Sooo I’m a day late.. My life is still less blog-friendly that I’d like.  Check out this beautiful, beautiful video for Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra)’s “Lil Girl”.. Directed by my faaaavorite, Greg The Dude.  Lots of exciting cameos, too.  I heart Wood Harris/Avon Barksdale.

All I have to say is FIYA! Sa Ra does it and does it well. This intergalactic trio brings hip hop, neo soul, and some other shit to the top tier of music excellence. When I first heard about this group a few years back I knew why I was in the business. Check out the video below and give Sa Ra a holler next time you cop an album. They will not disappoint.

i am pretty much addicted 2 deviation

it has been running 4 2 years on the first wed of evry month

its always big

november saw sa-ra creative partners bless us with their gifts

it was glorious

full album on fbook

]]> http://apolaroidstory.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/o-glorious-sa-ra/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:13:40 +0000 Ouni http://apolaroidstory.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/o-glorious-sa-ra/

Ghent, 30/10/09

Sa Ra Creative Partners.

Where do I begin?

How can one define Sa Ra for the ones that have never heard of SA RA.

I’ll try…

Here we go:

Sa Ra is a trio of artists slash producers slash musicians that consists of Om’Mas Keith , Taz Arnold and Shafiq Husayn, 3 very individual creatures that once united together, create individual music to say the least.

If there was a hotel in outer space called The Galaxy, Sa Ra would be played in The Milky Way,  the exquisite bar of that same hotel.

Personally for me, Sa Ra would be a perfect soundtrack for any of my dreams, my daydreams, my nightmares and yes even my lucid ones.

Mystical, funkadelic, psychedelic, delirious, futuristic, hip hop on a racing asteroid are a few words that might explain the collective a bit better.

When you hear it for the first time, it is definitely a new experience for your ears.

Is it ‘easy’ music?  Not really.

Is it popular music?  No.

Is it good music?

Yes.

What started as something ‘underground’ with Sa Ra producing beats, melodies, tunes for people like Dr Dre (ghostproducing on 2001) Pharaohe Monch, Bilal, Erykah Badu, Ice T  and working with The Neptunes, Kanye West and Jay-z  to name a few (= Sa Ra Creative Partners) turned out to them producing an album for theirsèlves and all equal souls in the world that might get touched by their music. ( = Sa Ra )

When BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson praised their single ‘Glorious’,  the world was officially ready for the rise of the mighty SA RA and their first album:

The Hollywood Recordings

They held their underground position for a while but with the threesome starting to follow their own paths and creative influences in life they drew even more attention to the hip hop cartel called Sa Ra.

Taz Arnold, a fashionista with a capital T and a love for bling, grills and various notorious masks, sunglasses, baseball caps and leather bags suddenly got worldwide attention of multiple fashion magazines and blogs when he appeared at the Comme Des Garcons show for  Paris Fashion week with fellow buddy Kanye West on this picture that travelled the world faster than Buzz Lightyear:

Yes. He is wearing skinny leopard pants with boots.

Needless to say that the hip hop community raised an eyebrow.

This was definitely something they were not used to.

Taz Arnold has his own fashion line called This Is So Arnold, (TI$A) works on Kanye Wests Pastel line and is working on a line with MCM, the legendary luggage brand.

I wonder. Does he sleep?

Om’Mas Keith visually appeared on  Diddy’s Making The Band but has actually been in the music booth since he was a teenager, child of a musicians family , growing up in studios and working on albums with Mobb Deep and Lauryn Hill. Om’Mas Keith is currently working on P. Diddy’s latest album.

Shafiq Husayn, the founder member of Sa Ra just released a highly acclaimed solo album that carries the name Shafiq En A Free Ka and is getting wonderful reviews for his motherland inspired album.

Pfiew!

How did I do…?

Actually, there is so much to say about Sa Ra (Creative Partners) since their influence and creativity stretches out in places, directions, you would never think they were involved, both musically as in in fashion, but for now this little introduction should do.

I think.

So…needless to say, the moment I found out that Sa Ra was booked by the fellas from DEMOCRAZY in Ghent , I knew that  I needed these 3 gents for my blog.

Sa Ra was currently touring Europe to promote their latest album release: Nuclear Evolution: The Age Of Love

When I arrived at the venue I noticed the public consisted of a specific public with that specific taste for specific music.

I quickly found out that Shafiq Husayn was not present since he was currently busy promoting his own solo album and I felt a little disappointment wave coming over me since that ment that I would not have the threesome on Polaroid and that I would not hear nor see Shafiq Husayn live.

