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- New Artist: Sevyn Streeter – “I Like It” (Video)
- You Should Know: Andreya Triana (Video Interview/Soul Bounce)
- Black Cab Sessions: Solange performing “Bad Girls”
- New Album Releases: May 7, 2013
- You Should Know: Onra (Video Interview/The Daily Motive)
- New Video: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
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- New Album Releases: April 9, 2013
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You Should Know: Onra (Video Interview/The Daily Motive)
You Should Know is my latest segment on showcasing new artists, musicians, bands, duos, singer-songwriters, emcees and DJs. Mostly independent artists, yet good music all around. So sit back and read all about them.
I first heard of Parisian beatmaker Onra in early 2011, while living in Brooklyn, New York. He had released his newest LP Long Distance the previous summer via All City Records. The album is a mix of electronic music, “vintage funk and R&B, all filtered through hip-hop’s rhythmic, lyrical bounce;” it features tracks with Oliver DaySoul, fellow French beatmaker Walter Mecca, and T3 from Slum Village, as well as soul singer Reggie B and keyboard player Buddy Sativa (whom Onra recently completed a free form jazz-electro project with called Yatha Bhuta Jazz Combo).
In 2007 and 2011, respectively, Onra (born Arnaud Bernard) released Chinoiseries and Chinoiseries Pt.2 on All City Records, instrumental LPs created from Chinese music records he found in China, Thailand and Viet Nam. The producer is French with Vietnamese ancestry. In 2012, Onra released his newest EP Deep In The Night – a five-track electro-hip hop mix via Fool’s Gold Records; the EP also appeared on my Top 30 Music Releases of 2012.
Below peep the video interview The Daily Motive conducted a few months ago, where Onra speaks on music, DJing, his J Dilla influence and a whole lot more.
ONRA INTERVIEW | The Daily Motive from Mateo Vega on Vimeo.
Onra’s discography:
- Deep In The Night (EP) Fool’s Gold Records 2012
- Chinoiseries 2 (CD, 2LP) All City Records 2011
- Long Distance (12″, CD, 2LP) All City Records 2010
- 1.0.8 (LP) Favorite Recordings 2009
- Byron & Onra -The Big Payback (12″, CD) Just Like Vibes 2007
- Chinoiseries (7”, CD, 2LP) Favorite Recordings 2007
- Onra & Quetzal Present “Tribute” Bo Bun Records 2006
New Video: Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu – “Q.U.E.E.N.”
“Welcome to the living museum where legendary rebels throughout history have been frozen in suspended animation,“that’s the intro to Janelle Monaé’s latest video for her new single “Q.U.E.E.N.” featuring Erykah Badu (aka Badula Oblongata). The jazz-funk-hip-hop mash is the lead track from Monaé’s upcoming sophomore release The Electric Lady due out this summer via Atlantic Records.
Directed by Alan Ferguson, the visual stars Monáe and Badu as thawed-out rebels who throw a dance-party in a futuristic museum, where she and the rest of her ‘Wondaland’ crew show off their latest dance moves. Such a dope video! Watch it below and be sure to cop “Q.U.E.E.N.” via iTunes.
New Video: DJ Day – “Land of 1000 Chances”
Artist: California producer and musician DJ Day | Song: “Land of 1000 Chances” | Genre: Nu-Jazz/Hip-Hop | Synopsis: “First of a 3 part series taking the viewer on a surreal visual journey through California, starting in iconic San Francisco.” | Album: Land of 1000 Chances, released Feb. 6 — now available on iTunes
New Video: Oxygen – “Gone Diggin”
New York rapper Oxygen immortalizes the vinyl junkie’s lifestyle in new visual “Gone Diggin.” He tells the story of a crate digger who lives and breathes vinyl records — to point where he sees album covers instead of people’s heads when talking to them. “Filmed largely on the final day of business at NYC’s beloved Big City Records shop (RIP), the clip has plenty of record wall shots, cameos by DJ Spinna, Breakbeat Lou and Gensu Dean.”
[Via Egotripland]
Day 27 of 28 Days: Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson – “What’s It Gonna Be?” (1998)
“What’s It Gonna Be?” was a single release from Brooklyn rapper Busta Rhymes’ third LP Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front (1998). Featuring Janet Jackson on a track that’s highly sexual is a bold move on some levels, but this is a guy with a larger-than-life personality and a wicked sense of humor, so it worked. Directed by Hype Williams, the visual reportedly cost upwards of $2million because of the insane special effects.
Shabazz Palaces & THEESatisfaction co-headline spring tour
Experimental-rap duo Shabazz Palaces and fellow Seattle crew THEESatisfaction is set to co-headline a North American tour starting this spring.
Shabazz Palaces released their experimentally clever debut Black Up in 2011, while Catherine Harris-White and Stasia Irons (who appeared on Black Up) dropped their proper LP awE naturalE last year. According to Pitchfork, “both groups will collaborate throughout the tour.”
