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May 14 - Eve, LIP LOCK
May 21 - Daft Punk, RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES
May 21 - French Montana, EXCUSE MY FRENCH
May 28 - Rob Garza (of Thievery Corporation), REMIXES
Jun 4 - J.Cole, BORN SINNER
Jun 4 - Maxwell, SUMMERS'
Jun 18 - Kelly Rowland, TALK A GOOD GAME
Jun 25 - Femi Kuti, NO PLACE FOR MY DREAM
Jun 25 - Kendra Morris, MOCKINGBIRD
Jul 1 - AlunaGeorge, BODY MUSIC {UK release}
Jul 9 - Thundercat, APOCALYPSE
Jul 23 - Gogol Bordello, PURA VIDA CONSPIRACY
Aug 6 - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

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New Music: The Hood Internet – “Suit and Commercial” (Justin Timberlake x Daft Punk)

Chicago-based production duo The Hood Internet mashes up two unlikely artists to create new sounds, which is sometimes better than the original tracks. Here they pair Justin Timberlake’s latest “Suite & Tie” with Daft Punk’s 2005 Gap commercial that featured actress Juliette Lewis.

ND McCray

29 March, 2013

audio, dance, electro, music, pop

Tags: Justin Timberlake

Q-Tip “Offline” DJ Set – Irving Plaza, NYC (July 20)

One of the many things I miss about living in New York is the consistent access to so many live events in and around the city. From alternative music fests and Caribbean parades, to late-night DJ sets and rooftop parties, the city booms with random dopeness all. week. long.

To add fuel to the hotness, since June, Q-Tip from legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest has apparently been killing ish at his new monthly dance party called “Offline” held at NYC’s Irving Plaza. So courtesy of Giant Step, here’s an hour-long mix from last month’s edition.

Offline with Q-Tip at Irving Plaza 7/20 by Giantstep on Mixcloud

ND McCray

21 August, 2012

A Tribe Called Quest, audio, dance, electro, hip hop, music, Q-Tip, R and B, soul

My Top Music Releases for April, May & June; shortlist of good stuff

Parisian beatmaker Onra’s latest EP “Deep In The Night”

With tons of new projects forthcoming and lots of dope music in my ear right now, I just realized I haven’t posted my favorite “new music” list since the beginning of April. For those who might of missed ‘em, here’s January, February and March –but the list is a short roundup highlighting my top LPs, EPs, singles, and mixtapes released throughout the month. Whether for deep lyrical content or strong production aspects, there were plenty who got play on my iPod.

Nonetheless, here’s a shortlist of my favorite releases that dropped from April 1 to June 30 of this year. In order of the most recent.

JUNE:

▪ Atlantic Connection, LOVE ARCHITECT (electro/soul/downtempo)

* Emeli Sandé, OUR VERSION OF EVENTS (pop/soul) #SwedishSoul

▪ Esthero, “Never Gonna Let You Go” (electro/pop) [single]

▪ HouseShoes, LET IT GO (underground hip-hop)

▪ Jarrard Anthony, READY TO LIVE (R&B/soul) #uplifting

▪ Lakecia Benjamin, RETOX (soulful/funky/jazzy)

▪ Liquideep, Alone [EP] (soulful house)

▪ Lissat & Voltaxx vs. Marc Fisher feat. Vanessa Ekpenyong, “Heat of the Night (Deep Disco remix)” (house) [single]

* Onra, Deep in the Night [EP] (electro/hip-hop) #dopeness

▪ Rocco Careri & Arturo Macchiavelli feat. Vanee, “Rock With You“ [Michael Jackson cover] (soulful house) [single]

▪ Tamia, “Beautiful Surprise“ (R&B/soul) [single] | video provided by Singersroom

MAY:

* B.o.B, STRANGE CLOUDS (pop/hip-hop) | 15 tracks/10 features #StillLikey

* Columbia Nights, Dawn | Dusk EP (neo soul) #sosmooth

* Karmin, HELLO (pop) #ultrapop #guiltypopleasure

▪ Mary Mary, GO GET IT (Music from the TV series) (contemporary gospel)

* Miguel Migs feat. Meshell Ndegeocello “Tonight“ (R&B/deep house) [single]

▪ Monophonics, IN YOUR BRAIN (soulful/heavyfunk/60′s rock)

* Rebecca Ferguson, HEAVEN [U.S. RELEASE] (pop) #BritishSoul

* Scissor Sisters, MAGIC HOUR (electro-pop-dance)

