Cover of Björk's Homogenic (One Little Indian, 1997); image courtesy of slantmagazine.com

Cover for Björk's Vespertine (One Little Indian, 2001); image courtesy of harmony-korine.com

When I began conceptualizing this blog in the ol’ brainspace, one of the first sections I came up with was “Records That Made Me a Feminist.” I knew Björk was going to get at least one entry. Homogenic and Vespertine each played a vital part of shaping my politics. So, I figured out I’d probably have to write about them together.

Pairing albums for this section of the blog is something I originally wanted to do this when covering Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun, which I started listening to around the same time as PJ Harvey’s Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea. I liked the idea of dialoguing seemingly dissimilar work by female artists with one another, but I feared covering those two albums together would short-shrift the artists who made them. However, talking about two distinct pieces of work by one woman seemed easier. And essential. So here we go.

I must admit that covering Björk’s 1997 and 2000 full-length releases present its own political challenges that makes me think critically about how I understand and practice feminism. Both of these albums made me a feminist largely because of the boys I was preoccupied with at the time.

But while my initial reception and resulting connections to them were tied up with potentially normative feelings around romantic angst and heterosexual coupling, I feel the albums speak to my development at the time as well as transcend it. In other words, Homogenic and Vespertine may remind me of boys I used to date, but they speak to larger, more overtly feminist issues as well.

Of course, being a feminist doesn’t mean you can’t like boys or be hung up on them from time to time, so long as you don’t let them run your life. Which I don’t think Björk endorses in either of these records, even though she herself has an ambivalent relationship with feminism (though not with calling out the music industry’s sexist practices of attributing male engineers and instrumental songwriters).

Importantly, as both albums were prescient to my development, they also went over my head when I first listened to them. Debut and Post were more accessible and, as a result, I liked them almost immediately. It was hard for 10-year-old me not to fall for the girl dancing through New York City on a flatbed in the music video for “Big Time Sensuality.”

But Björk’s next two albums took more time to process. Both albums mark advances in the artist’s production sensibilities, approaches to music-making, and interest in electronic instrumentation. Thus, just as Björk had to evolve as a musician before creating these albums, I had to mature a bit as a person before liking them as a fan.

So, Homogenic came out just as I was starting high school. I don’t exactly remember when I bought it, but I think it was sometime toward the end of junior year. I completely ignored it at the time. Or rather, I listened to it once, went “ooh, so angry!” and put Post back on.

The particulars I’ll keep to myself for the sake of decorum. Suffice it to say that I dated someone for a little while, fell in love, we broke up, and I spent a little over a year trying to get us back together. It didn’t work out. Eventually I got over him and whatever I thought we were, but not without some pain and denial and then serious personal re-evaluation. The healing process involved some righteous anger, loud parties, several bottles of wine and other goodies, and burgeoning feminist development. After a rough start, 19 turned out to be a pretty okay year. Homogenic was its soundtrack.

Now, I have no problem acknowledging that this guy was a total jerk to me. But feminism isn’t only about recognizing and calling out chauvinistic bullshit. It’s also about self-empowerment, personal accountability, and un-learning heteronormativity and patriarchal co-dependence. It isn’t always just the guy’s fault, even when it is.

Thus, I also have to own up to being really needy and delusional at the time. I pinned my worth on whoever I was dating without questioning whether being with them was actually good for me. So I projected my own big feelings and insecurities on someone who clearly didn’t want to be with me. I was ignoring the reality of the situation and, as a result, my own well-being. I finally recognized what I was doing when confronted with the lyric “How could I be so immature to think he could replace the missing elements in me — how extremely lazy of me.” 

Kinda appropriate that a break-up record got me over mine, no? Apparently, Björk made the album after breaking up with drum’n'bass musician Goldie while they were working on their own project. Hence lines like “So you left me on my own to complete the mission, but now I’m leaving it all behind.” But it pretty much hit all the right notes of melancholy, indignation, rage, and feisty recovery for me. I’m a quarter Norwegian on my mother’s side, so even the line ”I thought I could organize freedom — how Scandinavian of me” in “Hunter” applied.

Attention must be paid to the album’s sound and how it marked a musical departure for Björk. Post was an eclectic mix that boasted songs like “Army of Me,” “Enjoy,” and “Headphones,” that opened up her sound to include state-of-the-art aggressive digital distortion and serene electronic minimalism.

While this was evident in the production work Tricky and 808 State’s Graham Massey did on Post, it wasn’t the focus. It would come to define the artistic work she began doing with producers like Mark Bell on Homogenic and would continue to do with Matmos on Vespertine. But I’d hedge that most casual listeners just remember Post’s ”It’s Oh So Quiet,” which was produced by Björk’s then-mainstay, Nellee Hooper, the man responsible for all the production on her breakthrough Debut. He was also responsible for “Hyperballad,” which I’d argue suggests the artist’s shift, which is fully evident on her next album.

