The Trevor Nelson Collection
Trevor Nelson presents his selection of sixty Rand B classics, recorded between 1979 and 2010.
The Soul Show host shares his passion for tracks as Lucy Pearl's Don’t Mess With My Man, Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, Mary J Blige's Real Love, TLC's Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, Aloe Blacc’s I Need a Dollar and Montell Jordan’s This Is How We Do It.
Three discs of sing-along party music!
http://trevornelson.com
Oh No Disrupted Ads
The Michael Jackson(1979) who's known as producer Oh No and Madlib's younger brother, is enlightening us with another hip hop release. He enlisted Blu, Gangrene, Souls of Mischief, MED, Rapsody, Psalm One, Ron Artiste, Tristate, Midaz, Declaime, Georgia Anne Muldrow to provide lyrics on previously unreleased instrumentals.
Disrupted Ads is his fourth solo album after Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms(2006), Dr. No's Oxperiment(2007), Dr. No's Ethiopium(2009).
Oh No's new album Disrupted Ads will be released on January 29th via Kash Roc Entertainment.
Tracklist:
1. Intro Doctor Visit
2. Creepers
3. Jones's ft. Blu and MED
4. Wet Em Up
5. Same Shit ft. Rapsody and Psalm One
6. Boom
7. The Difference
8. Punchdrunkpatterns ft. Tristate and Midaz
9. Perfect Cylinders
10. Cleansing
11. Animals ft. Ron Artiste' (Chali2na & Roc C)
12. The Magmas
13. Rollin Up ft. Gangrene (Oh No & Alchemist)
14. Drifters
15. Improvement ft. Declaime and Georgia Anne Muldrow)
16. Outro
17. Controlled Riots ft. Souls of Mischief (BONUS TRACK)
Ill Bill The Grimy Awards
Ill Bill's new album The Grimy Awards will be available on January 29th 2013. An impressive list of collaborators such as H.R., A-Trak, El-P, Jedi Mind Tricks, O.C., Cormega, Meyhem Lauren, Q-Unique, Shabazz the Disciple and Lil Fame in combination with productions by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Psycho Les, El-P, Ayatollah and MoSS are bound to prick up the ears.
Brooklyn MC William Braunstein(1972)'s third turned out to be a personal, provocative album.
Tracklist:
- What Does It All Mean? Prod. by Ill Bill
- Paul Baloff prod. by Moss
- I Don’t Know How Long It’s Gonna Last (Interlude)
- Acceptance Speech ft. A-Trak prod. by Junior Makhno
- Truth prod. by Pete Rock
- Exploding Octopus prod. by Ill Bill
- Forty Deuce Hebrew ft. HR of Bad Brains prod. By Ill Bill
- How To Survive The Apocalypse prod. by Psycho Les
- Vio-Lence ft. Shabazz The Disciple & Lil Fame Of M.O.P. prod. by DJ Skizz
- Acid Reflux prod. by Large Professor
- L’amour East ft. Meyhem Lauren & Q-Unique prod. by Ayatollah
- Power Ft. OC & Cormega prod. By DJ Muggs
- When I Die Ft. Tia Thomas prod. by Pete Rock
- Severed Heads Of State Ft. El-P prod. by El-P
- 120% Darkside Justice ft. Jedi Mind Tricks prod. by C-Lance
- Canarsie High prod. by Large Professor
- World Premier prod. by DJ Premier
Opposites attract: Miranda Donovan
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| Copyright Miranda Donovan 2012 |
Miranda Donovan(1979) grew up in The Netherlands, followed art courses in London and France and is currently residing in London.
Whilst living near Marseille she met a graffiti artist who contaminated her with those addictive graffiti germs. Back in London Donovan began experimenting with graffiti.
While her earlier work was mainly marked by textured brickwork, obtained by applying a cement mixture on board to build a carved out brick wall relief, a tactile surface for the contrasting painting, nowadays urban and homely symbols are omnipresent.
Donovan has been known for her bright color palette, transforming meticulously painted traditional interiors or Ruisdael-like landscapes with neon paint dashes.
One of Donovan’s artistic ideas seems to be that opposites as decay and poverty versus wealth, luxury and magnificence attract each other. Her gallery work illustrates her personal social beliefs in a humorous way.
Nothing’s what it seems, reality and fiction can easily be confused when not thinking critically...
The social work of Haas & Hahn
Dutchmen Jeroen Koolhaas(1977) and Dre Urhahn(1973) are known as the artistic duo Haas & Hahn.
Graphic designer Koolhaas previously worked as an illustrator for the New Yorker while Urhahn worked as a journalist, copywriter and art-director.
Since working together on Firmeza Total(2005), a documentary about hip hop in Brazilian favelas, they have been joining artistic forces in social art projects.
Haas & Hahn's Firmeza Foundation(2007) organizes inspiring community art projects to encourage crime news manipulated citizens to deal with their negative perceptions of certain deprived neighborhoods. With the help of local youth enormous murals are created to improve the look of a slum village and enhance it's inhabitants sense of pride.