Bummer in a cold summer. But hey, that’s life.

It was a joy to hear those Sa Ra melodies out so loud. It has been a while since I played their album at home, so to hear them live and out loud for me personally was very cool.

Although I missed something in their performance, can’t really explain what, and I rather prefer to see them in a different environment than the Democrazy venue @ Minnemeers, I have to admit, that the music, the beats, the melody, the vibe speaks for itself.

Powerful.

If I had unlimited control and money (I’m dreaming out loud here folks, don’t pay tò much attention) I would place them in a slow motion Space Mountain area. Yes, I am talking about the Disneyland Space Mountain attraction.

How totally awesome would it be if you could do that same ride in (very) slow motion with your eyes open with a live Sa Ra in the back.

Or maybe I am just weird.

But I think it would uplift everyone’s experience of a SA RA live concert and it is just an addition of my point in seeing Sa Ra in a more creative space.

But that’s just me.

The concert ended and it was time for me and Jules to work for that Polaroid picture.

The minute we saw movement coming from the fences that lead to the backstage area we aimed full force for our goal.

The first person we talked with was immediately the right one.

I explained my project, powered with my I-Touch and the staff member after brief consideration decided he would propose the idea to Sa Ra without any promises. Right before he left, he looked at us and said:

“So far, you have great result girls, keep it up, I’ll do my best”

Finally.

Hallelujah. God sends out his angels that lead us to Polaroid heaven after enduring the summer of festival HELL.

(Yes, we are STILL traumatized)

So when somebody was flashing a bright light of a flashlight right into our eyes it was literally the sign ànd approval to go backstage.

The staff member escorted us backstage, and told us:

“Ok, you can go in NOW, and you have ONE minute”

1 minute. = 60 seconds.

After the first second I already suffered from severe nervous behaviour and a heat flash.

By the time I entered the backstage and introduced me and my partner in crime Jules I was sweating like a horse and while explaining the project to the boys I heard my voice tremble.

E – VE – RY – TIME.

Why O why, can’t I be the cool, calm, gun blazin’ , charming girl.

Both Taz Arnold and Om’Mas Keith listened carefully to what I had to say and agreed on me asking them if they would be a part of this little blog.

Exhibit:   Me explaining (nervously)  while the boys listening

Now this is where things stopped going the way I wanted to.

While the boys were getting fashionably ready for the picture , I took a good look at that backstage room and to my HORROR there was not 1 free wall and the whole tiny room was packed, stuffed, filled

with CRAP.

One wall was a giant make up mirror with light bowls, one wall consisted of two windows with ugly eggshell curtains and on the other 2 walls where multiple shelves piled with CRAP.

I repeat.

CRAP.

You guys know I like a nice wall with nice monotone colors right..?

The only option I had were the eggshell nasty curtains, but OFCOURSE there were 2 giant steel hairdresser chairs that could NOT be removed standing in the way.

I was trying to push them away a little bit, but I aint no heavy weight lifter, so for a minute I did not know what to do.

(Jules told me I made a very neurotic chaotic and bizar impression)

Om’Mas suggested to drag them away for me, but the idea of Om’Mas and Taz Arnold lifting heavy iron chairs made me even more nervous than I actually was.

I could already invisualise it:

“SA RA tour canceled due to backstage accident caused by unnecessary heavy weight lifting for Polaroid Purpose.”

Naaaaah….Don’t think so…

The minute I was going to suggest to take the picture in the hallway, the staff member suggested to take the picture with some props that were standing on those ugly shelves.

I doubted, but I was already there for more than 5 minutes and I felt more nervous with every second passing by and I just wanted to take the picture since there were people waiting for an interview with Sa Ra.

So I agreed.

I replaced some CRAP and tried to make the best of it.

Exhibit: Om’Mas Keith posing between all the ….pay attention to Taz Arnolds amazing bag on the left.

Exhibit: Taz Arnold flaunting that Fendi Jacket.

You know we have eye for detail so we wanted you guys to have a proper look on this:

(Jealous? Broke? Below you can find out how and where you can get your own knuckle rings from his line)

Now…although the suggestion came from a good place, it was a bad decision…

You don’t have the mighty SA RA in your presence every day and both Taz Arnold aswell as Om’Mas Keith are esthetic eye candy, and for me, coming from a fashion background, these two individuals where even more important and I should have at least asked them to go in the hallway.

Like we say in Belgium:  a NO you’ve got already, a YES might be given.

I am not very pleased with my Polaroid pictures If I am completely honest.

