you musta heard about Paul Dateh by now…  los angeleno. japanese american, hip hop violinist, singer & songwriter?  he’s classically trained, opened for Public Enemy & worked at Kinokuniya Bookstore. google him, youtube him, check your favorite asian american blogs, he’ll be there somewhere.

nevertheless wanted to share this lovely new track…sweet, jazzysoulish happy song called “Good Life”

YouTube – “Good Life” Music Video with Paul Dateh and Ken Belcher.

Here’s one of the first vids of Paul I’d seen… dopery.

& I’m a sucka for all acoustic covers of this song, “Just Friends” by Musiq… Paul & Ken’s is no exception

showin some singing chops, I also love this cover + his own flava of “Get Up” from Amel Larrieux!

and i dig his quote from a 2008 interview w/ LA Weekly:

“That chamillionaire thing, with the ho’s and the drugs and the bling? That’s not hip-hop to me,” Dateh says, “that’s the commercial market bombarding us with material objects. That’s only one side of hip-hop, and, personally, I don’t enjoy it. I’m sick of it. To me, hip-hop can be so much more. Real hip-hop is a blend of jazz, soul, funk, Latin. I like the stuff that’s on the underground scene. Brother Ali, Master Ace, Atmosphere, People Under the Stairs. Those guys are underground because the companies and powers that be decide they’re not marketable. I don’t want to offend anybody, and I hope you get that I love everybody, but so much of mainstream hip-hop is boring. Jazz and classical are much more complex harmonically, and some of these people in the spotlight are not really … musicians?” His voice trails off into a question.

Many of you already know that I’m a huge Amel Larrieux fan and that I have been since her days with Groove Theory.  I guess I don’t have to tell you my age then.  Larrieux’s song, For Real would be a great addition to your wedding playlist.  Whether you dance to it, play it some time at your reception, walk down the aisle to it, or dub it onto your wedding CD- it is sure to delight the ears and keep you swaying back and forth to the hum of the music.

I can run, I can race for hours and hours
And don’t stop
I can float I can fly us to the highest
Mountain top I can breathe you, I can drink in your laugh
I can… I can live on your smile I can trip and if I can fall into your arms I can
Stay there my whole life

[Chorus]
I can live
I can love
I can be better with you,
For real
I can hear
I can feel
I can see
I can tell
You are for real

I can stare, I can memorize your face, your hands, your hair, every part of you
I can cut off any loose ends and not even wanna keep a few
I can speak to you so honestly I can’t even run any game
I can hear a million angels singing in my ears
When I say your name

[Chorus]

I can’t smile, can’t dream like a child
Can’t feel safe in this wide world without you
I can’t go can’t disturb this flow
Can’t begin to know what I would do
I can’t see, can’t find strength to be
Rather not be me without you
I can’t deal, I can’t even feel, without you I’m not real

[Chorus]

we’re thoroughly spent
them bills are stacked up                                                    
the budgets bent
and our credits jacked-up
people can’t take it
they straight settin’ fires
not tryin to make no trouble
just wanna get hired

the stress level’s high
and the morale’s low
and when it’s lookin’ like it’s about to blow
your mind to the moon
stop what you’re doin’
tap into your…

maaaa-gic
feels good soon as you aaaadd it
if you forgot you haaad it
well, it’s right where you aaaat, kid
reach into you and draaaag it out
i’m talkin’ bout that maaaagic
however you can, you must graaab it
jump,  sit still, sing, laugh it’s
maaagic

were we just born to work
rather than born to live
still paying for your education 

when you’re 66 

mothers feel pressure to choose
fathers don’t see their kids
lovers can’t remember
the last time we kissed

the stress level’s high
and the morale’s low
and when it’s lookin’ like it’s about to blow
your mind to the moon
stop what you’re doin’
tap into your… 

Maaagic….                                                         

~Amel Larrieux~      

Where are you, btw?  We need some more of your magic, Amel.

I have featured this talented UK singer here before along with an introductory video detailing her plans to release an EP soon. She has been keeping us up to date with her progress via a couple of YouTube videos as well as some footage of recent performances.