In 2008 the duo worked eight months on Rio Cruzeiro, a 2000m² carp-filled river painting in Vila Cruzeiro and one day on a fantasy wall with the help of fifty Brazilian children in Terra Encantada. Their Brazilian quest continued with the painting on Praca Cantao, a 7000m² square.
At Art Basel Miami 2010 they created an installation with eighty painted canvasses.
A 2011 Knight Arts grant allowed them to reside in Philadelphia for a year to reinvent the Germantown Avenue blocks with bright colors and patterns to provoke a sense of unity. The same year they participated in a group exhibition held at the Smithsonian.
Lectures, documentaries, video clips, audio and photo installations complete the urban concept of these two social workers.
www.jeruniverse.com
http://www.favelapainting.com/haas-hahn
Ruff Sqwad White Label Classics
No Hats No Hoods released Ruff Sqwad‘s White Label Classics, featuring previously unreleased instrumentals.
This well known East London grime initiating crew arose in 2001, composed of founder Tinchy Stryder(1986), accredited grime producer and sound engineer Rapid(1983), producers Dirty Danger(1984)and Dizzee Rascal's cousin Slix(1982), Shifty Rydos and Mad Max. In 2006 Mad Max was replaced by Fuda Guy. From 2004 until 2010 DJ Scholar joined the group, whose place was taken in by Tinchy Stryder's personal DJ Sir Spyro(1984).
Thanks to their mix tapes grime became a new genre. Other early grime contributions came from N.A.S.T.Y. Crew, More Fire Crew and Aftershock.
Ruff Sqwad's first studio album Guns and Roses Volume. 1(2005) was a success upon its release. Both the independently released debut album and their second full length Guns and Roses Volume. 2(2006) have been cited to be the best full-length grime albums of all time.
The grime rap record production team split up in 2010, after which only crew leader Tinchy Stryder continued his mainstream success.
An urban album which simply needs to be bought!
Tracks
1.Anna
2.Misty Cold
3.Lethal Injection
4.Pied Piper
5.Functions on the Low
6.Together
7.Your Love Feels
8.Tings in Boots
9.Down
10.Move 2 Dis
11.Knight Rider
12.An Ting
13.Underground
14.Burial
15.Top 3 Selected
16.Cheque
17.Clio
18.Xtra
19.Good Old Days
20.I'm From a Place
21.No Bass
22.Clio (remix)
Kendrick Lamar shares his personal stories in Good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth's(1987) father was a member of Chicago's Gangster Disciples. The boy lost relatives in the Crips' and Bloods' battle and saw others go to prison.
The album's cover shows a Polaroid of him as a youngster with his father holding a gun. His entire family tried to protect the Good kid from the wild street life. Lamar chose to feed his mind with book knowledge and reflected on the world with masterful storytelling.
Letting it all out in music, growing into a technical lyricist, Dr Dre signed the young MC. His 2011 Section.80 EP was a rousing success.
The result of Lamar's dedication is a genuine self-portrait, a brilliant hip hop album based on honest storytelling about Lamar's living conditions, the Compton crime scene, social anomalies and love.
Not afraid to show his vulnerability, he takes up a victim's fear and emotions.
Human, empathic, responsible, ....
Who's keeping it real? This Good kid!
Tracklist:
1. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter (Prod. By Tha Bizness)
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Prod. By Sounwave)
3. Backseat Freestyle (Prod. By Hit-Boy)
4. The Art of Peer Pressure (Prod. By Tabu)
5. Money Trees (Ft. Jay Rock) (Prod. By DJ Dahi)
6. Poetic Justice (Ft. Drake) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
7. good kid [Prod. By Pharrell]
8. m.A.A.d city (Ft. MC Eiht) (Prod. By Sounwave & Terrace Martin)
9. Swimming Pools (Drank) *Extended Version* (Prod. By T-Minus)
10. Sing About Me (Prod. By Skhye Hutch + Sounwave) / I’m Dying Of Thirst (Prod. By Like of Pac Div)
11. Real (Ft. Anna Wise) (Prod. By Terrace Martin)
12. Compton (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Just Blaze)
Deluxe:
13. The Recipe (Ft. Dr. Dre) (Prod. By Scoop DeVille)
14. Black Boy Fly (Prod. By Rahki & Dawaun Parker)
15. Now Or Never (Ft. Mary J. Blige) (Prod. By Jack Splash)
16. Collect Calls
17. Swimming Pools (Drank) (Prod. By T-Minus)
http://www.kendricklamar.com
Dels' Black salad
Three years ago Ipswich master of ceremonies Kieren Dickins(1984 ) signed a three album Big Dada deal.
His debut album entitled Gob(2011) was mainly produced by Kwes.
Black Salad, his 2012 five track counting follow-up, also features productions by Kwes, Eli-T, Raisa Kahn and Coby Sey( Kwes' brother).
With a third album to be expected this year, graphic designer Dickins is working hard to succeed in this creative career switch.