Man, I wish I could post the music video, but WMG has apparently disabled the audio. All the more reason to check out Michel Gondry’s Directors Label DVD, or any of the other myriad DVD titles that have documented her videography.

So Homogenic marks a transition from being a pop star to an artist who challenges her listeners’ ears and expectations with each release. By 1997, we also heard alternative pop stars like Beck and Radiohead establish themselves similarly with Odelay and OK Computer. We would hear Radiohead do it again in 2000 with the mind-blowing Kid A, where they really demonstrated their love for electronic instrumentation and experimental production techniques.

Björk was already on this path in 1997, but while Radiohead looked outward toward the fallabilities of modern life, Björk looked inward at the seductive pleasures and wobbly peculiarities of domestic life and partnership on her next record, rapturing at her voice’s clicks and finding percussive possibilities out of shuffled decks of cards. I don’t think these innovations went unnoticed when Radiohead went to work on In Rainbows. To me, Vespertine’s influence is all over a song like “Nude,” which was originally an outtake from OK Computer. This is further confirmed by the band’s rendition of Homogenic’s ”Unravel” as a tip of the hat. As if lead singer Thom Yorke’s backing vocals on “Náttúra” aren’t enough.

Hmmm. Maybe at some point, I’ll consider Yorke’s duets with Björk and PJ Harvey. Yorke is one of my favorite vocalists, a fact confirmed by a recent revisit of Hail to the Thief. If one of my friends ran a blog on male masculinity and music culture, I’d pen a guest entry in a second.

But I was afflicted with a troubled mind when Vespertine first came out. In addition to boy heartache, I was going through some considerable familial strife. I was also starting my first semester of college, so a tackier person might blame 9/11.

After seeing the music video for “Hidden Place,” I dutifully bought the album, along with My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, another at-the-time inscrutable release, at the Tower Records by campus. I listened to the album a few times, but my head was not in the right place for it. It was too contented and quiet. I couldn’t hear it. And then for a little while all I could hear was Homogenic at full volume.

Stills from the video that convinced me to buy "Vespertine"; image courtesy of unit.bjork.com

To be blunt, Vespertine didn’t really make sense to me until I started having sex. Critics like Ryan Dombal would seem to concur. I remember seeing her performance of ”Cocoon” on Jay Leno and thinking that it was really quiet, but totally not getting how micro-embodied intimacy is the song’s entire purpose. While I had a good understanding of mechanics and had engaged in related activities before going into my first listen, I don’t think a song like “Cocoon” makes sense to a person unless they’ve experienced it, to speak euphemistically, in a corporeal sense.

BTW, yes that is Bill O’Reilly adjusting his tie. If he was actually listening to the song, I’m sure he’d be appalled by how delightfully, defiantly sexual this song is and that it was performed uncensored on network television. Watching it now, I can’t believe I wasn’t really listening. Maybe I should have been leaning into the television.  

Again, the particulars here aren’t really important. I was a week or so into being 20 and, frankly,  didn’t want to be a virgin anymore. The guy was someone willing, it was fun, and didn’t last very long.

In short, the romanticism and emotional connectedness that is often built into such an experience was not there, nor do I regret that it wasn’t. I would find that later, which would make my understanding of those aspects of Vespertine more profound and further develop my feminist principles.

I bring sex into the discussion because I, to borrow briefly from Arrested Development’s George Michael Bluth, find Vespertine’s complex eroticism one of its most key contributions to what made me a feminist. Though perhaps a stretch and certainly not without its own distinctions, I tend to think of this album in accord with Audre Lorde’s wonderful essay “Uses of the erotic: the erotic as power.”

And while I don’t know if this entry’s subject has read the essay, something tells me that the same woman who identifies as bisexual and recognizes the erotic potential in mundane activities would concur with much of the theorist’s thesis.

Of course, feminists must also have the wherewithal to recognize that eroticism, even ephemeral evidence like orgasms, are luxuries to some women and girls. Not everyone is given a space, a country, or a political system that allows them the safety and freedom to enjoy and explore these possibilities.

But eroticism isn’t about cataloging who did what to whom for Björk. As David Fricke gestured toward in his review of the album for Rolling Stone, it might be everywhere, at once tangible and theoretical.

This is where I think it’s important to consider the album’s production sensibilities and Björk’s particular uses of her voice. In addition to non-conventional practices like sampling and turning seemingly non-musical domestic items into instruments, the singer’s voice is the album’s real focus. Because of how closely she’s miked, you can hear every tic, breath, whispered turn of phrase, and any other sound coming out of her mouth. As a result, her voice becomes a varied and vital instrument, an idea she has continued to develop and that has continued to stay with me.

It was my birthday. I got a bit Sister Sledge. Wanted all my sisters with me.