I’m not sure quite what it is about her voice but I find myself stopping whatever I’m doing and just listening, it possesses that sweet, yet soulful tone that demands my attention until the very last note. Normally I’d say that Amel was not one to ‘mess with’, yet Szjerdene manages to do the original justice.

{Note: I find myself liking Szjerdene even more as I found out we share a similar, somewhat controversial opinion on a very well known male soul singer }

What do most popular – mainstream BW musicians/artists have in common nowadays?

They are lacking in the talent and originality department and usually try to compensate by walking around half naked and grinding in music videos and performances. Even the talented ones seem to succumb to shedding clothing the longer they are around. Whoever these women’s people/handlers are, they seem to convince BW artists that in order to stay relevant or “hot”, they need to strip down to their skivvies, slip into a pair of 5 inch heels and gyrate suggestively to a catchy beat.

It happened with Mariah, Beyonce, Mya, Amerie, Toni Braxton, Ashanti and the list goes on… I am not sure why it’s difficult for artists to understand it’s okay to be sexy or even sensuous, but not necessary for them to be overly sexualized to produce good music. More focus needs to be placed on the substance. To make matters worst, we know these women have legions of fans who are girls and young women who receive a double dose of BW being exploited as video girls dropping it like it’s hot in rappers and the r&b singers music videos AND by those BW singers who choose to exploit themselves! When that is all young girls/teenagers see in every music video, do you think there is no effect? [off soapbox now]

Here are three dignified BW artists stomping stereotypes with their unique music refusing to conform to the booty-shaking of their counterparts, and letting their talent speak for itself.

Meshelle Ndegeocello

Amel Larrieux

India Arie

Know any others? Leave a comment and share a BF artist stomping stereotypes with good/refreshing music!

So smooth, insightful, rhythmic, soulful, and UNDERRATED.

Amel Larrieux – Earn My Affections

So I’ve fallin in love with this Amel Larrieux album “Lovely Standards” and this record “try your wings” is the perfect note of insperation to my single readers

If you’ve never been
In love, and your longing
For the happiness it brings
Try your wings

If your hungry for the
Sound of a lover
saying sentimental things
Try your wings

Even the tiniest
Bluebird, has to
Leave its nest to fly
What a bluebird can
Do you can do too
If you try

If you’ve always had
A dream, and you’ve
Been afraid that it
Would not come
True hither to
Fall in love and
You will find that it’s
Just what you’ve been
Dreaming of

The first love never
Comes twice. So
Take this tender advice
When it comes
Try your wings and
Fly to the one you love

This tune brings back my high school memories, makes me feel so good.They dont make music like this anymore, instead its a boring formulaic muck being served to us on a daily basis-shout out to my fav struggling rnb singers.  In case you’re curious about what are they up to; Larrieux is continuing to pursue her solo career; she has released four solo albums so far- never heard of ! Wilson continues to write and produce for other artists with Davis (Beyonce,Amerie).

(The emcee Savant is from Chicago and is part of a self-described “hip-hop alliance” called RAREBREED [the other member of the collective is his younger brother, Joey Downtown]. While 206up.com is a space primarily dedicated to Seattle hip-hop, I reserve the right to go rogue once in a while, as I’m doing with this Review. Though it’s not a total tangential exercise: Savant is connected to Seattle through a group called The Emprise so prepare to see him come through the Six and do his thing once in a while. Trust 206up.com will keep you up on Savant’s future movements through The Town. But for now, on with the Review of The Delayed Entry EP…)

On Late Registration’s best track, “Gone”, Kanye says he wants to quit the rap game altogether and open a hip-hop school for aspiring emcees, a desire presumably stemming from his perceived lack of rappers properly representing. It’s typical Kanye: a romantic but somewhat misguided proposition considering it comes from a guy who isn’t exactly known for his ability to stay on task. I’d be okay enrolling my child at The Kanye West School of Hip-Hop, but only if Yeezy’s primary role was that of financier. The actual Emcee Professoring should be left to the rhyme virtuosos, those cats who find love and life in the art of rhyming (not in designing Louis Vuitton handbags). Chi-Town rapper, Savant, might be a worthy candidate for such a position. His first solo effort, The Delayed Entry EP (available for free download here), shines a musical spotlight on a budding rapper who seems hungry and focused on building his resume.