Slowly surely his serious sound has become appreciated in the British hip hop scene.
Tracks
1.Black Salad
2.Bird Milk(ft Bila, Kwes production)
3.Not Today(Micachu & Raisa Khan production)
4.Sell by Date
5.You Live in My Head
Bossalinis and Fooliyones
Young one records released Main Attraktionz' debut album Bossalinis and Fooliyones. The beats, made by over a dozen producers, are more enchanting than the rhymes.
However MondreM.A.N. and Squadda B do sound like they are having a blast, leading to an entertaining première.
Tracks
1.Green on Sight
2.Liquor Runs
3.La Piñata
4.LFK
5.Take U There
6.Cloud Life
7.On Tour
8.Sex in the City
9.Do It for the Bay
10.Superstitious
11.24th Hour
12.Wings
13.Rainy Days
14.Love Is Life
15.Bury Me a Millionaire
16.Zoney Nights
17.Cloud Body
Sten & Lex
Italian street artists Sten(Rome, 1982) and Lex(Taranto, 1982) have been working together since 2001. They have often been referred to as the Italian stencil pioneers.
Their halftone stencil portraits are based on personal photographs and can be admired in metro poles such as Rome, London, Paris, Barcelona and New York.
In 2008 the duo participated in the Banksy Cans Festival and the Power and Currency show at the Factory Fresh Gallery in New York.
In 2009 Sten Lex started to develop a new durable technique to produce Stencil Posters. They inventively combine collage, painting and stencils, resulting in highly original linear works.
Since 2011, the artists have shown their pieces at MACRO, Magda Danysz Gallery and the Carandente Museum. They were invited to the Living Walls show in Atlanta and the Open walls in Baltimore.
More information:
Eleanor Mathieson and Xavier A. Tàpies, Street Artists, the complete guide, London, Graffito Books, 2009, ISBN-13: 978-0956028419
http://stenlex.net
Murs and 9th Wonder The Final Adventure
American MC Murs (1978, Making Underground Raw Shit) mostly rhymes about relationships, faith and beliefs on his final collaborative album with 9th Wonder.
Their fifth LP The Final Adventure after Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition(2004), Murray's Revenge(2006), Sweet Lord(2008) and Fornever(2010) features ten tracks.
Tracklist
- Get Together ft Rapsody
- Dance with Me
- Whatuptho
- Holding Hands
- Walk Like a Woman
- Tale of Two Cities
- Funeral for a Killer
- Better Way
- Wherever You Are
- It’s Over
http://mursworld.com
9th wonder & Buckshot The Solution
Brooklyn emcee Buckshot and grammy - award winning producer 9th Wonder previously released Chemistry (2005) and The Formula (2008).
Their third joint album The Solution(Duck Down Records) explores the concept of self-determination, the solution to all success and problems to be found within oneself. Their newest creation includes guest appearances from DyMe-A-DuZin and Rapsody.
Buckshot Shorty began rapping in 1992. The leader of Boot Camp Clik released a solo album entitled The BDI Thug (1999) and led the gritty Black Moon crew.
Both gentlemen are most fond of the nostalgic old-school vibe, complete with soulful samples and memorable lyricism.
Tracklist:
01 – The Big Bang
02 – What I Gotta Say
03 – Stop Rapping
04 – Crazy
05 – The Feeling
06 – SAM
07 – Pat Em Down
08 – Keep It Going
09 – The Change Up
10 – Shorty Left Ft. Rapsody
11 – You Ft. Dyme-A-Duzin
12 – The Solution
Apollo Brown and Guilty Simpson Dice Game
Mello Music Group released another Detroit production: sixteen track Dice Game, featuring Torae and Planet Asia.
Tracklist
- Freezing Dice (0:21)
- Reputation (3:11)
- Let’s Play (3:13)
- One Man (3:28)
- I Can Do No Wrong (3:21)
- Potatoes (2:51) Ft Torae
- Change (3:14)
- Dear Jane (3:17)
- Lose You (3:02)
- Ink Blotches (3:04)
- Never ending Story (3:15)
- The Cook Up (3:46)
- Truth Be Told (3:26)
- Nasty (3:44)ft Planet Asia
- Wrong Hand (3:18)
- How Will I Go (3:58)
The non conformist way of Haring's walk
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| Copyright Charles Dolfi- Michels |
Born in Reading and raised in Kutztown, Keith Haring(1958-1990) grew a passion for drawing at an early age, learning basic cartooning skills from his creative father. While attending the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh, he realized he had no interest in becoming a commercial graphic artist.
In 1978 Keith Haring moved to bustling New York, where he developed his own style of abstracted figures. While attending the SVA he experimented with performance, video, installation, collage, painted plastic, metal and found objects and exhibited in Club 57.
In 1980 Haring decided to draw cartoon-like pictures on the large amounts of unused black subway billboards. These recognizable white chalk Subway Drawings allowed direct communication with the public, whose attention he very much enjoyed while performing.