Free – Deniece Williams

Love of my Life (an Ode to Hip Hop) – Erykah Badu

Who was I Trying to Fool – Iman

Lovefool – The Cardigans

Big Time Sensuality – Bjork

No More – J Davey

Glory Box (live) – Portishead

Reasons – Minnie Riperton

Everybody Got their Something – Nikka Costa

Gimmee – Jill Scott

Warship Touchante – Brides of Funkenstein

What’s my Name – Native Sol

I Am Woman – Betty Wright

NEW MIX DOWNLOAD HERE

“How can such a big voice come from such a petite frame? Erykah Badu has had my ears since her first album. I remember in the summer of 1997 listening to her music. I had come off of long term relationship and it seemed like her music cradled my heart. I couldn’t tell if it was the summer heat or the melodies of her music that made me feel warm inside. Her album became the soundtrack to my life during that time. You know when that happens, you can’t help but reminisce about those days that once were. Surprisingly, her album releases have run parallel to all my break-ups except for this last one. With such an emotional charge from me through her music, it is only right that I pay homage to her. Thank you E Badu.”

                                                                                                                                                          Steven Lopez

Well, life is tough and Erykah likes charity, so she and Steven Lopez made 100 exclusive copies of “Amerikahn Promise”, signed them and put them out for sale. This print will appears in Lopez’ After Midnight art series which also include Chaka Khan, Jill Scott, Tina Turner, India Arie, Sadie  and Aretha Franklin. Each signed print costs from $1000 to $3000 and you can get it only at: aftermidnightsoul.com. You even have to bid for the $3000 ones, so .. good luck and enjoy!

Check this out and find something familiar
myspace.com/erykahbadu

So last week, my Editor sorta told me that GlamTings are doing an erm… ‘25 fav things’ type special editorial… I dunno… 2 commiserate us being 25? I dunno lol! Anyway so she asks me to do a top-25 songs list or something like that & in my head, I go ‘Pardon Me’, the exact same way Rob Gordon replied when the reporter asked him what his all-time top 5 records were, in the movie ‘High Fidelity’… & so in this movie High Fidelity, the reporter asks again ‘Your desert-island top 5?’, to which Rob replies ‘Oh Boy… in the club OR at home?’ and the reporter ignorantly asks if there’s a difference… Ofcourse there’s a difference & you guys can back me up on this BUT ‘Top 25 Songs?’… What? Love Songs? Gospel songs? Songs to make love to (as Distinctly different from love songs! Understand!), Easy Breazy Sunday Morning Songs? Angry Songs? Songs for the car? Songs for the bus? LIKE what are you tryna do to me out here???

Anyway so Rob eventually mentions 5 of his all-time desert-island favorite records & the reporter ventures to continue interviewing him BUT she CANNOT & you wanna know why? Because he keeps interrupting her to chop & change his all-time top 5 records… It’s near enough an impossible task for the likes of Rob & I… He ends up offering to make the reporter a tape… And… And… He calls the reporter the next week to change, yet again, his all-time top 5 records list!!! ‘WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?’ do I hear you ask? Oh figure it OUT, will ya? And oh top 5? top 25? Equally as impossible ok!

BUT this is what I say to my Editor… ‘Ok Cool x’! OK COOL? Somebody shoot me now! Please!

Alright so expect this to be a long & painful process, it might actually take US a long while to arrive at any comprehensive top 25 list on any level so you have duly been warned lol! & that’s why we’ll be dividing this mammoth exercise into PARTS… Jheez!

PART ONE… Because this is my favorite genre of Music at the moment… Top 25 Hip-Hop Records!?!?????? Ah ahn.. Ah Ahn! Nah I can’t! Let’s start off with something easier, we’ll ease in to the tougher lists (in a couple months maybe lol).

OK let’s do that again…

PART ONE… Top 25 Albums of the 21st Century!!! **I Keep digging a GRAVE for myself, don’t I?**

One thing I will say about this list is… The first draft had 70 records on it & I was thinking of changing this ‘top 25′ list to a ‘top 50′ list because it’d be so much easier & OMG I have had to cut out some of my all time favorite albums from the final list BUT alas, the show must GO ON… SO Without further adieu!!!

Slightly MISSING OUT however ARE…

Georgia Anne Muldrow – Olesi: Fragments of an Earth (2006)

Now most of you will probably NOT have heard this album… It’s your LOSS to be honest BUT what I will say though is, THIS is one of the very few R&B albums this decade that made this list because let’s be honest R&B in the 2000s lost its way… Fragments of an Earth is progressive music 4 your soul and I like it so there!