If Savant isn’t quite suited yet for the position of Emcee Professor, then he at least deserves a graduate assistant position or, better yet, maybe that of resident Rhyme Doctor. For nine tracks, Savant holds a clinic of sorts, displaying an ease and confidence on the mic that’s matched with an above-average ability to manipulate rhyme and word. From a technical standpoint, Savant bends tracks to his lyrical will. He displays uncommon dexterity on “Concrete Techniques” (featuring Three60) and on the RJD2-assisted “The Lyricist ThreeMix”. He’s often so focused on performing precise metric surgery on the beats that it comes as a pleasant (and welcome) surprise when he eases back and lets more personality show on the relaxed, “Illest You’ve Never Heard (Could We Go)” and summer-riding, “Bottom To the Top”. And, not surprisingly, Savant stands further out from the emcee crowd when he allows the subject matter to get heavier (see: “Marry a Memory”); it’s evident that dude is talented, but good lyrical content matters just the same.

Musically, Delayed Entry suffers a little from what many underground independent records suffer from: lack of innovation. Not that albums of this form and function should always be groundbreaking; hip-hop like this is generally meant to pay tribute to traditional aspects of the music and limited effort toward genre-bending sonic advancements is expected. In other words: that’s not the point here. But it would be nice to find more unpredictability. Not surprisingly, the best track is produced by the legendary RJD2 (the aforementioned, “The Lyricist ThreeMix”). Another standout is “Illest You’ve Never Heard” which employs a delicate but chopped-up Amel Larrieux sample. Savant’s rhyming generally overcomes any lackluster beats, which is both a testament to his lyrical prowess and cause for optimism for future releases that might feature more interesting production.

As Kanye, Jay, and Weezy continue to fly hip-hop’s flag high in mainstream America, it’s important to remember that the culture is forever tethered to artists like Savant. Folks like him fly mostly under the radar, yet are ultimately responsible for steering the Good Ship Hip-Hop through its rough (read: vapid and uninteresting) times. The underground set (an often fickle and skeptical bunch not affected by politics, popularity, or hype) will probably find The Delayed Entry EP a worthy, if not solid, first effort. It’s a type of recognition that is usually devoid of glitz — to say nothing of abundant financial reward. But acceptance by the underground masses is a sure sign that you’ve arrived. The impressions left in the discerning ears of those critics genuinely matter, as they’re the ones ensuring hip-hop stays healthy. And if the foundational elements of hip-hop are healthy, then the culture as a whole thrives. Savant’s The Delayed Entry EP proves that the emcee element is alive and breathing.

LETS SAY GOODBYE TO SEPTEMBER RETROGRADE AND WELCOME OCTOBER!  AMEN TO THE THIRD POWER ON THAT!

Can you tell that I’ve been hurt so?
Can you tell I wanna lay low?
Can you tell that I’m a flower
Waiting for a sunshower?

Can you tell that love denied me?
I need someone to revive me
If you give me a reason,
I’ll be with you through the seasons

And we’ll shed of our skin like trees do with leaves
We’ll glide together down on winter breeze
And rest in the earth intertwined at the roots
Until we have grown into one, me and you…

And we can be new
And we can be new
And we can be new
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
And we can be new

A boy found a pink grasshopper in a nature reserve recently. Pink insects are rare, but can pop up from time to time. How much you wanna bet they J-set every Friday for no reason?

Pink grasshopper

Pink Katydid

Pink Dragonfly

Peeped here.

Also, have a song to take you through the weekend. I usually don’t like “feel-good” songs, but this one is irresistable with the bass and instrumentation in the background combined with the floaty vocals and lyrics. Turn it up loud and jam. Ok, BAI.

Weather – Amel Larrieux

Love, that is. In it’s various forms. I just want to hand out some virtual wildflowers today (I don’t eff with cut flowers anymore) to people who make life interesting.

I’ve mentioned before how I am constantly amazed at how technology brings together people who probably would never have met otherwise. I have met and “met” some dear people online; many who have turned into true friends who I know I can reach out to.