His black outlined pictures of vital human and animal figures expressed powerful social messages of life, birth, drugs, AIDS, death, sex, war and unity. Vividly colored stereotype imagery of dices, dollar bills, barking dogs, wormlike babies, flying saucers, Mickey Mouse were successfully used in his 1980’s graffiti creations which soon caught art handlers' attention.
Following his neon drawing on Times Square(1982) and a popular one-man exhibition at Tony Shafrazi’s gallery Haring’s intense worldwide career took form with shows at Documenta 7, the Paris, Whitney and São Paulo Biennial, ...
An urban artist at heart, he continued to paint public murals: in Melbourne(1984), New York(Crack is Wack), Amsterdam, Paris, Phoenix, on the western side of the Berlin wall(1986).
Although the elite paid towering prizes for his works, Haring still believed art should be for every one. His hand painted Soho Pop Shop, the ultimate example of the artist as a brand image, sold affordable merchandising such as T-shirts, caps, toys, magnets, buttons and posters.
Embracing advertising as a medium, Haring designed for Swatch, Château Mouton Rotschild and Absolut Vodka. He furthermore painted in Grace Jones' I’m not perfect video clip, created a jacket for Madonna, theatre sets, posters, logos, held art workshops for children and generously painted to benefit health centers.
Diagnosed with AIDS in 1988, the artist established the Keith Haring Foundation which provides education to children in addition to the prevention of AIDS. This virtuoso pioneer of contemporary mass culture died at the age of thirty one.
www.haring.com
www.haring.com/kh_foundation
Zevs is brought to light
Parisian street artist Aguirre Schwarz (1977) named himself Zevs after almost being hit by a Parisian regional train line coded ZEUS.
When he was twelve years old, he already enjoyed expressing himself by tagging on his way to school. The artist befriended Invader and André, with whom he often collaborated in the 90's.
During the late 1990's Zevs developed a project based on street objects' shadows. His enchanting Urban Shadows series drew attention to objects in urban space by outlining their shadows to make them more visible at night. The silhouettes of city fixtures such as traffic lights, mailboxes, benches and bins were detoured with white paint.
( Public Bench 2000, Paris; Subway, Electric Shadows series, Paris )
Around that time Zevs also started working in the reverse graffiti technique.
His Liquidated Logowork, a unique treatment of advertising logos of corporations such as Nike, McDonald's, Chanel, Google and Louis Vuitton, spread his name. By dripping the logos with paint, he creates the illusion that they are dissolving or liquidating. He visually assaults corporate culture by showing that the power of the logo can be reversed against the company. Following a liquidated Chanel logo on a Hong Kong Armani store, Zevs ended up in jail for a couple of days because the authorities didn't believe the paint could be easily washed off.
His Visual Attacks series(2001) targeted advertising boards and light boxes with dripping bullet-wound style spots of red paint between the models' eyes.
Another one of his provocative projects was his Visual Kidnapping of a Lavazza poster in Germany, with demand for a ransom of 500.000 euros ... Another reverse strategy: he kidnaps an advertisement which is meant to kidnap the public's attention. The ransom money was given to a good cause: Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Experimental and inventive, the artist creates Invisible Graffiti with a self created paint, invisible during the day but visible at night. This invisible ink technique is a method he also uses for his gallery work, in addition to UV printing.
Signs and the light remain Zevs' trademarks, be it graffiti illumination, a spray painted lightning strike or a shadow effect. This prominent French street art figure simply loves playing around in the street.
http://www.debuckgallery.com
http://www.patriciadorfmann.com
Karriem Riggins Alone Together Stones Throw Records
Karriem Riggins' debut album Alone Together has just been released by Stones Throw Records. The producer's thirty four track instrumental hip hop project was recorded in Los Angeles.
Detroit native Riggins grew up in a jazzy family: his mum collected records and his father played the piano and organ.
A man of great talent... no wonder Riggins was asked to complete Dilla's last album The Shining, worked with Madlib and produced tracks for The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Slum Village, Dwele, among many others.
Riggins is trying to be the best he can be.
Fantastic Flying Lotus' Latest Until The Quiet Comes
Experimental producer Steven Ellison, known as Flying Lotus has been known for exploring the wide array of musical genres be it hip hop, jazz, electronics, ... The Los Angeles native stemming from the Coltrane jazz musicians family has often been compared to Jay Dilla.
His debut album entitled 1983(2006) was followed by Los Angeles in 2008. Whereas his previous jazz inspired Grammy award winning(Dance/Electronica Album category ) Cosmogramma(2010) record sounded restless and hard to access, Until The Quiet Comes sounds quite the opposite. Although his busy tour schedule made it hard to find the right creativity enhancing mindset, he easily succeeded in producing an ambient fourth album.
The new course in the underground hip hop scene inspired him to create Until The Quiet Comes, a delightful cosmic journey towards unconscious dreamlike states. Enchanting female voices invite the tribal drum intoxicated listener to enter an atmospheric nocturnal universe.