Both artists are also featuring music in the “Visual Art & Music, Post-Hip-Hop Era” exhibit at Brooklyn’s Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, showing now through May 26. The exhibit also includes sounds by Blitz the Ambassador, Flying Lotus, Seu Jorge, Just A Band and Spoek Mathambo, to name a few. Details about artist talks, performances, block parties and more are available on MoCADA’s website.
After the tour dates, check out the “eMERGING: Visual Art & Music” exhibit video at MoCADA.
Shabazz Palaces:
04-19 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe *
04-20 Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin – The Sett *
04-21 Grinnell, IA – Grinnell College *
04-22 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
04-23 Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace *
04-24 Ithaca, NY – The Haunt *
04-25 Middletown, CT – Wesleyan University – Eclectic House *
04-26 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
04-27 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
04-29 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Cafe & Music Hall *
05-01 Memphis, TN – Rumba Room *
05-02 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater *
05-03 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s *
05-04 Austin, TX – Red 7 *
05-06 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge *
05-07 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge *
05-08 Boise, ID – Neurolux
05-09 Victoria, British Columbia – Upstairs Cabaret +
05-10 Vancouver, British Columbia – Fortune Sound Club
* with THEESatisfaction
+ with Monolithium
[via Pitchfork]
eMERGING :: Visual Art and Music in a Post-Hip-Hop Era from MoCADA on Vimeo.
Day 23 of 28 Days: Jay-Z feat. BLACKstreet – “The City Is Mine” (1998)
![Jay Z feat. Blackstreet - "The City Is Mine" [Def Jam:1998]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Jay-Z-feat-Blackstreet-The-City-Is-Mine-Def-Jam1998.jpg)
Featuring vocals from R&B group BLACKstreet, “The City Is Mine” was the third single released from Jay-Z’s second LP In My Lifetime, V.1. Teddy Riley produced the track, using a sample of “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else” by R&B trio The Jones Girl, as well as the melody from “You Belong to The City” by rock singer Glenn Fry (of The Eagles).
BROOKLYN: Party with cultural critic Touré at Greenlight Bookstore, Mar. 29
![Pop culture critic Toure takes on Prince in new book, "I Would Did 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon" [Atria]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Pop-culture-critic-Toure-takes-on-Prince-in-new-tome-I-Would-Did-4-U_-Why-Prince-Became-an-Icon.jpg){kind=icon}
Though mastering the worlds of pop, soul, funk, R&B and rock music, Prince has always been an enigma. From overtly sexual lyrics in the 80′s and 90′s to pop-up concerts and a more toned down image in the new millennium, the producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has influenced artists and musicians alike in his near 35-year career.
Now author and pop culture critic Touré takes on the music legend in new tome, I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon (Atria, $14.00), out March 19.
Drawing upon “in-depth interviews with Prince’s band members, former girlfriends, musicologists, and even Bible scholars to deconstruct the artist’s life and work,” Touré weaves a tale of deep analysis and cultural perspective that has many ringing its praise.
“I’m a Prince scholar and this is the ultimate Prince book.” — Questlove
“Based on his Du Bois Lectures at Harvard, Touré has written a thoughtful and compelling book that is both a full and sensitive explication of the genius of Prince’s music, as well as his exemplary role as an seminal figure in contemporary American culture. It is must reading for any student of popular culture. – Henry Louis Gates
I, for one, cannot wait to read I Would Die 4 U.
That being said, if you are in Brooklyn, there will be a book signing as well as a dance party held on Friday, March 29 from 7 PM to 9 PM at Greenlight Bookstore (686 Fulton St.) in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. Touré will sign copies of I Would Die 4 U and a guest DJ will spin popular Prince tunes. Below is a short bio of the author.
Touré is a co-host of MSNBC’s The Cycle and his writings have appeared in Rolling Stones, The New York Times Magazine, The Village Voice and Time.com. He is the author of four books: Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness? (2011), Never Drank the Kool-Aid (2006), Soul City (2004) and The Portable Promised Land (2003). He lives in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
Day 21 of 28 Days: Various Artists, EARGASMS: CRUCIAL POETICS, VOL. 1 (1997)
Eargasms: Crucial Poetics, Volume 1 released March of 1997, and included music in the vein of spoken word and conscious rap. The artists featured are a diverse list of poets, singers, actors, activists, playwrights, authors and I believe, one professor. It includes Saul Williams, Mos Def, Jessica Care Moore, Mike Ladd, Sarah Jones, Rha Goddess, Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets, Latasha Natasha Diggs and Kymbali Craig, to name a few.
Recommended spins: “My Pen,” “Twice The First Time,” “Metaphorplay,” “My Caged Bird Don’t Sing,” “Gunsmoke,” Last Days” and “Bladerunners.”