Bad framing due to all the CRAP in the room. ( I nearly fell over one of those hairdresser chairs, you know, back in the day those chairs had like an iron pedestal where you could place your feet on…? Exactly.)

And basically too much going on ìn the picture because of all the CRAP.

I wanted to show so much more but It was just not ment to be.

So…I’ll stop nagging about the things I don’t have and be greatfull for the things I received.

It’s never really how you want it to be.

Pursuing Perfection is a heavy burden and I console myself by the fact that things are far more interesting when they are not so perfect.

Like the lips of Joaquin Phoenix.

Love for the mighty SA RA,

Ouni

Ps:

When I gave out my card to Taz Arnold and Om’Mas (Yes, I am recently the proud owner of my own cards, how pro is that !) Om’Mas looked at my cards and said: “Waw, vèry nice card miss.”

You know what they say: It’s about the small things in life.

Please check:

http://www.myspace.com/saramusic

www.democrazy.be

Defenitely check Shafiq Husayns myspace for more info about the solo album:

http://www.myspace.com/leossun

For my fashonistas: (I know you’re out there!!)

http://tisavision.bigcartel.com/

and for the real lovers, this is a video Taz Arnold made to promote President Obama:

It’s happened, Psychedelic Future-Pop R&B/Funk, like Outkast’s DMT trip after Merlin sends them back in time to Japan in the 1980’s , Hudson Mohawke’s sound has come a long way in his new album ‘Butter’, and may surprise a few used to his older work, but you can still see where this sound came from even back during his Heralds of Change days with Mike Slott(think Bopgunn) but this time around it’s much brighter and playful. Perhaps one of the strangest albums of 2009, but it has grown to be a favorite of mine, a great step for RnB and the psychedelic scene. Album features Olivier Daysoul and Dam-Funk(LA!) among others. Check it out, if you dont like it the first time through, give it some time. Some breakthrough shit goin’ on here, enjoy! >>>

Dapper dons.

That would be Sa-Ra, Jay Electronica, and Ta’Raach, who have thrown down on some of their signature “get the fuck out of here with that same old same old” sound. As an unabashed Sa-Ra stan, I jump whenever I get to hear more of their goodness  – and yes, that includes even that one Fonsworth Bentley song, though it’s painful to admit it. Just get the Fons off, and that’s some fire.

Here’s where I get sad. I want want want to love this song beyond all things in my life. I want to hear it and be driven to leave my job, my girl, my purpose and be carried into a proud new frontier of being and believing. Unfortunately, I’m not loving it so much. And that’s hard for me to say.

From a musician’s perspective, the song sounds cluttered, like they kept discovering loops and riffs that sounded so damn ill in the studio, but ended up cluttering the final product. And from a fan’s perspective, I just want a little more bounce to this ounce. There’s no inherent grab that gets me, and unlike some very classic Sa-Ra, there’s no hypnotic groove that you don’t realize has suckered you in until you’ve had the song on repeat four times (oh what? where am I? did we just overfly Minneapolis?!).

So no hate to Sa-Ra, but this song is not on my repeat. I want – no, need – you guys to make the music you make the best, but this ain’t it. Still though, I’ll give it a listen every now and then – I’m hoping this shit grows on me.

Sa-Ra, ft. Jay Electronica and Ta’Raach – Love Czars II

And for the record, here’s Mr. Bentley, et al.

SA-RA – Ft. Jay Electronica x Ta’Raach – Love Czars II

- Aficionado

Click here to download

Via illRoots

Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka in stores and online NOW!

                         “Nobody wants to see a round woman.” – Karl Lagerfield  

“Clothing designer, after Brigitte, one of Germany’s top-selling women’s magazines, barred professional models  from its pages in favor of “real women.”  - Time magazine

Yo..  I might not agree with him but I still like his style. I know alot of folks know about Karl Lagerfield but I had to do this one because  every time I see him, I think..  ”damn…  he is so cool.” Usually rocking a tie, some gloves, and some shades..  his look says, I’ve been cooler than you 3 decades ago and you will never catch up, lol. but yeah..  check out the pics and take notes.  P.S..   “if I had the money, I would have him pick out my wardrobe..  well at least the formal side anyways.

even if he didn't have the shades, you still couldn't find him, lol.

Taken from  ”Prestige, Hong Kong”  March 2008.