Dazing streamlined break beat hip hop, dreamy soul and down tempo electronics to loose yourself in and day-dream upon.
Tracklist
1 - All In
02 - Getting There feat. Niki Randa
03 - Until the Colours Come
04 - Heave(n)
05 - Tiny Tortures
06 - All the Secrets
07 - Sultan's Request
08 - Putty Boy Strut
09 - See Thru to U feat. Erykah Badu
10 - Until the Quiet Comes
11 - DMT Song feat. Thundercat
12 - The Nightcaller
13 - Only if You Wanna
14 - Electric Candyman feat. Thom Yorke
15 - Hunger feat. Niki Randa
16 - Phantasm feat. Laura Darlington
17 - me Yesterday//Corded
18 - Dream to Me
First of a Living Breed Homeboy Sandman's fourth
New Yorker Homeboy Sandman(born Angel Del Villar II, 1980) released his fourth album "First of a Living Breed " on Stones Throw.
Sandman deserved his solid non conformist reputation with debut full length album Nourishment(2007), second album Actual Factual Pterodactyl (2008) and The Good Sun(2010).
Former law student Sandman uses wit to convey thoughtful messages. He clearly wants to be a plausible role model, lectures about right and wrong as a true teacher. However the song lyrics of "For the Kids" might be perceived as tritely annoying.
Still... listen closely to Oddisee-produced "Watchu Want From Me?".
No-nonsense Homeboy Sandman is capable of writing clever rhymes, delivers them in a nice flow on soulful beats. Let's hope his entire next album will refrain from clichéd moral advice.
Tracklist
- Rain
- Watchu Want From Me
- Couple Bars (Honey, Sugar, Darling, Sweetie, Baby, Boo)
- Sputnik
- Illuminati
- 4 Corners
- For the Kids
- Cedar and Sedgwick
- Mine All Mine
- Not Really
- The Ancient
- Eclipsed
- First of a Living Breed
- Let's Get 'em
http://newpro.homeboysandman.com/
www.homeboysandman.com
Talib Kweli and DJ Z-Trip Attack The Block mixtape
Talib Kweli's album Prisoner Of Conscious is on its way but the man is already enlightening us with a mix tape entitled Attack The Block, released on the third of September 2012. The old school MC collaborated with DJ Z-Trip on Don Cannon, Boi-1da and fabulous 9th Wonder beats.
The sensational sound, delightful beats and underground artists are bound to take you on cloud 9 .
Tracklist:
1.Attack The Block!!!
2.Letter From The Government (Prod by Vohn Beatz)
3.That’s Enough ft John Forte, Skyzoo, Posdnous, Rubix Fashawn (Prod by OhNo)
4.Numerology (Prod by Symbolic One)
5.Congregation ft Black Thought, Ab-Soul (Prod by J Rhodes)
6.Outstanding ft Ryan Leslie (Prod by Boi 1nda)
7.Earning Potential ft Mac Miller (Prod by Amadeus)
8.The Corner ft Jay Rock (Prod by Charlemagne)
9.Getting To The Money- Cory Mo ft Talib Kweli, Killa Mike (Prod by Don Cannon)
10.NY Shining ft Greg Nice, Styles P (Prod by Symbolic One)
11.Mack Maine ft Talib Kweli Lil Wayne – Celebrate
12.Make It Classy
13.So Fresh
14.To The Music ft Maino (Prod by 9th Wonder)
15.I Like It ft Das Racist (Prod by OhNo)
16.Mr. E ft Talib Kweli Ace Hood – Let Em In
17.Solid Gold ft Grafh and Planet Asia
18.Fly Away
Broken hearted hip hop preacher Lupe Fiasco says goodbye to hip hop by means of Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1.
Fiasco's fourth and sequel to his debut album "Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1." with additional vocals of Bilal, Guy Sebastian, Casey Benjamin and Poo Bear is available in the store.
Unfortunately the rapper announced that he will quit making commercial music after the release of part 2.
This retirement was provoked by rapper Chief Keef, a gangster rapper who was recently offered a record deal and a Kanye West remix following his abusive and violent "I don't like" track.
Both artists are inhabitants of Chicago, a city terrorized by an explosive number of homicides. Sick of gangster rap's glorification of violence Lupe frankly shared his concern about Keef's representation of aggressive lifestyle: “Chief Keef scares me… Not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents…The murder rate in Chicago is skyrocketing and you see who’s doing it and perpetrating it, they all look like Chief Keef.”
“My first true love was literature, so I will return to that… Lupe Fiasco ends here…” he wrote after his attempt to spread peace.
Tracklist
1. Ayesha Says (Intro)
2. Strange Fruition Ft. Casey Benjamin
3. ITAL (Roses)v4. Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)
5. Audubon Ballroom
6. B*tch Bad
7. Lamborghini Angels
8. Put ‘Em Up
9. Heart Donor Ft. Poo Bear
10. How Dare You Ft. Bilal
11. Battle Scars ft Guy Sebastian
12. Brave Heart Ft. Poo Bear
13. Form Follows Function
14. Cold War Ft. Jane $$$
15. Unforgivable Youth Ft. Jason Evigian
16. Hood Now (Outro)
17. Things We Must Do For Others
Brother Ali Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color
Inspired by a recent trip to Mecca, American rapper Jason Newman(1977) decided to create his fifth full length album during a two-month exile. Brother Ali's Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, produced by Jack One( De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, ...), was released on September 18.