* Tank, THIS IS HOW I FEEL (R&B) #warning #pantieswilldrop

* The Hood Internet, MIXTAPE V.6 (hip-hop/electro) #crazymashups #FREEdownload

APRIL:

* Alabama Shakes, BOYS & GIRLS (rock/blues/soul) #lovelovelove

▪ Bassnectar, VAVA BOOM (dubstep)

▪ Blockhead, INTERLUDES AFTER MIDNIGHT (trip-hop) #instrumentals

▪ Bonnie Raitt, SLIPSTREAM (blues/country/rock)

* Jamiroquai, ROCK DUST LIGHT STAR [U.S. Release] (pop/rock/dance) #nearly two years after its European release. Can we at least get a U.S. tour? #justsayin

▪ Photek, DJ-KICKS (drum n bass/downtempo/deep house)

▪ SWV, I MISSED US (Soul/R&B) | Sisters With Voices are back!

▪ The Black Seeds, DUST AND DIRT (pop/rock/reggae)

▪ Yuna, YUNA (indie pop/rock/folk)

Bonus track: Matisyahu “Sunshine” [re-worked, pop version of 2010 single]

ND McCray

5 July, 2012

album releases, album reviews, audio, blues, dance, deep house, drum n' bass, dubstep, electro, hip hop, house, music, neo soul, pop, R and B, rock, soul, soulful house

Houston: Breakfree Community Center’s Open House focuses on the youth

HOUSTON, Texas (Mar. 31, 2012) On Houston’s Southeast side, Breakfree Community Center held its first Open House on Saturday to celebrate hip-hop culture through B-boying, emceeing, DJing andgraffiti writing. Through its faith-based programs, the center teaches underprivileged youth from ages 4 to 19 how to positively express themselves through art, music and dance. The afternoon event brought out families and friends, including Havikoro B-boy Nate, who showcased a wicked move.

Breakfree officially opened its doors August 2011 and is located at 9191 Winkler Dr., Suite G. Photos by yours truly; slideshow can also be viewed here.

ND McCray

1 April, 2012

art, articles, dance, hip hop, Houston, music, photography

My Top Music Releases for March

*Candice Anitra, BIG TREE - Brooklyn songstress shares songs of love and hope. My favorites are “Big Tree,” “Love Sick,” “I Hear Music,” “Take This Hello,” and “Today.”

*Georgia Anne Muldrow & Madlib, SEEDS – Crate-diggin’ Madlib complements soulful singer-songwriter Georgia Anne Muldrow. Soon-to-be classics include “Seeds” and “Best Love.”

*Lionel Ritchie, TUSKEGEE– semi-country versions of popular R&B songs: “Stuck on You” “YouAre” and “All Night Long.” Most spins: “Endless Love” with Shania Twain, “Easy”with Willie Nelson and “Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town.

*Melanie Fiona, THE MF LIFE – Toronto-native brings a mix of R&B/pop and alternative sounds. Heartfelt, emotional, and definitely filled with some mother****ing moments: “Rock Paper Scissors,” “Can’t Do This No More,” “Bones,” and “Gone and Never Coming Back.”

*Sy Smith, FAST AND CURIOUS – R&B and soulful house project produced by jazz musician Mark de Clive-Lowe. Most spins: “The Fast and The Curious,” “Truth,” “Nights (Feel Like Getting Down),” “Teena,” “The Ooh to My Aah” and “Messages From The Stars.”

ND McCray

1 April, 2012

album reviews, Candice Anitra, dance, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Lionel Richie, Madlib, Melanie Fiona, music, R and B, soul, Sy Smith

Album Review: soulful house/R&B tunes to dance to; Sy Smith, FAST AND CURIOUS

Sy Smith, FAST & CURIOUS (Psyko Records)

Fast and Curiousis New York native’s Sy Smith’s fourth studio release. Produced by musician and deejay Mark deClive-Lowe (MdCL), the album is a funky blend of 80′s R&B and soulful house tunes that is at once familiar but totally fresh.

You would think that the MdCL-produced cover version of Teena Marie’s 1984 smash “Lovergirl” would be the standout (and it partially is), but it’s actually the RahsaanPatterson feature “Nights (Feel Like Gettin’ Down),” which makes you want to do exactly that. Other standouts include the title track, “Truth” and “The Ooh to My Ahh”. But if you want to get down with Sy real soon, drop by Drom on May 3rd to get your groove on, along with Zo! from The Foreign Exchange.