&

Blur – Think Tank (2003)

F**K what you heard alright, Damon Albarn is a MUSICAL GENIUS & this album proves it… This was Blur’s forray away from BritPop into more experimental sounds such as Dub, Jazz, Hip-Hop & World Music BUT still laced with gorgeous melodic sounds of their epic ‘ParkLife’ album… I find it interesting how most of the musical backdrop of this album is led by the BASS sounds as against the strings of a lead-guitar (YES Coxon the lead guitarist left the band around the time of recording BUT I think it’s more than that)… On a different week, this would be in my top 25 easily… That’s how much I love this album & how fickle this top 25 list can be!!!

Other Notable mentions from my original top 70 list include BUT are not exhausted to Ledisi’s ‘Lost & Found’, Little Brother’s ‘The Listening’, Common’s ‘Like Water for Chocolate’, The Clipse’s ‘Hell Hath No Fury’, Amel Larriex’s ‘Brave Bird’, Scarface’s ‘The Fix’, El-P’s ‘Fantastic Damage’, Blu & Exile’s ‘Below the Heavens’, Outkast’s ‘Stankonia’, Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘Songs for the Deaf’, Ryan Adam’s ‘Heartbreaker’, Johnny Cash’s ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’, Portishead’s ‘Third’… OK! I should stop! We will have another conversation about these albums on a later date!!!

OK NOW to the Nitty Gritty…

25. Femi Kuti – Fight to Win (2001)

It took me a long minute to decide which Femi Kuti LP to include in this list… ‘Shoki Shoki’ or Fight to Win because let’s face it, the man made two CLASSIC albums this century (He seats comfortably in the same box as Radiohead? Jay-Z? M.I.A? Kanye West? in that respect)… Some will argue that without a ‘Shoki Shoki’, there would never have been a ‘Fight to Win’ so ‘Shoki Shoki’ should make the list BUT ‘Fight to Win’ is a near-perfect record! John Armstrong (BBC) calls it an excellent showcase of 21st Century Afrobeat & we cannot argue with that.

24. The White Stripes – White Blood Cells (2001)

I will come out and say it NOW! I’ve cheated by putting this album so far down this list… It’s Rock & Roll music at its very purest form & at its best! Even if you’re NOT into that kinda garage rock music, this album gets you. its 40 odd minutes and I dare you to want to skip any of the 16 songs on this… I just DARE you!

23. Jamie Lidell – Multiply (2005)

And now for some controversy…

Otis Redding? Stevie Wonder? Sam Cooke? Al Green? Willie Mitchell? Prince? You hear them ALL on this album & you have to ask, how does an Electronica producer all of a sudden turn into this rarity of a Soul Singer creating these amazing soul records. Never mind that he’s White, that just makes it more unreal… This album is Amazing & that is putting it very lightly.

22. Dizzee Rascal – Boy in Da Corner (2003)

GRIME never & possibly will never sound this GOOD & you can quote me on that one! Dizzee’s 2003 debut is still the only grime LP that I can play from start to finish without wanting to skip a track… Say what you will about the Londoner BUT at 18, he made one of the best records to come out of the UK period! It Certainly isn’t NO ‘Sgt. Pepper’ but it is Iconic in its own right! & for the last time, it’s NOT hip-hop, its GRIME & its GRIME at its very BEST, heights of which the genre will not reach again.

21. Flying Lotus – Los Angeles (2008)

Experimental Hip-Hop? Electronica? Indie Hip-Hop? Psychedelic? Whatever you wanna call it, FlyLo has got it mastered to a tee on ‘Los Angeles’! Now many people will question this inclusion to the list BUT if you’ve heard this LP, if you’ve actually listened to it, you’d understand that the (somewhat premature) comparisons to such greats as Cannibal Ox & El-P stem from this one album & you’d understand why… Just listen to ‘Golden Diva’ & come back to talk to me!!!

20. Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun (2000)

On this one, I really couldn’t decide between this album & last year’s ‘New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War’, I’m sorry! I’m more leaning towards Mama’s Gun to be honest, it’s been with me for longer & it hasn’t LOST it’s GOODNESS… Who know what ‘New Amerykah’ will sound like in 2017 so based off of that longevity and impact continuously over 9 years, ‘Mama’s Gun’ takes the cake. Its beautiful music that’s effortless & what else would you expect from Ms. Badu working with such minds as Questlove, D’Angelo, Jay Dilla & Common… certainly nothing less!

19. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)

One of the all-time BEST Emcees at his all-time BEST is what ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ is. It’s nothing short of an epic work of art. Mr. Mather’s lyrical genuis & explicit narratives on this album match up with the best that Hip-Hop has ever had to offer & Dr. Dre is on hand to offer the musical back-drop for the lyrical onslaught… It’s a match made in heaven and the ‘Marshall Mathers LP’ is the miracle baby! SNM!!!