Known for using music as a therapeutic expression of personal experiences and ideas, the MC raps about his son's mother(All You Need), drugs( Need a Knot), the music industry( Won More Hit), violence and murder( Mourning in America) and social issues as unemployment, poverty and the economic crisis ( Work Everyday and Only Life I know).
This brother's philosophical record is all about cultural criticism, American consciousness, genuine hope and idealism.
Tracklist:
1. Letter to My Countrymen (4:04) ft Dr. Cornel West
2. Only Life I Know (4:01)
3. Stop the Press (4:01)
4. Mourning in America (4:08)
5. Gather Round (4:39) ft Amir Sulaiman
6. Work Everyday (3:45)
7. Need a Knot (2:46)
8. Won More Hit (3:43)
9. Say Amen (2:59)
10. Fajr (3:51)
11. Namesake (2:10)
12. All You Need (3:14)
13. My Beloved (3:58) ft Choklate & Tone Trezure
14. Singing This Song (4:22)
http://brotherali.com
Master in Media Lady Aiko's soul stretches out into urban space
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| copyright Lady Aiko |
Which aspects of urban art attracted you to hit the streets of NY after your successful studies in graphic design and filmmaking at Tokyo Zokei University and media studies at the New School?
At college I was into documentary filmmaking. Urban art is similar to documentary film in some characteristics: both are non-fiction, rough and real. Urban art is performing arts, it is a spontaneous happening on the street, a communicative art form that is meant for everyone, for random people in random situations .
When following media studies, Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan once said "the medium is the message, an extension of our body". Urban art became my medium and my large-scale murals and installations became extensions of my body. My stencils beautify the cityscape, leave prints of my positive soul here and there. I enjoy the feeling that the city becomes an extension of myself, allowing my body to become bigger and bolder.
You worked for Takashi Murakami, whose work is also inspired by Japanese pop culture, anime and manga imagery. What did you learn from this unforgettable co-operation?
When I was assisting Takashi Murakami, he wasn't the superstar artist he is now. Back then he rented a tiny space in Brooklyn to prepare for his solo exhibition at Marianne Boesky Gallery in Soho. Murakami and a few assistants worked at the one small table in the room, it was an intimate co- operation.
This was right after my arrival in NY. I was very interested in the artist's life style, more than in what he created or in his artistic techniques. I was observing him, this middle aged Japanese artist beginning his world-wide career.
What was your role in the artists' collective Faile?
My role was from A-Z, I was a creative part of Faile.
As a solo artist you have been known to utilize a large scale of materials and techniques: acrylics, spray paint, collage, pigments, coffee stains, film, screen printing, stencils on spray cans, designing sculptures and toys, ...
Which are the main messages you are aiming to convey by means of your bright street and gallery work?
By experimenting with several techniques and materials I seek the beauty of human life. The world of today is filled with sad stories, therefore I want to focus on the positive moments of everyday life, on making things better ... The Japanese tragedy that took place last year filled me with concern. I also feel deeply for my heritage, I like talking about my roots in order to preserve our beautiful culture and tradition.
What's your view on the position of female artists in the male dominated art world?
It can be very difficult, but I enjoy my position as a very unique individual most of the time.
Can you tell us more about your collaboration with Martha Cooper?
She's a very good friend of mine. We travel together, organize shows and mural events, lecture on the history of graffiti and street art. We simply inspire each other. It's really nice to work with a different generation's talent.
Based on the photographs Martha took in Tokyo during the 1960's, a book called Tokyo Tattoo was published. The Tokyo Tattoo project consists of Martha's book publication, an art exhibition of images I designed, and a spray paint mural project in Europe and the US.
Could you tell us more about your future projects?
Soon I will do a mural project in Las Vegas. This fall Martha Cooper and I will be working on the Tokyo Tattoo show in Soho NYC. In Japan I will be working on a new version of the Lady Butterfly sculpture, which is to be released this winter. A fashion project, new prints and a book will be out by the end of this year so please stay tuned on www.ladyaiko.com.
Many thanks , Lady Aiko Nakagawa!
Martha Cooper
American documentary photographer Martha Cooper is best known for documenting the 1970-1980's NY graffiti scene.
Her father was a photographer who went out on shooting adventures with his little girl. Later in life she earned degrees in art and anthropology.
In the 60's Cooper worked as a photography intern for National Geographic magazine.