Tracklist:

“The Fast and The Curious”
“Truth”
“Personal Paradise”
“Find My Way”
“Nights (Feel Like Gettin’ Down)”
“Let The Rain Fall Down”
“Teena (Lovergirl Syberized)”
“The Ooh to My Ahh”
“The Primacy Effect”
“Messages From The Stars”
“People Of The Sun”

ND McCray

15 March, 2012

album reviews, dance, electro soul, music, R and B, Sy Smith, videos

Tags: R and B, soulful house, Sy Smith

New video: Neon Hitch – "F U Betta"

I’ve written about British newcomer Neon Hitch a couple of times here on the site. She’s sassy and fun, and yes, Neon Hitch is her real name. Now the singer-songwriter has finally brought the visuals to her lead single “F U Betta” from her forthcoming release, Beg Borrow and Steal (due out later this year). In the video Neon dons the seductive stance, and I swear you’ll never look at body paint the same way again!

ND McCray

14 March, 2012

dance, music, Neon Hitch, videos

Day 26 of 29 Days: TLC, Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip (1992)

TLC,Ooooooohhh…on the TLC Tip (LaFace) (1992)

LaFace recording artists TLC (T-Boz, Left Eye and Chili) made it cool for females to be assertive and declare what it is they want. With hit singles like “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” “What About Your Friends” and “Baby-Baby-Baby,” the trio held their own on the Billboard charts during much of the early ’90′s. But, wasn’t T-Boz the coolest b*tch ever?

February 25th, marked the 20th anniversary release of Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip.

True Story: My first concert ever was a Bobby Brown, TLC, Mary J. Blige and Salt-n-Pepa match-up. I was 17. And it was at The Summit in Houston, Texas. The Summit is now Lakewood Church.

TLC – Baby-Baby-Baby (Official Music Video)TLC

ND McCray

26 February, 2012

29 days, dance, pop, R and B, TLC, videos

Day 14 of 29 Days: Whitney Houston, "I’m Every Woman" (1992)

Still from “I’m Every Woman” video (Arista Records) (1992)

At age 15, Whitney Houston sang backing vocals on the 1978 version of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” Almost 15 years later, in 1993, the artist covered the 10-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter’s classic R&B/disco/dance hit. Written by talented songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson, Valerie Simpson appears in the video, as does R&B trio TLC and Whitney’s mom, Cissy Houston. “I’m Every Woman” was the second single from the movie soundtrack of The Bodyguard. Released January 8, 1993, by April 13 the same year, it went Gold (selling 500,000 units), according to RIAA.

ND McCray

14 February, 2012

29 days, dance, R and B, videos, Whitney Houston

Day 12 of 29 Days: Whitney Houston, WHITNEY (1987)

Whitney (Arista) (1987)

Legendary pop artist and actor Whitney Houston provided a varied palette of musical offerings for her legion of fans. Whether singing rhythm and blues, soul, pop, club, dance, a ballad or gospel music, the late Grammy Award-winning singer delivered Whitney, her second LP, in 1987. Though I’ve been focusing on albums between 1988 and 1994 for my month-long series of sharing music I loved as a teenager, I feel it appropriate to discuss the album that was my very first Whitney Houston purchase.

It was one of those LPs I bought a few years after its release (circa 1990), as I started to get more interested in music and the industry itself. I would listen to the album cut “Just The Lonely Talking Again” so much so, you’d think I was a lonely heartbroken woman gearing up for love again. (I was only 14 and I hadn’t even started dating yet.) But the singer’s vocals were so sweet, loving, sexy and grown all at the same time that I simply… connected.

Even with number-one singles such as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “So Emotional,” “Love Will Save The Day” and ballads “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” Whitney still contained a solid collection of urban contemporary tracks to fall in love with (think: “You’re Still My Man” “Where You Are” and The Isley Brothers cover “For The Love of You”). So, no matter what the tabloids may say about her personal life, I will simply choose to remember Whitney Houston for her voice, style, beauty and grace; and most especially for giving us Whitney, one of my most favorite albums of all time.

ND McCray

13 February, 2012

29 days, dance, Gospel, music, pop, R and B, soul, Whitney Houston

#RIP Whitney Houston, singer, songwriter, record producer, Grammy Award-winning artist, actor and former model (1963-2012)

Enough can not be said about the loss of one of the greatest voices of all time.

