Kala.
Developing...
SIDENOTE: Yo 50, as far my Bigmama goes, you lost. Cousin Lil Bro let her put Curtis in her car and she ain't feeling it yo. She just came over and inspected the artwork and disc for Graduation and in it goes next. I hope she finds it okay or not good at all or else I won't see it again unless I burn it for her. [She still thinks that Whitney Houston double disc Greatest Hits set belongs to her, but it don't]
I'm not gonna lie. Shortly following the Hot Chip show I went to earlier this summer I was a little disappointed. Sure I was a sweaty mess [aren't I always?], wore my sunglasses at night throughout the entire show, and got up on the good foot, but the boys in the band, much to my dismay, played nearly nothing but new tunes. It wasn't until a few days later that I read how the boys got tired of playing the same old tunes they had been playing for years now. Hey if you got new shit, might as well bump it right?
And now that I think about it. The show did kick ass, despite my pouting about not knowing many of the songs on the set list. One song I did recognize, thanks to the ever helpful world of music blogs, was this gem, which should get your hips quivering for a new Hot Chip album.
On Friday I bought a book. And I was so excited. Not that I haven't been reading. I read the Los Angeles Times on a daily basis, I am always online, and not a week goes by that I don't read the LA Weekly from start to finish. But books? Boy was I slacking. It took me forever and a day to finish Miranda July's wonderfully exquisite No One Belongs Here More Than You, and that's only because I had gotten to the place where for me, the bathroom was the only place for a person to get his read on. But all that doesn't matter now, cause on Friday I bought a book and it feels good.
What book you might ask?
Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush. And get this: I am enjoying it. Look I know it is hard to explain myself as a young black man from the hood, up to no good getting my read on about George W. Bush, but I actually think, arguably, that this man and his presidency is/has been quite interesting. I'm not saying I am shouting my love for him, his beliefs, or politics from the rooftops, but if you tell me that for the span of 500 pages or so give or take, I can sit back and travel with this administration and all its ups and downs from the 1999 New Hampshire primaries all the way up to the present as if I am a fly on the wall... well, why the hell would I not get my read on?
SIDENOTE: One of the best parts of today occurred around 2:00 PM or so at the intersection of Washington and Western in Los Angeles. Waiting for a bus. Sitting on some makeshift seat. [A hydrant, wall fixture, something practical, but not built for seating] Book up high so anyone can see the book's jacket. Engrossed. Eyes come over the top of the book, and meet up with one half of a well-to-do older looking Caucasian couple walking a dog. [What? Am I in West Hollywood? I'm no racist and/or homophobe [trust me], but they literally just came out of nowhere amidst all the non-Caucasian faces milling about.]
Anyways, I look up and one half of the couple looks at the book, then looks at me, sternly.
I look away, I look back.
He's still staring.
Confused.
As if to say, what the hell are you doing reading a book on George W. Bush? You should know better.
No disrespect ladies. I'm coming from a place of love... LOVE!
I kind of got a nice "little" theme running through this playlist. See if you can spot it.
GIRLS. ALL PAUSE.
ONE FATTY GIRL KEITH MURRAY, LL COOL J, AND LUDACRIS TWO PULL OVER TRINA FEAT. TRICK DADDY THREE YOU CAN DO IT ICE CUBE FOUR MILKSHAKE KELIS FIVE SHAKE IT LIKE A SALT SHAKER YING YANG TWINS SIX THONG SONG SISQO SEVEN LIKE A 24 TWISTA EIGHT AY CHICO (LENGUA AFUERA) PITBULL NINE BACK THAT AZZ UP JUVENILLE TEN MS. NEW BOOTY BUBBA SPARXXX FEAT. THE YING YANG TWINS ELEVEN LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION MR. CHEEKS [SIDENOTE: too easy] TWELVE BEST U CAN THA LIKS THIRTEEN SHAKE YA ASS MYSTIKAL FOURTEEN GIRLS ALL PAUSE KURUPT FEAT NATE DOGG FIFTEEN TOUCH IT MONIFAH SIXTEEN B.O.O.T.A.Y. SPANK ROCK AND BENNY BLANCO SEVENTEEN HOOCHIE MAMA 2 LIVE CREW EIGHTEEN WORKOUT PLAN KANYE WEST NINETEEN NEW WORKOUT PLAN KANYE WEST
Bonus -grab yo'self a drank and cool off slow jam -Track FEELIN ON YO' BOOTY R.KELLY
What you say nigga? But what about the kids? Will somebody think of the children?
"Let me say this: That statement about Russell Simmons had nothing to do with his sexual orientation. It had more to do with a disagreement [we had]. I don’t know if the man likes Martians, squirrels or whatever, so I ain’t gonna speak on something that I didn’t see. It’s no gay-bashing with me. It’s just, be proud of what you are, instead of hidin’ in the closet. And if ya fuck boys in the ass, then don’t be tryna fuck with the girls, too, poisoning the pussy population wit’ ya shitty ol’ dirty-ass dick."-Pimp C tells XXLMAG.COM
"...The truck’s computer has three beat-tracks and 24 songs, all composed in the same monophonic, xylophonic style. The KI team also encourages a cappella performances — an offer taken up enthusiastically by five-year-old Dylan Ever of West Hollywood. Though a karaoke novice, the tiny Ever fearlessly climbs the truck’s industrial-steel stage and, without hesitation or warning, begins to belt out her favorite song, Britney Spears’ '. . . Baby One More Time.' 'She knows every chorus and every verse,' says Nowacek. 'I love it!'..."
See Britney. This is why you must get yo shit together. If not for yourself, then do it for the kids.
Tonight in Rock in LA - Smashing Pumpkins, Kid Rock, Melvins, Doobie Brothers, Scorpions, Lagwagon
KROQ's LA Invasion: Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, Kid Rock, Chris Cornell, Cypress Hill, Satellite Party, Hot Hot Heat, Against Me, others @ Home Depot Center