In the 1970's she was a photojournalist for the New York Post. When she was photographing unsupervised children's play in the Lower East Side, a boy called HE3 showed her his sketchbook and asked her why she didn't photograph graffiti. The boy introduced her to Dondi White, who was so interesting that she became obsessed with graffiti just because of him. Dondi was the first artist she accompanied on a writing tour. Later on she followed Lady Pink, Shy 147 and Seen UA on their lay ups, rewarding them with pictures of their masterpieces.
Subway graffiti perfectly combined her interests in art and anthropology. In the 80's Henry Chalfant and Martha Cooper published Subway Art, the classic groundbreaking book illustrating the graffiti subculture. Their pictures show the pieces in different contexts.
This lady was one of the first to follow the intriguing secretive urban art scene. No wonder her work has been published in books, journals and magazines as Vibe, Smithsonian, National History and National Geographic magazine and have been exhibited in museums and galleries.
Specialized in art and anthropology, her photos breathe her passion....
Publications:
Subway Art, Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant, 1984, Thames and Hudson London
Subway Art, the 25th anniversary edition, ISBN 13 978-050051452
RIP: New York Spray can Memorials, Thames and Hudson, 1994,
ISBN 13 978-0500277768
Hip Hop files: photographs 1979-1984, From here to Fame, 2004, ISBN 3-937946055
Street Play, From Here to fame, 2005, ISBN 978-3937946160
We B*Girlz, Powerhouse cultural entertainment books, 2005, ISBN 13- 978-1576872697
Going Postal, Mark Batty Publisher, 2009, ISBN 13 978-0979966651
Name tagging, Mark Batty Publisher, 2010, ISBN 13 978-098190067
Tokyo Tattoo 1970, Dokument Press 2012, ISBN 13 978-9185639274
Links:
http://www.12ozprophet.com/index.php/martha_cooper/
http://www.bgirlz.com/
http://www.kodakgirl.com/
http://www.nycitysnaps.com/
Public Enemy releases 2 albums this year
To commemorate their anniversary, Public Enemy drops two albums this year. Their eleventh album entitled " Most of My Heroes still don't appear on no Stamp" was released in June 2012 with the help of Gary G-Wiz. Follow-up "The Evil Empire of Everything" will be available from the 4th of September.
Chuck D described the albums as "two concise statements connected in the same breath". Those who are fond of that groovy 80's sound mixed with politically charged lyrics know what to listen to...
The Evil Empire of Everything:
- The Evil Empire of
- Don't give up the fight
- 1(Peace)
- 2(Respect)
- Beyond Trayvon
- Everything
- Fame
- Icebreaker
- Notice(Know this)
- Say it like it really is
- Riot started
- Broke Diva
Soul man d' Angelo is back
American neo-soul artist Michael Eugene Archer(1974), raised in a preacher family, experienced early influences of church and soul music. Belief remained an essential part of his life, physically uttered by verse four of psalm 23 tattooed on his arm.
In the 90's insecure, glasses-wearing Archer met golden voice Angie Stone. She inspired him and made him feel better about himself with all her love and dedication. They started dating each other, had a son and helped each other produce thrilling tracks such as Everyday. They joined forces on Stone’s Black Diamond album(1999).
D’Angelo collaborated with Ali Shaheed Muhammad of a Tribe called Quest on his debut Brown Sugar(1995, RCA Records). Stone was in charge of the backing vocals on this album, which earned platinum certification and drew attention to the 90's neo soul movement, along with debut albums by Lauryn Hill, Maxwell and Erykah Badu.
Collaborations with J-Dilla(So Far to go, Tell me), Raphael Saadiq( You’re my lady; U should be here, Instant Vintage), Erykah Badu (Your Precious Love and Heaven), Mary J Blige (Would you), Lauryn Hill( Nothing even matters, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) and DJ Premier(Devil's pie) add to his credits.
Following his debut album's success the singer-songwriter went into a four-and-a-half-year absence from the music scene.
Follow-up Voodoo(2000, Virgin Records) won two Grammy awards, for best R & B album and best male R&B vocal performance.
Redman and Method Man featured on the album’s lead single Left and Right. However it was the second single How Does it feel, produced by Raphael Saadiq, that became an enormous hit. It's sensual video clip was both d’Angelo’s worldwide breakthrough and his downfall.
Although these two neo-soul master pieces were cited as two of the most excellent R & B albums, his acquired sex symbol status wasn't exactly stimulating his way of living. His focus on the music turned into an obsession with sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. And then it suddenly went silent around him. Self-reflection finally started kicking in when he lost his friend James Yancey aka J- Dilla in 2006.
In 2008 Archer was asked asked to sing on Q- tip's Believe track.(The Renaissance album)
This year the man's comeback tour throughout Europe proved incredulous critics that he remains a neo-soul icon. Accompanied by a sublime band, he is once again showing his multi-instrumentalist abilities(guitar and piano) in a superior show.
His Ghent Jazz festival jam made mouths gape, hips move, eyes shine and minds feel like making love.
Nowadays one is often disillusioned by live neo-soul or hip hop performances but this man isn't one of those delusional want-to-be-seen studio artists, he is the true human representation of pure funkiness.