 “We don’t always get around to reading Hong Kong’s Prestige Magazine — uh, okay, we didn’t know it existed until we learned that a friend of ours was working there — but the recent Karl Lagerfeld cover interview, conducted by said friend, Stephen Short, is nothing less than magnificent. Stephen, who apparently received a Karl Lagerfeld action figure for his efforts, talked to Karl for about three hours late one evening, and Karl had a lot to say, generally all negative, on subjects from books to children to love toDiane Von Furstenberg to food to the nineties. We excerpted some of his most effusively misanthropic utterances for your enjoyment.

Food.
I hate the smell of cooking. Some people love it, but I don’t care for it. I don’t eat sweet things. I don’t eat greasy things. And I like fish better than meat. In fact, I hate meat. My doctor calls me to eat meat twice a week, as apparently we are cannibals. There used to be a Nobu here in Paris but it was very bad; it was horrible. The one one in London is great. It’s my favorite restaurant in London.

Fat people.
Yes, new Russian girls are like this. But this is a subject I won’t discuss. You know why? In France there are a large percentage of young girls who are overweight and less than one percent are skinny. So let’s talk about the 25 percent who have a weight problem, or are overweight. We don’t need to discuss the less than one percent. Anorexia is nothing to do with fashion. These Russian girls are so young. Chinese ones are skinny, too, and bony. I don’t think it’s a subject to discuss. And in today’s world, many people take drugs, not only models, hmm? It’s an unnecessary subject. Let’s talk about the fat ones.

Children.
Do you ever wish you had a son to pass on your wisdom to, to continue the Chanel heritage?
That’s the last thing I want. I hate all children. For other people, it’s fine, but not for me. I was born not to be a family person.

Going to other places that involve people.
I live in certain isolation. I never take appointments in the morning. I leave my house only after lunch. I don’t want to have a social life. I’ve had enough of that in my life. It’s demode. It’s another era. Perhaps people are still excited by that era, but not me. It’s uninteresting today. It says nothing. It’s boring, pretentious and vulgar…Even for charity, people get paid. I try to avoid charity. It doesn’t happen for me. I’m rich enough not to have to do that. Thank God I don’t have to do that. I do a lot of unnecessary things for free, but I’m very much against that. Money itself isn’t interesting, the use of it is.

Going to other places, period.
Sometimes, to be inspired by things or places, it’s better not to go there. You have to imagine. I imagine the world from my window. I am not a traveler. I hate it. I never look at my watch. The good thing about private jets is that you go whenever you’re ready. That’s the real luxury of today. In all my contracts it says, if you want me, send a private jet.

People who try to touch him.
Also I cannot go on airlines because people stare at me, you have to be touched by people. I hate that…I hate bespoke because I hate to be touched by strangers. It bores me to death.

People who try to analyze him.
Diane von Furstenberg told me she thinks you may not be the best designer aesthetically, but that you’re by far the smartest.
And look at her prints, hmm? Maybe I’ve known her for too many years. Maybe she’s right, I don’t know. If she were an expert, perhaps her designs may be more impressive…I’m not a frustrated writer or architect, I’m frustrated by nothing at all, and frustration is the mother of all crimes. Ambition? I have no ambition. I just want things in a certain way…I don’t want to be a teacher. I don’t want to inform others through myself. In that way, it’s all for myself. I’m the most selfish person in the world. Being selfish, I take care of others. My mother always used to say, “Don’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.

The nineties.
I think that Claudia Schiffer is better than ever. There are few very, very, very great girls. But it’s not like in the ’90s, the days of Linda Evangelista. That’s demode now, that’s another era. Very tacky, hmmm? On the one hand there was something intellectual going on during that time. On the other, it was just tacky. But you know, decades have a look, a mood, but that was that. We know what the ’90s looked like now, but during the ’90s we thought it was great perhaps…I put on weight in the early ’90s because clothes were so large, then they got tighter, so I slimmed down. Never go one size ahead. Go down but not up.

Technology, the internet, etc.
I’m a computer by myself. I have a memory also for unnecessary things. Telephone numbers are a problem, but historical details are not.

Love.
Love is a subject I don’t analyze publicly. Love is only an interesting subject when it’s beyond. When it’s down to earth it ceases to become interesting. It’s a very dangerous subject. I’ve had so many tragedies in life, it’s hard to discuss the subject.

Contact information for this author is not available.