18. The Avalanches – Since I left You (2000)

I kinda have a feeling… let’s call it a theory… that any conversation about the best albums of this decade will be grossly incomplete without mentioning this Album & please quote me on that! It is what DJ Shadow’s ‘Endtroducing’ was to the 90’s and a STRAIGHT MASTERCLASS in the art of sampling. If you’re a producer & you sample (which is everybody lol) & you don’t own this record (actually if you don’t own this record & DJ Shadow’s ‘ENDtroducing’)… & you haven’t studied this record THEN you’re for all intents & purposes, well & truly LOST! It’s a travesty in itself that I’ve placed it so low as Number 18!!!

17. The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free (2004)

Would it be so BOLD for me to say that this album is the best urban UK album… YES it’s NOT technically Hip-Hop or Grime & it’s NOT Garage-infused like Mike Skinner’s debut LP ‘Original Pirate Material’, it’s JUST an amazingly put-together body of work… Where ‘O.P.M’ was daring & groundbreaking & revolutionary (dare I say), ‘A Grand Don’t Come for Free’ is just simply better… It was a concept album before concept albums became ‘cool’ again in Hip-Hop & it’s 11 tracks of pure genius, witty vivid lyrics, near perfect narratives & an amazing musical backdrop that takes you right into the scene of this ‘movie’… #NuffSaid

16. The Roots – Game Theory (2006)

We always knew that The Roots were somewhat of a phenomena (well to the back-packers they are near enough gods!)… I mean, what else would you get by mixing Questlove, who in my opinion, is one of the greatest musical minds there are & Black Thought, the most slept-on & underrated emcee in the game & arguably one of the greatest all-time emcees… But The Roots had never quite delivered on any of their previous LPs (except for ‘Illadelph Halflife’ & marginally on 1999’s ‘Things Fall Apart’) in my humble opinion… ‘Game Theory’ was the album for me when The Roots became all they could be… It was dark, it was gritty, but it oozed life… it swayed from angry to depressing quite effortlessly & it was The Roots at their most cohesive. Simply put… Amazing music.

**AND BREATHE**

Alright Ladies & Gentlemen, that’s all you get from me for this week… Join me next week and we’ll go through the top 15 albums of this decade!!! OH P.S LET the RIOTING begin…

Until the Next Time

Triple A

VERDICT:
8/10 Boss Emcees

One of those magical little movies that’ll a big ol’ smile on your face from beginning to end. Man, what the hell happened to Dave Chappelle?

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is a documentary that follows Dave Chappelle – back when he was living it up as the funniest man on Earth –  as he puts together an utterly epic block party in Brooklyn, NY featuring some of the biggest names in the history of R&B and Hip-Hop. And being that Dave Chappelle is the man, he makes it into a free show, buses droves of people from his hometown in Ohio to go to the show, and makes everyone laugh their asses off.

What a guy.

Now, I happen to like a lot of the acts that Dave lined up for this show, especially since he somehow managed to get The Fugees back together for it (if you’ve never listened to The Score, you don’t know what you’re missing, brotha). So being that I like to laugh hard and since I’m always down for some choice R&B and Hip-Hop, this was a win-win for me, but I can understand how a number of folks out there might not see the attraction to this little comedy/rap concoction. For those of you who fall into this category, listen close, I have a story to tell thee.

I kinda had to rope my friends into seeing this one when it was out in theaters because they could really have given a shit about every aspect about this movie that didn’t have to do with Dave Chappelle. But by the time they came out, even though they still didn’t really care much for the musical aspect of it, they were soundly entertained across the board.

Part of this is because of Dave. The humor here is kinda different from Chappelle’s Show in that it’s not really trying to be edgy or push the envelope, it’s just capturing Dave as this normal, genuine, and totally hilarious guy that’s just trying to throw this sweet party for everyone to enjoy. The only bits that are scripted are a couple acts he does onstage with Mos Def and The Roots, but his best stuff is just when he’s being himself. It’s a damn shame that he’s been written off as this mental case over the years, because the impression you get from him here is that he’s of the rare humble, and grounded breed of celebrity that’s doing his best not to let fame get to his head. There’s a lot of celebrities out there who could learn a thing or two from Dave. That guy’s A-okay in my book.

But the other part of this is actually because of Michel Gondry. From a visual standpoint, you’d never know Gondry was behind this as it pretty much boils down to him with a camera and that’s it, but it’s something about the overall positive vibes this movie puts out that feels very much his own. Gondry makes movies about people, movies that bring people together, and that’s the beauty of Block Party. More so than the acts on stage, Gondry makes the people going to the show the main characters, showcasing this melting pot of cultures and happiness that all came together for this one kickass occasion.

It’s an unlikely one, but Chappelle and Gondry are a great team whose visions really complement each other. Good times all around with these guys.

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party is just a damn good time. Not only is it funny as hell, but it’s surprisingly insightful, has a huge heart, and the concert itself is totally awesome, too. So give it a shot, even if you could care less about a Fugees reunion, everyone needs a good reminder every now and again of the genius that is Dave Chappelle.

We miss you, man. Come back to us.