I was just reading the blog of a blogger who died very recently, and reading the comments on her last post reinforces the importance of the connection that so many of us feel to people we know online.

Knowing that I’ve inspired people in the virtual world to go natural, maintain their natural hair, and go vegetarian or vegan (or even reduce their meat) means a lot to me.

The virtual friend I’ve known the longest is a dude that goes by DJWaltd. We “met” on Blackplanet (LAWD) back in like, 2001 or 2002 (no funny business, just friendship) and are still friends today just shooting the breeze every now and then about music, books, TV Shows (always quoting The Simpsons for something), etc.

Muze is the first blogging friend I made. She was my very first consistent commenter on this blog, and always made me feel like I was saying something interesting when I didn’t think anyone was reading. She linked me on her blog and is responsible for a lot of my early blog traffic because her blog was already crunk. She is an extremely talented writer and phenomenal woman all around. I love how she stays positive in almost every situation and retains a bit of mystique while sharing some of her most personal stories. We missed each other when I was in Detroit last time, but I know I’ll see her one day! Thank you Muze, for being you!

Karrie B is my best blog homie right now. We are pixie twins; the shortest, fun-size bloggers you know. I lurked on her blog for a long time (I believe I found it through Muze), then we began chatting on Twitter about ain’t shit type things. Months later, we talk in some form (phone, gmail, twitter, text, yahoo) every day. What I love about our friendship is we can say absolutely anything or share anything, and the other person will not even bat an eye. No judgment. Just honest assessments and advice.

QQ is another one whose blog I had lurked on forever. I lurked on C&D back in 2006 and 2007 and I remember her from there as well. She is one of the most forthright, intelligent, funny, and kind people I know. There are Gmail threads every day between her, myself, Karrie, Slaus, Bully, Sherri and Terri that keep us all wheezing for breath and cackling and for that I am thankful.

Vesper inspires me with her creativity and her expressions about life. We have e-mailed back and forth (I still owe you one!) about life, love, career, health, TV shows, whatever.

Mrsmarymack and I have also e-mailed and shared texts back and forth about family choices, careers, dreams, etc. She is my go-to person for advice and tips on certain areas of life and we can always make each other laugh with our Dallas vs. Houston rivalries in ain’t-shitness.

TheJadedNYer, Kingsmomma, ChocolateOrchid, Chanel, BCU, Cheron, InnyVinny, and Sydney all keep me looking forward to our chats and their blog posts. I love chatting with Lina, and I hope she brings her blog back because she has a lot to say and I love how she says it.

Cas is a fierce warrior for righteousness and I learn so much from her everytime I read one of her posts. I look forward to continuing chats with her.

My Blisslife homies, linked in our admiration of one of the most inspirational artists out there (Amel Larrieux) provide a haven to come relax and share. I am thankful for the presence of 2Serenity, Ness, Sacha, Tanijoy, SoulReflection, and SS1.

To the peeps who follow and/or lurk on my blog, thank you for reading and finding what I have to say interesting or entertaining. School and work have left me little time to read as many blogs as I want, so know that I read your blogs when I can, even if I don’t comment. Also, I chat with so many wonderful people on Twitter; too many to name. I have made friends with several people on there, even people from my own city. Bawse.

I’m also really feeling the love for Crabby. 4 years strong as a couple, and it’s a nice feeling. We are at a point where THINGS and STUFF are closer instead of a distant horizon and it’s a funny, buzzy feeling.

I’m also reading blogs from people who were in NYC on 9/11/2001. I was in college, in a class when it happened. A classmate was getting news updates on his phone and said out loud, “A plane has hit the WTC in NY.” We turned on the TV in the classroom. As it became apparent what was happening, the buzz of people’s voices grew louder. Class was dismissed. People poured out into the hallways from other classrooms. People left. Went home. My school was downtown, and it was jammed with traffic of other people leaving work to go home. People were confused and scared. Houston is a space, energy, and medical hub in this country. Could we be in danger too? The rest was a blur; I just remembered being glued to the TV once I got home. The fact that so much video was obtained forever stands out to me; as I am a visual person, I need to see things. My thoughts are with the people who experienced this first-hand and/or lost someone today. My thoughts are also with anyone who is hurting right now, be it from loss, heartbreak, disappointment, whatever.