Last night I was super amped to head out to my first concert since I’ve been back for a month in NYC.  The lineup included: Blu & Exile, Bilal, Shafiq Husayn, DJs: J.ROCC, DJ Spinna, Large Professor and Blu Jemz and hosted by Pharoahe Monch.  I was most excited to see Blu & Exile since it would be my first time seeing them live.    So, we arrived at Crash Mansion hyped for the show.  As  all the flyers said it would be in Crash Mansion, we waited on line for our tickets.  20 mins later at the ticket booth we discovered that it was actually next door in BLVD and we apparently waited on the wrong line.  Dangggg,  I said.    Facing quite a queue, we shuffled our feet over to BLVD’s line only to wait another 30-40 before entering…………………………………………………………………………..and learning that Blu & Exile just finished performing—WHAT A BUM BUM!!  Of course we didn’t buy tickets beforehand, which would have avoided this whole situation (being frugal/low on cash/unemployed/listening to lots of good makes the decision of buying a concert ticket a little bit harder though, ey?!)  It turns out a lot of other people made the mistake–yet another reason to always ask.  Don’t always trust the flyer.

A bit disheartened, we entered thinking at least we would get to see Neo-soul singer, Bilal, who can easily wipe away any sort of sadness the second he opens his mouth to sing.  We quickly learned however, that the show was pretty disorganized.  Pharoahe Monch was the host and definitely took the heat in trying to cover up the mess of the sound technicians’ inability to sound-check efficiently.  He came on stage to introduce Shafiq Husayn (member of LA based hip hop group Sa-Ra) and a legit-looking band.  As the band looked ready to rock out, the sound techs were still struggling to achieve quality sound.   So in an effort to distract the audience, Pharoahe asked for the help of a beat by the drummer and possibly bassist, but the musicians just couldn’t get it together to throw down a simple tempo for Pharoahe to flow to.  Eek, this was embarrassing.   A frustrated Pharoahe, he barely succeeded in spitting a few verses.  Eventually the sound guys fled and the group began to perform along with vocalists Miguel At-Wood Ferguson and Thundercat.   By the very end of their set, you could tell that the group had talent and the melodies are aight, but the terrible sound made it rough to get through.  I’ve realized that it is impossible to have a band perform in a club venue like BLVD.  The speakers and sound are just not cut out for anything more than DJ sets.

Next on the list to perform was Bilal (who is damn fine!) with a 6-piece band.  I had very little faith in what would pan out because the sound guys were still struggling—–fellas, find a new job, please!  But, Bilal actually had a bangin’ performance.  His vocals were tight and the band beautifully complimented his singing.  The guitarist ripped  apart the chords alongside a funky keyboardist while the drummer and bassist didn’t miss a beat.  At certain points, the guitarist seemed an almost backup singer for Bilal in really magnifying Bilal’s vocal octave spread. Unfortunately, at that point of the night, not so many people were left in the venue; but for those who were, I sensed ladies’ panties beginning to drop.  He performed the majority of tracks off his album, 1st Born Second, which is a highly regarded LP that he himself helped produce.  Bilal is supposedly dropping a new album sometime in the beginning of 2010.  I can’t wait to hear what he puts out.

Check out Soul Sista and listen to his voice, HOT DAYUM!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9fcNjqK5Pk

Talib Kweli was supposed to come out, but I had to leave at that point.  It was late and I was tired from all the wasted sound bouncing around that hot mess-of-a-venue.

Hot track that I wished I heard LIVE:

Blue & Exile’s Blu Collar Workers off the album, Below the Heavens, 2007:

and So(ul) Amazing:

I loveee this hip hop duo.  They are fire.  When together in one room, they create a stylistic mark in hip hop that welds together finely chopped beats with uplifting MC vocals.  This type of music is what I classify as bobble-head: music that doesn’t stop the head from bopping front-to-back, back-to-front, left-to-right or right-to-left to the beat.  Blu & Exile paddle through the underground hip-hop scene with ease and prove that hip hop’s not dead.  Well, maybe on the radio it is.   But, underground hip hop seems to maintain the true meaning of hip hop–good beats and good rhymes, simply said. Underground hip hop—the meat…well-preserved in a cold, dark atmosphere with hungry hip hop heads ready to get at it.  Dinner’s served.

No playlist this time.

Just one fantastic conversation with the man himself…Mr. Shafiq Husayn.

Please…please..enjoy the goodness.

EPISODE 51 LISTEN LINK

————

This weekend Taz Arnold and his group Sa-Ra performed in Paris for the “Free Your Funk” event. It seemed like a fun event to attend. The one thing that I like about Taz Arnold and his Ti$a movement is that he looks like he always has fun everywhere he goes. By the way does anybody know when a new Sa-Ra album is dropping? But anyways here’s some pictures from the performance.

Taz killed this fit. I need one of those MCM raincoats asap, especially before I go to fashion week in London.

Only Taz would go on stage with the illest blanket.

Here’s the video of the performance.

~Young Astro~