Erykah Badu släppte inte bara ett grymt album förra året, hon slog dessutom till med en av de senaste årens bästa video till singeln “Honey”. Ja, jag vet att jag är partisk i frågan – som en dj av den gamla skolan, en som fortfarande har en Ikea-hylla full med vinyl, är skivomslag något av det bästa jag vet inom den visuella konstens värld. Så det är klart att jag firar när Erykah, en av världens coolaste människor, återskapar gamla klassiska skivomslag med sig själv i stället för originalartisterna.
Även Them Sa-Ra dudes dyker upp här och där, som producerat låten och också släppt ett grymt album i år.
Erykah Badu – Honey
Har man inte sett originalomslagen missar man förstås lite av videons humor – även om vi nog alla har sett Hey Ya-videon och därmed kan digga in avsnittet som parodierar den . Vi som kan vårt hiphopskvaller vet ju också att Andre i Outkast är Erykahs ex och att de har en unge tillsammans, så passningen blir extra rolig. Men som expert i området (hrm, nörd alltså) kan jag tipsa om att ni håller utkik efter lookalikes till följande skivomslag:




och naturligtvis…

…med flera. Håll till godo och låt oss hoppas att vi får ett nytt Erykah Badu-album snart. Ingen annan kan göra det åt henne. /Matte

BPA and Rock the Dub present J Slikk’s third entry into the Drum Major series featuring songs from R.O.E., Junclassic, (the artist formally known as) Cyrano and more over his production. Additionally, the compilation includes remixes of well-known songs with J Slikk beats.

Tracklist x Download Link after the jump

1. Intro
2. Rashid Hadee – Get Mine
3. R.O.E. – Can’t Help Myself
4. Cy Yung – Dreamcatcher Revisisted
5. Erykah Badu – Honey (J. Slikk Remix)
6. Common – The Light (J. Slikk Remix)
7. Indy Sparks – Vibe
8. Rukus – Cocky
9. R.A.C.E. (of the Primeridian) – The Prescription
10. Asylum 7 – The Real
11. Junclassic featuring Cy Yung – The Ooh Aah
12. Katy Perry featuring Cy Yung – I Kissed a Girl (J. Slikk Remix)
13. The Black Sunn- Black Gangsta
14. Junclassic – Cruising
15. Rukus featuring Soulbrotha – Slow it Down
16. Erykah Badu – Real Thing (J. Slikk Remix)
17. Cy Yung featuring the Primeridian – CeleBROtee
18. Logic Marsalis – Dopesicklove
19. Junclassic – Heard em Say
20. Kanye West, Nas, KRS 1, Rakim – Classic (J. Slikk Remix)
21. Chapter 13 – Watchin my Moves (J. Slikk Remix)
22. Oscah – Slow Motion
23. Cy Yung – Devil’s Pie II (unreleased snippet)
24. Junclassic – The Basics
25. Logic Marselis – Powermoves
26. R.O.E. featuring Cy Yung – Once Again
27. Little Brother – Life of the Party (J. Slikk Remix)
28. Indy Sparks – A Great Day
29. Cy Yung – Killa B
30. R.O.E. – Return of the Soulstar (intro)
31. Cy Yung – Da Hollywood Shuffle
32. Kanye West – Love Lockdown (J. Slikk Remix)

Download: The Drum Major III

…Dallas Texan musician and singer Geno Young sends us ‘ smooth sailing’…

…Geno Young who crafted his skill of the violin at a very young age and furthered his interests in the musical arts in highschool and then later when he studied music at Howard University, it was a “match made in music”. Having the opportunity to work with Erykah Badu proved to be a pivotal point in Geno’s life, as he not only crafted songs but produced for the songstress as well. Responsible for writing the songs: ‘Time’s a Waistin’ and ‘Orange Moon’ off of Badu’s ‘Mama’s Gun’ LP, Geno is truly not at  all selfish with his gifts. This became more evident in his contributions toward projets for N’Dambi and Carmen Rogers. Sliding in and out of the roles of producer, musical arranger as well as A&R now seem to be stepping stones for Geno as he releases his personal piece called ‘Ghetto Symphony’….

Check out the videos from Geno’s latest project:

I’m not going to give 2008 the full play-by-play treatment I’ve been giving the other years of the aughties, simply because, well, it’s still pretty recent– and besides that, my list of fifteen favorites is still available here. I do want to make just a few comments, though, and shine the light on a few terrific recordings that are still very much deserving of praise.

But first, a confession. I have “officially” had two favorite albums of 2008: First, TV on the Radio’s Dear Science, and then, when I heard it in early 2009, Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah part 1: Fourth World War. And both are, to be sure, tremendous recordings, fully deserving of landmark status; indeed, both albums are quintessential snapshots of 2008, albums that perfectly summarize the spirit of the age in which they were made, either with uncommon hope (TVotR) or unfettered indignation (Badu). But I will admit now that, when it comes to the album I actually listened to the most and derived the most joy from in 2008– and on into 2009– the honor for my personal most cherished recording is Barry Adamson’s wonderfully soulful and deliciously seedy soundtrack-in-search-of-a-film, Back to the Cat.