One of my favorite Coldplay songs (and one of my favorite songs, period), Sparks:

Sparks – Coldplay

Happy Friday All!! I love writing this blog when an extended weekend is approaching. Everyone seems to be in a better mood and much more receptive to listening and reading, lol. I’m gonna slow it down just a little bit for this blog. By request, I’m posting up five videos that fall into the category of “Neo Soul”. Influenced by the 70’s soul scene, the term Neo Soul really didn’t become a well known or mainstream genre until the late 90’s. Before a term was coined, it was (and still is) known as underground soul, often performed by eclectic artists who put meaning into their lyrics to soulful tunes, usually created will live instruments. Auto tune not allowed! Some of my favorite artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, India Arie, and Floetry fall into this category, but did not make this week’s cut because they didn’t release any music prior to 1999. You all know the rules! All FF songs MUST be at least 10 years old.

The five videos I selected today are also from five of my favorite artists: Amel Larrieux, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Maxwell. All quality artists. All get constant rotation on my beloved iPod, as well as the radio for Erykah Badu and Maxwell who is just coming off the July release of his latest album entitled “BlackSummer’sNight”.  Amel Larrieux probably has an album coming out, but we wouldn’t know it because no one seems to pay attention to her or her positive songs like “Get Up”. Smh. Lol. When D’Angelo was hot, all the ladies loved and adored him as one of those sensitive thugs, lol. He had they bad boy look and chiseled body but had a voice that was out of this world. I choose to post up his song “Brown Sugar”, which we all know has a double meaning to it. Listen carefully. He isn’t only talking about a female. Exactly what is in that ‘brown sugar’ D’Angelo speaks of? Hmmm…..lol. Sadly, he apparently fell on some hard times and hasn’t been on the scene for a while. Same goes for Lauryn Hill. I’m not sure if she fell on any hard times, but I know after having five children with Rohan Marley, she fell off hard. Her solo debut album, “The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill” is a classic one in my opinion.  And I’m not even going to get into the Maxwell joint  I posted. Just remember I’m bailing any of y’all out if the cops come knocking at your doors later tonight, lol. Please listen, enjoy, vote, suggest and comment the blog. Have a blessed weekend!

*Exits outta the firescape*

Amel Larrieux – Get Up (1999)

D’Angelo – Brown Sugar(1995)

Erykah Badu – Next Lifetime (1997)

Lauryn Hill – Nothing Even Matters  (1998)

Maxwell – Til The Cops Come Knocking (1996)

so, I was reminded yesterday that one of my favorite songs right now is of course by one of the men I love….

“they say it aint trickin if you got it, they lyin. I say it aint trickin if you got HER, she mine…”

Loso! one of my facebook friends mentioned that the Throw it in the bag remix shouldve been on the CD. I agree. I actually planned to revisit the CD this week because I haven’t listened to it since I bought it…and that’s not a good sign, I’ve already forgotten whats on it. hmmmm.

so what else have I been listening to?

I’m Good -Clipse ft. Pharrell: I mean…its Clipse and Pharrell!!!  you know I rep two up two down even though they from tidewater

Mario- Break Up: this one isn’t new anymore, but its sooooo infectious. and I love Mario too.

Rather Be With You -Wale ft. J. Cole & Currensy: one of my faves from the Back to the Feature mixtape. when I first heard it I played it over and over…the production is sick. J Cole rips it in the beginning. gosh I love this nasty song! LOL. They do nasty so much better than say a Plies with his wack crass ass bust it baby/becky shit….

Where I’m From- Jay-Z: one of my favorite songs by him, and because I watch MTB, I’m always hearing the beat because Diddy decided he wanted to use it! ugh! that frustrates me more than anything…. “where we argue all day about whose the best emcees Biggie, Jay Z and Nas..”

Muah -Electrik Red: not sure how I feel about them, I mean I’ve had their joint for awhile and its aight. however I love this one song right here! I don’t care what people say about girls erroneously assigning “theme” songs… “I’m the shit, with this shit…mmm muah!”