I will always love you, Whitney. May your soul rest in peace.

photo credit: coolspotters.com

ND McCray

12 February, 2012

dance, Gospel, music, pop, R and B, Whitney Houston

Day 11 of 29 Days: Milli Vanilli, GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE (1989)

Girl You Know It’s True (Arista) (1989)

Fab Marvan and Rob Pilatus, better known as Milli Vanilli, the Euro-pop dance duo, who was caught in the act of lip-synching on the 1990 broadcast of the Grammy’s. Before the duo’s Best New Artist award was stripped away in late 1990, Rob and Fab had garnered millions of record sales, tour dates and various television appearances for their pop LP Girl You Know It’s True. “Baby Don’t Forget My Number,” “Blame It On The Rain” “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” “All or Nothing” and of course, the main track were major hits with American audiences. I, for one, proudly owned the album on vinyl and two, had no problem played the sh*t out of it!

ND McCray

11 February, 2012

29 days, dance, electro pop, Milli Vanilli, videos

Day 3 of 29 Days: Paula Abdul, FOREVER YOUR GIRL (1988)

Forever Your Girl (Virgin Records) (1988)

Before American Idol and TheX-Factor USA, Paula Abdul actually had a decent singing career inthe late 80s, early 90s. Forever YourGirl released in 1988 … stayed on the pop charts for what seemed like forever … There were a slew of radio hits such as “StraightUp” “The Way That You Love Me”, “Knocked Out” “Cold Hearted” and “Forever Your Girl.” And she was America’s pop sweetheart, total package: singer, songwriter, dancer, choreographer and super-sweet personality. Even with all the radio play of her top hits, I much preferred album cuts like “I Need You, “State ofAttraction” and “Next To You.”

Forever Your Girl was also one of my first vinyl records … andagain, sold it to the very same Japanese DJ who bought The Boys’ Messages. I want to say at the time he told me thatPaula Abdul was still a huge deal in Japan. This was after all 1999.

ND McCray

3 February, 2012

29 days, dance, music, Paula Abdul, pop

NYC: Cubic Zirconia Gives New Meaning to "Take Me Higher"

photo credit: Oliver Correa

Electro hip-hop trio Cubic Zirconia has been intriguing me since their 2009 release of “F*ck Work,” an in-your-face mix of electronics, R&B and hip-hop music. Plus, their “we-don’t-give-a-shit, we’re-gonna-make-what-we-want attitude” didn’t hurt either!

Lead singer Tiombe Lockhart once again takes the reign as director for their club hit “Take Me High (Bart B More Mix),” which is a cross pollination of laser tag, techno, mind control and one bedazzled vajayjay! The single is from the crew’s debut album Follow Your Heart, released September of last year. It’s also part of Fool’s Gold record label–which was started by DJs A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs. For those who don’t know, A-Trak is Kanye West’s former tour DJ.

Check ‘em out LIVE at Drom in NYC on Feb. 7th!

ND McCray

26 January, 2012

Cubic Zirconia, dance, electro, hip hop

New Audio: Neon Hitch "F*ck U Betta"

UK pop singer-songwriter Neon Hitch (her real name) unleashes “F*ck U Betta,” the first single from her forthcoming LP Beg, Borrow and Steal. Last summer I posted a video of Hitch covering Wiz Khalifa’s “On My Level.” According to her publicist, BBS drops this year.

ND McCray

10 January, 2012

audio, dance, electro pop, Neon Hitch

Album Review: Buraka Som Sistema, KOMBA

Buraka Som Sistema’s latest effort Komba creates booty-bassmusic, Angolan style.

Hailing from

Portugal

and

Angola

, the group combines theirnative kuduro sound of hip hop, techno, breakbeat and house with their Angolanroots of zouk and semba. This time around they also add dubstep to the mix.Especially on intro track “Eskeleto,” which features grime MC African Boy.

Buraka stateswhat Komba means ona prelude to the title track—which is an Angolan religious ceremony held a weekafter a death to celebrate the life of the deceased. It sounds fitting for agroup whose name partially means, “Sound System” in Portuguese. From theup-tempo “(We Stay) Up All Night” to the clubby “Hangover (BaBaBa),” Buraka SomSistema continues to keep the sounds of progressive kuduro alive.