That out of the way, I offer a few more reasons why 2008 was a year to remember:

• Two of the decade’s most accomplished and sophisticated singer/songwriters albums, by a pair of women who only seem to get better and better: Jenny Lewis‘ laid-back, classicist but idiosyncratic country-rock album Acid Tongue and Jolie Holland’s knotty jazz-and-rock knockout, The Living and the Dead.
• The decade’s most convincing claim to the “New Dylan” tag, The Tallest Man on Earth’s Shallow Grave.
• A dynamite continuation of Nick Cave’s latter-day winning streak, the frantically funny Dig, Lazarus! Dig!
• One of my favorite instrumental jazz albums of the decade, and perhaps my very favorite that’s made up of all-original songs– Brian Blade and the Fellowship Band’s Season of Changes.
• An album that didn’t make my original Top 15 list but probably should’ve: Sam Phillips’s electric and eclectic set Don’t Do Anything.
• An absolutely essential collection from Steinski, and a historic collection of Bob Dylan outtakes.
• And, the decade’s most pleasant surprise: A Coldplay album that was actually deserving of the hype.

That was 2008 for me; what were your landmark recordings?

See also: 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2004; 2005; 2006; and 2007.

Loving this cover by Solange Knowles of the song Stillness is the Move by Dirty Projectors.
The original…

Im actually digging the cover way better than the original.It may be that that the beat (Erykah Badu’s Bag Lady) flows way better with the lyrics. Solange’s voice is beautiful on top of that. Brava.

Solange is the move, people.

I got to give props to Solange, this shit is dope. Checkout the original below ⇓ by The Dirty Projectors

If you need a download of either of these songs, shoot me a email (Danny.Fantym@gmail.com). I got in trouble (by wordpress) for posting a download to that Timbo track a couple weeks backs. Hit me up if you need a download link for anything that i’ve posted.

Oh yea, check us out on Twitter ⇒@iLLCiTyBlog ⇒@DannyFantym ⇒@TyKidd

Shout out to UpLateLastNight. http://bit.ly/2t8U73 Check ‘em out when you get a chance, they support illcity! http://bit.ly/2t8U73

…e. Badu posted this a while back  on her myspace page as she awaited her newest baby’s arrival…though her words are simple, they’re true..

…IF YOU BELIEVE IT IT’S YOURS . TRUST .

The Blue of Badu…
This edition of Sample Magic is brought to you by none other than Ms. Erykah Badu (nobody does it like you, Badu!). The way she chronicles her life is nothing short of a musical gasm* on repeat, but the way she incorporates samples into her music (especially during live performances), is like having a lesson in music history. This track was produced by none other than the musical genius who brought me many of my all-time favorite songs, J. Dilla (R.I.P).

Didn’t Cha Know…
The track Didn’t Cha Know, off her album Mama’s Gun samples the beautiful bass line from Tarika Blue’s Dreamflower. This musical arrangement by itself takes one on a cosmic journey; Didn’t Cha Know simply gives words to articulate it. Enjoy.

Sidenote: this is one of my FAVE videos

Uzuri is Swahili for beauty. Pretty cool, huh? I thumbed through YouTube looking for some dialogue because I honestly never even heard Swahili spoken. When you hear it, you smile. It’s like the first taste of something sweet and once it hits your tongue, the corners of your mouth rise.

After all the drama last week Bella Bombast contacted me. She is the designer for Uzuri and passed me along the Bloggers Gift Pack. Two things struck me immediately: Bella’s jewelry was everything I wanted to wear in RL and her Jez skin line is the perfect for any Nubian Queen.

Bella has created some the best ethnic jewelry in Second Life I have ever seen. The attention to detail is flawless. Sometimes they are big chunky pieces and other times, delicate beaded work that beckons of the ultimate feminine touch. All the jewelry I saw was completely prim based, which is the ONLY way to go when jewelry is your medium. The bangle I am wearing in the graphic is free, start there and then you can begin to see the craftsmanship. For easy browsing, check her out on xstreet.

The Jez skin is priced at 990 linden and you get two versions: one bald and one with a hairline. The hairline version is perfect for dreadlocks. As you can see, the JOYA scarf wraps nicely and the natural hairline fits perfectly. I also tried this BOON hair, which worked just as well. The skin is naturally well lit. My favorite part is the chest. The breasts, sternum and collar bone are so womanly. It actually reminds me of Erykah Badu. Not that I have been staring at Madam Badu’s tits for hours…but… ah…. heh…. well… I sorta painted myself into a corner, didn’t I? Yeah, okay. The skin is GREAT. Really. Really.