Yo Side of the Bed -Trey Songz: so Ready is finally about to be released, and I uhm have already acquired it. I’m gonna buy it, but I’m not quite done sampling it yet. This song I’ve liked since I heard it on the mixtape…so far listening to Ready I’ll just say, I don’t like it better than Trey Day…or even Anticipation…

Can’t tell me nothing- Kanye: this was a hot ass song. I remember the first time I heard it like….ooohhh! me likes. “man its so hard not to act reckless….”

For Real -Amel Larrieux: I heard this song yesterday and thought “awww!” I used to LOVE THIS. still do. great love song. and Bravebird was a great cd! check the video below:

a random mix yes…but it works for me! if you haven’t heard these ever, or its just been awhile click the links are ride out!!!

I was SO exhausted at this point. Had been up since 4 am CST flew to Cali, traipsed and frolicked around San Francisco, went to 2 back to back concerts, so this was around 12:30-1:00am when this pic was taken.

Anyhoo, she went to see Amel last month in LA and got this video of her singing how she met and married her husband, Laru.

Love it.

Through a glass darkly; Christina Aguilera, as captured by Floria Sigismondi in the music video for "Hurt"

As readers of the blog may know, I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears on the Kristen Stewart/Dakota Fanning Runaways biopic. While you may know the leads, the director and screenwriter may not be as much of a household name. But hopefully that will change, as first-time feature director Floria Sigismondi has been making amazing music videos since the early 1990s. Some of her more famous titles include Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People,” The White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid,” and Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.” Also, Sigur Rós’s “Untitled #1” knocks me breathless each time I see it. 

In keeping with the spirit of the blog, I thought I’d focus on the female musicians Sigismondi has worked with (click on the artists’ names). Also, having read a delightful post on music videos inspired by horror films from my friend Caitlin at Dark Room, I thought I’d continue in the spirit.

Christina Aguilera
“Hurt”
Back to Basics

Fiona Apple
“O Sailor”
Extraordinary Machine

Martina Topley-Bird
“Anything”
Quixotic (retitled Anything upon re-release)

Shivaree
“John 2/14″
Rough Dreams

Amel Larrieux
“Get Up”
Infinite Possibilities

Sheryl Crow
“Anything But Down”
The Globe Sessions

Fluffy
“Black Eye”
Black Eye

Saw this over at Brother’s Blog, and had to do it! I am a whore for light-n-fluffy memes, and I’m ok with that.

In a land far away where the sun doesn’t spare a soul
And a twisted tradition has a girl in a strangle-hold
Lies a desert with the footprints…of little girls with a secret
Of a pain, that you and I could never know

Uganda’s President has banned the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), or female circumcision. This practice is done on young girls with a crude, often unclean knife or blade with no numbing or anesthetic, often removes the clitoral hood, and/or vaginal lips, and often is stitched back up into a small opening. This cultural practice transports them into womanhood and makes them marriageable, from what I understand. I have read often that the subsequent pain is supposed to ensure the woman’s faithfulness, as she will not seek out sex for pleasure thus ensuring the husband’s paternity and control/domination over his wife. Complications include reduced-to-no sexual pleasure, infections, pain and possible life-threatening complications in childbirth, maternal and infant mortality, and increased susceptibility to diseases such as HIV.

Little feet running fast as they can like a bird in flight
Through the sand with the fire in the sky and the indigo nights
She ran away from a life spent…being witness to other unwilling participants
Of a pain, that you and I could never know

The song in this post is attributed to Waris Dirie (but also others like her, I’m sure), who underwent FGM at the age of five years, and fled from an arranged marriage at the age of thirteen years to London. She has written an internationally bestselling book about her life and worked on a film of the same subject. She became a supermodel and is still an activist against FGM.