ND McCray

5 January, 2012

album releases, album reviews, Buraka Som Sistema, dance, electro, videos

Sam Sparro & Golden Touch "Turn The Radio Off" {Podcast}

Australian singer-songwriter Sam Sparro gives us his current dance hit “Pink Cloud;” which is available for download here; new album RETURN TO PARADISE coming soon. But check out the LA-based artist’s most recent “Turn The Radio Off” podcast with Golden Touch. It’s a nice mix of electro & R&B tunes–to include some Prince, D-Train, Mayer Hawthorne & Lisa Stansfield!

ND McCray

1 July, 2011

audio, dance, electro, podcast, Sam Sparro

Book Signing: TABOO of The Black Eyed Peas | Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 at powerHouse Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn

powerHouse Arena

ND McCray

8 February, 2011

Black Eyed Peas, books, dance, electro pop, flyers, hip hop

Estelle feat. John Legend – "Fall in Love" [New Video]

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Director: Sanaa Hamri

(Nas version)

ND McCray

30 July, 2010

dance, electro, Estelle, hip hop, music, Nas, pop, videos

Buraka Som Sistema "Buffalo Stance" (Neneh Cherry cover) [New Video]

Kudoro champs Buraka Som Sistema kind of smashes this 80s dance hit with their high energy and insane dance moves. Though the song is for Dr. Martens 50th anniversary ad campaign, I’m sure Neneh Cherry is somewhere going, “Damn!”

ND McCray

23 May, 2010

Buraka Som Sistema, dance, electro, kuduro, music, Neneh Cherry, videos

Goldfrapp "Alive" [New Video]

Have you had your aerobics with a side of vampires today???
Well, “Alive” is the second video from Goldfrapp’s new album Head First, so here you go!

ND McCray

22 May, 2010

dance, electro pop, Goldfrapp, videos

Sharam Jey, IN MY BLOOD album review | shortandsweetNYC.com

Blame it on the spring air, but I’ve been in a manic-state of 80s electro and disco-house! Having said that, German electro DJ and producer Sharam Jey blends my energy into a seamless ball of electro-pop-disco-house-new-wave sounds with his latest, In My Blood on the King Kong label.

From the disco-infused “Army of Men” featuring Swedish singer Cornelia, who states, “I’d like to give you head” to the three tracks that feature Nik Valentino (of experimental-indie rock fame Lost Valentinos), one can’t help but feel as if In My Blood is a bit of a throwback to Studio 54. I’d say the album is sassy and fun; alternating between dance tracks and experimental sounds, flirty even. Nonetheless, some of the other featured artists and tracks are rapper/producer Princess Superstar with “Monday Morning” and DJ/remixer Tommie Sunshine on “The Things.”

ND McCray

17 May, 2010

dance, electro, music, Sharem Jey

THEATRE review: the new musical "Langston in Harlem" | shortandsweetNYC.com

The new musical Langston in Harlem, which opened on April 15th at Urban Stages, is a rousing hip shaking, foot-stomping production for one of

America

’s most respected poets.

Langston Hughes was not only a poet but he was a dramatist, a novelist, a columnist, a soci-political mad man as well as an esteemed writer. He was also a young, Black, closeted man living in Harlem during the 1920s. As one of the founding members of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of prolific artistic expression, Langston in Harlem is set from the Renaissance through the Civil Rights movement. It showcases a young man who was often misunderstood in his early writings, but who later turned the critics into passionate followers of his work. The show was essentially a near-two hour production based upon one of Hughes’ most popular poems, “Harlem: A Dream Deferred”.

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over—

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

The production is an explosive mash-up of not only spoken word and jazz, but gospel, rhythm and blues, and swing dancing. It shows rather transports the audience back to a time where many writers actually wrote and lived for the people of their community. It expertly tells of love and lost, blues and sexuality, race and politics, a life Hughes so passionately lived. There’s never a dull moment, even when poverty and addiction enters several scenes, you never feel as if the scene doesn’t fit. The musical score and costume designs are spot-on for the life of a black intellectual during that time: middle-class bohemian at its finest. The casting is perfect. In essence, Langston in Harlem is like going to church; it’s exciting, educational and sometimes emotional…but mostly, it just makes you feel good.

Langston in Harlem runs through May 2nd at 30th Street Theatre-Urban Stages (between 7th and 8th Aves). For ticket info: visit www.urbanstages.org

- ND McCray

ND McCray

25 April, 2010

blues, dance, Gospel, jazz, Langston Hughes, musical, poetry

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