Uzuri is located here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lila/32/49/23

top – Tryanny Designs…………. Shes Got Class – translucent
skirt – Zaara…………. Larin Skirt – tan
ear rings – Uzuri …………. Kipepeo
bangle – Uzuri …………. Furaha (free item)
shoes – J’s …………. Real Toe Studded Wedge – brown
eyes – Uzuri …………. Sunny Grey Eyes
skin – Uzuri…………. Jez – Dirty Smokey – Red Gloss (hairbase)
hair – JOYA …………. Lyne – Beliria Square
poses – Penny Dreadful Arcade

Of course, we could be here all day talking about the best live performances on an album… So, I’m just gonna give you a well rounded taste of some classics. Music is amazing like that! There are so many wonderful artists with diverse talent to offer. Get to know somebody new… and get reacquainted with the ones you already love, right here….

To get things started, I thought I might share a lil’ footage of myself Enjoy!

Miss R&B

‘Erykah Badu “Erykah Badu Live”

Great covers, effortless on stage, absolutely classic

Aretha Franklin “Amazing Grace”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find video footage of a song from her Amazing Grace live  album in 1972 with Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir. It’s been toted to be one of her best recordings live. I decided to share other footage instead. Enjoy;)

Keith Jarrett “Live in Koln”

The Koln concert… completely improvised, another dimension…WOW!

Sam Cooke “Live @ The Harlem Square Club”

Stirring vocals, with breathtaking drama and unparalleled soul

The Roots “The Roots Come Alive”

Full of energy, classic hip hop nostalgia and dope collaborations

Nirvana “Nirvana Unplugged”

Signature grunge that comes together for an effortless set in New York…

Jay Z “Jay Z Unplugged”

Hip Hop’s Renaissance man…backed by The Roots

James Brown “Live @ The Apollo”

Thrilling, let’s go adrenaline, passionate and soulful delivery…just dynamite

Jimi Hendrix “Band Of Gypsy’s Live @ The Filmore”

A sign of the times…war and self expression… famous for the 12 minute rendition of Machine Gun… Here’s a taste

KISS “KISS Alive 1975″

Electrifying, fist pumping, neck jarring rock!

Curtis Mayfield “Curtis/Live”

His second album came with his solo debut! Very bold and well worth the risk. Brilliance…

Bill Withers “Live @ Carnegie Hall”

Reveals his layered personality which sets up the emotional content of his songs… stellar renditions

Simply divine with a guitar, trendsetting  and smooth as smooth gets

Woodstock

A day to remember in music history… hippies, psychedelics and everything between… an incredible jam session

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane “Live @ Carnegie Hall”

Two jazz giants… Lost recordings for over 40yrs… skill, expression… enjoy!

The Commodores “Live”

One of the greatest soul R&B band albums live… classic after classic

Earth, Wind and Fire “Gratitude”

The infamous Earth, Wind and Fire super band with Phillip Bailey delivering one of our favorites leads…

Bob Dylan “Bootleg series Volume 4″

Can’t ignore his huge impact on music… strange, extraordinary poetic power tucked into musical genius

Johnny Cash “At Folsom Prison”

Raw passion, unadulterated humanity… a very influential musician of the 20th century

Bruce Springsteen “Live 1975-1985″

Inspirational with an X factor that makes him a people’s champion

Donny Hathaway “Live”

Couldn’t pick just one video… capturing his essence is well worth it

Marvin Gaye “Live”

Golden pipes, dripping soul with non-stop sex appeal … Mr. Marvin Gaye

I came across this video as a part of a classroom discussion today…its been a long day so I can’t totally rehash the academics behind showing this video. But, what I can say is that Erykah Badu does speak the truth on how women generally succeed in the music business and specifically as hip hop artists. I couldn’t help but picture Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, and Shawnna as the description of actions went on; needless to say I was laughing more-so because of the truth behind Ms Badu’s statement. Anyways check out the video and even if you can’t catch the deeper meaning I’m sure you will laugh about it.

…it’s that heat.

“Now what am I supposed to do when I want you in my world…
But how can I want you for myself when I’m already someone’s girl…”

(Sigh) Now, I’m sure everybody can relate to this song… when your really feeling somebody but your in a… as Erykah puts it, “in a situation…in a relationship”. This song just gets me right here (hand over heart) every single time I hear it. Not only do I absolutely adore this song, but the video is one of my favorites as well. It features cameo appearances by Andre 3K, Pete Rock and Method Man who all play Erykah’s reincarnated loves as they follow her through three different lifetimes. The concept is so clever and I love it’s acknowledgment of reincarnation and her spirituality. Totally right up my alley.

Erykah Badu – Next Lifetime (1997)

My Favorite Song For the Time Being from my Favorite Queen

And a solute to the play For Colored Girls…… Nice Touch Erykah