As she speaks you can tell that the words are not easy to say
Cause they have the power to transport her to that impossible day
But she hasn’t any regrets, cause she won’t become a woman with a secret
Of a pain that you and I could never know

Several other African countries have officially banned FGM, but in some countries apparently, the practice is still rampant. This seems really difficult to police effectively, but I truly believe just recognizing the dangers and human rights violations of this practice and stating sanctions against it is a hugely important step for women. Awareness is key so I think this is a giant leap forward every time a country bans it. I am always respectful and mindful of other cultures but I do think a line has to be drawn when it comes to blatantly harming, disabling, and often incapacitating another human being for the sake of marriageablility and womanhood. If there are those more knowledgeable on this subject, I invite your thoughts as well as those of all my readers.

You’re a bravebird…of the rarest kind
You may be one of the walking wounded…but still you fly
You’re a bravebird…you put yourself on the line
When you shared your secret with the world…you saved another mother’s child

Peeped here through here.

Bravebird – Amel Larrieux

This is the second single from her upcoming fifth solo album.

Amel Larrieux – “Orange Glow”

My goodness.
I’ve been a bit selfish lately.
Just runnin’ around, scoopin’ up musical blessings without sharing them all with you.
The end of May was a whirlwind of Charlie Hunter, Little Dragon, Santigold, the dopest People party yet, Malcolm X Jazz Festival, Amel Larrieux, and The Roots!

Then BLACK MUSIC MONTH hit…
Erykah sent me into orbit with a little help from the divine Miss Janelle Monae.
Abdullah Ibrahim brought me back down to heaven on earth.
Zap Mama rolled out a musical pathway to my heart.
A quick SF stop by Skream & Benga got me hyped.
Then the only party to make me sweat in a loooooooooong time, Grime City celebrated their 4th anniversary (can I say Audio Angel + live trumpet + live dancehall scat? What?!).

Never fear, my darlings, there’s still plenty to enjoy Black Music Month’s 30th Anniversary (first declared in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter at the urging of one, Mr. Kenny Gamble).
As June comes to a close…

Karriem Riggins @ Yoshi’s OAK with Pete Rock (Wed 6/24) and DJ Dummy (Thu 6/25).

Dennis Ferrer brings the heat with the Lotus/Ryhthtm folks @ Mighty (Thu 6/25).
(super-secret… no disrespect to Mr. Ferrer, but I’m really just going to see what the future is like according to Aybee/Deepblak…)

Major Lazer, Diplo’s sound meets dancehall riddims/chants/swagger gets set to blow minds @ the Regency (Fri 6/26).

Fatsouls Records celebrates the release of the “Sun of Gao”, a collab with Raoul K @ Otis (Fri 6/26)

A little pause in stride on Saturday (although Pharoah Sanders & Zakir Hussain @ Yoshi’s is tempting) because Sunday is all about Les Nubians @ Stern Grove.

Whew! I can’t imagine what else could fit… unless you make a stop by the Pride mainstage to catch Asian Pop courtesy of BoA (heavily influenced by Black urban dance) or Eclectic R&B from Solange (heavily influenced by well, her sister but also her friend, Janelle Monae).

Lastly, let’s talk about Maxwell.
The first album of the planned trilogy, BLACK Summer’s Night, is due out July 7th, and my heartstrings are already vibrating.
Maxwell has always had the lyrics but he’s gettin’ earthy on this one.
“Bad Habits” is classic sexy Maxwell with more horns, more orchestra than you’ve heard in the past.
The steady keys & raw emotion on “Fistful of Tears” are deeply satisfying like some of Prince’s best.
Sigh… you never know how much you missed someone ’til they leave & come back.

For the record, see. think. DANCE. is bubblin’ & brewin’ all summer to bring you the goodies for fall.
Just needed a place for all the offerings that have been more music than dance.
Keep an eye out for my Flip-happy local interviews & rudimentary podcasts born out of my newfound love for Audacity (you can check out the first one, a gift for a special friend
here).

In the meantime, don’t stop SEE-ing or THINK-ing.
And please keep sharing the MUSIC.

With love,
Eboni

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Coming up in JULY…
Jaguar Wright rolls into Yoshi’s SF with BKc crew (7/2), Valerie Troutt headlines @ Yoshi’s SF for one night only (7/29), and En Vogue holds on at the Alameda Fair (7/11).
Not to mention more Afro-electric rollercoaster rides from RadioClit (7/17).