In the words of former partner Angie Stone: « D'Angelo will always be d'Angelo. « Respect the talent of the Marvin Gaye of this day.
D'Angelo's 2012 tour band:
Jermaine Holmes
Kendra Foster
Cleo Sample
Rob Lumzy(backing vocals)
Isaiah Sharkey(rhythm guitar)
Jesse Johnson( guitar)
Pino Palladino(bass)
Raymond Angry(keyboard)
Chris Dave(drum)
Studio albums
Brown Sugar 1995
Voodoo 2000
Live albums
Live at the jazz café 1998
Compilations
The Best so far 2008
Remix album
Voodoo DJ Soul Essentials 2000
Oddissee's People hear what they see
Underground old school MC and producer Oddissee grew up in Maryland. Although he planned to enroll in a visual art school, he started focusing on hip hop.
Whilst working at A Touch of Jazz Studios his music career really kicked off with the Musik Lounge production on Jazzy Jeff's Magnificent album(2002).
Oddissee joined the low budget crew( with Kev Brown, Cy Young and Kenn Starr) and released the Foot in the Door EP( 2006, Halftooth Records), mixed by Jazzy Jeff.
In 2008 the producer signed with Mello Music Group. Heavy bass line productions and tracks such as 101, Mental Liberation, Everything changed nothing, Odd Reasons and Traveling Man followed.
Furthermore he created the hip hop group Diamond District and had the chance to work together with hip hop icons J-Live, Talib Kweli, Little Brother and Apollo Brown.
People hear what they see, Amir Oddissee Mohamed's proper debut album(Mello Music Group) took some time to compile but then that's logical as it represents his personal path towards self-actualization.
With lyrics tackling serious matters as materialism, the economic crisis(American Greed, Set you free) and real-life relationship experiences(The need superficial, Thinking Maybes), this self-reflective album is worth an attentive listen.
Tracklist:
- Ready to rock
- Do it all( with partners XO and yU)
- That real
- Let it go
- American Greed
- The Need Superficial
- Way in way out
- Thinking Maybes
- Another's grind
- Set you free
- You know who you are
- Think of things
Halftooth records:
Instrumental Mixtape Volume one 2005
The Remixture Volume 1 2006
Foot in the door 2006
Instrumental Mixtape Volume 2 2006
Oddissee Music:
Odd Summer 2009
Odd Autumn 2009
Odd Winter 2010
Odd Spring 2010
Mello Music Group:
101 2008
Good Tree EP 2008
Mental Liberation 2009
New Money
Traveling Man 2010
Odd Reasons 2011
Rock Crek Park 2011
People hear what they see 2012
Jill Scott's Crates Remix Fundamentals
Hidden Beach Label released the first volume of Scott's Crates Remix fundamentals Spring Summer Feeling, an eleven -track album of highly dance-able productions.
Producers and DJ's such as Ca$e Boogie, Bruce Walker, Jacques Richmond, Kyle West, Mr Mig, Ron Trent, Teddie Vee and all time favorite funky DJ Jazzy Jeff delivered their versions of Scott's songs.
Volume 2 will be available on the 31st of July.
Tracklist Volume 1:
1. Can't explain
2. Bedda at home
3. Talk to me
4. Whatever
5. Spring Summer feeling( tribute to Minnie Ripperton)
6. Come see me
7. Slowly Surely
8. Golden
9. Brotha
10. A long walk( A Jazzy Jeff redux)
11. Love Rain
J Dilla's The Rebirth of Detroit
The Rebirth of Detroit is the first release of Maureen Yancey's new Ruff Draft Records label. J-Dilla's mum asked various artists from the Detroit hip hop scene to perform on unreleased J Dilla beats.
Tracklist:
- The new installment
- Detroit Madness( Phat Kat)
- Big Thangs(Esham)
- Ride with it( Tha Almighty Dreadnaughtz)
- Say my name(La Peace, Moe Dirdee, Seven the General
- Detroit Game( Chuck Inglish and Boldy James)
- Feel this( Ketch Phrase)
- City of Boom(Loe Louis and Beej)
- Let's pray together( Amp Fiddler)
- Requiem( Alllan Barnes)
- Do it right( Fat Ray, Vstylez, Soulman)
- My victory( Boldy James)
- Rebirth is necessary(Tone Plummer and Mr Wrong)
- Dillatroit(Supa Emcee, Nick Speed, Guilty Simpson)
- Center of the movement(5ELA, Pierre Anthony)
- Pitfalls(Fat Ray, La Peace, Loe Louis)
- Do it for Dilla Dawg(Illa J and Frank Nits)
- Jay Dee's Revenge( Dannny Brown and DJ Dez)
- Motor City Sparks( Corey Sparks and Beej)
- House shoes was spinnin( Quelle Chris)
- The best that ever did it(Jon C and Allan Barnes)
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde: Expanded edition
The Pharcyde reissued their 1992 debut album with bonus instrumentals and remixes. This 20th anniversary edition consists of three discs.
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