Sarah Jones – “Metaphorplay” [mp3]
Day 20 of 28 Days: Queen Pen – “Party Ain’t a Party” (1997)
“Party Ain’t a Party” was a single release from Brooklyn rapper Queen Pen’s solo effort, My Melody (1997). Featuring fellow emcees The Lost Boyz, Nutta Butta and singer Markel Riley, the album was produced by Grammy-winning musician Teddy Riley. It also included pop singles such as ”Man Behind the Music” and “All My Love,” as well as the same-sex track “Girlfriend” with Meshell Ndegeocello. [Lil’ Man/Interscope]
Queen Pen first appeared on BLACKstreet’s 1996 smash hit “No Diggity.”
Day 19 of 28 Days: Joe, ALL THAT I AM (1997)
![Soul singer Joe's sophomore LP, All That I Am [Jive/1997]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Joe_All-That-I-Am.jpg)
“First-class urban soul” is what AllMusic.com calls Joe Thomas’ sophomore LP, All That I Am. It’s an album that includes popular singles “All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do),” “Love Scene,” “Don’t Wanna Be A Player,” title track “All That I Am” and my most favorite, “Good Girls.”
NYC: The Roots, Talib Kweli to honor Prince at Carnegie Hall, Mar. 7
NEW YORK CITY – Benefiting music programs for under-privileged youth, The Roots, Talib Kweli, D’Angelo, Bilal and more are set to honor the music of Prince at Carnegie Hall on March 7, 2013.
“The concert will mark the ninth year that Michael Dorf, the founder of City Winery, has mounted a show to raise funds for education programs serving the poor,” says the New York Times.
This year, the programs benefiting from the event are the American Symphony Orchestra, Church Street School for Music and Art, Fixing Instruments for Kids in School, GRAMMY in the Schools, Young Audiences New York, Little Kids Rock and the Center for Arts Education.
In a statement Dorf admits: “Prince is one of the most prolific songwriters in my collection, and he makes my Top 10 when I think about the artists who have truly shaped modern music.” An eclectic array of musicians will reinterpret the catalog of the artist, including Bettye LaVette, Blind Boys of Alabama, Citizen Cope and Alice Smith, Elvis Costello, Princess (feat. Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum) and Sandra Bernhard.
Past tributes have been for The Rolling Stones, The Who, R.E.M., Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
This year’s event will be curated by drummer, producer and resident “Prince-fanatic” Amir “Questlove” Thompson. Tickets start at $48. To purchase, visit Carnegie Hall’s box office or buy online.
[Via The Revivalist]
Day 13 of 28 Days: Camp Lo – “Luchini (aka This Is It)” (1997)
Taken from their debut studio LP Uptown Saturday Night, “Luchini (aka This Is It)” was Bronx duo Camp Lo’s biggest pop hit to date. The album dropped in January of 1997, fusing the sounds of hip-hop, soul and jazz; as well as hitting number five on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Camp Lo consists of Sonny Cheeba (born Salahadeen Wilds) and Geechi Suede (born Saladine Wallace).
Day 12 of 28 Days: LOVE JONES Soundtrack (1997)
![Love Jones: The Music [Columbia/1997]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Love-Jones_the-music.jpg)
Love Jones: The Music released in the spring of 1997, as the soundtrack to the romantic drama Love Jones starring Larenz Tate, Nia Long, Isaiah Washington, Lisa Nicole Carson and Bill Belamy. It is one of my most favorite R&B and neo-soul collections from the 90′s. With sweet and smooth songs such as Lauryn Hill’s “The Sweetest Thing,” Amel Larrieux’s “Never Enough” and Me’shell Ndegeocello and Marcus Miller’s “Rush Over,” it’s no wonder it hit the number-three spot on the Billboard charts for Top R&B/Hip-Hop album.
But it was “Hopeless” written by former Arrested Development singer Dionne Farris and artist-musician Van Hunt that’s still high on my playlist. I couldn’t agree more with Allmusic.com when they said: “Dionne Farris’ “Hopeless” is an intelligent, timeless gem of a ballad.”
Day 4 of 28 Days: Total, TOTAL (1996)
![R&B trio Total released their self-titled debut "Total" on January 30, 1996. [Bad Boy Ent.]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Total_Total.jpg)
Girl trio Total first hit the urban charts with their single “Can’t You See” featuring Notorious B.I.G. — which originally appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 film, New Jersey Drive. The group’s self-titled 1996 debut included two other successful tracks: “Kissin’ You” (co-written by Raphael Saadiq) and “No One Else” with Chicago-native Da Brat.
Known for singing hooks on “Juicy” and “One More Chance” by Biggie, Kima Raynor, Keisha Spivey and Pamela Long were discovered by Sean “Puff Daddy/P.Diddy” Combs. Over a two-year period, the group released another LP (1998′s Kima, Keisha & Pam) and appeared on numerous hip-hop and R&B hits such as LL Cool J’s “Loungin’ (Who Do U Love? (Remix),” Mase’s “What You Want,” Foxy Brown’s “I Can’t,” and Keisha sang back up on 112′s “Only You (Bad Boy Remix)“ featuring Biggie and Mase. [Bad Boy Entertainment]
Day 1 of 28 Days: Soul for Real, CANDY RAIN (1995)
![Pop/R&B quartet Soul for Real released their debut album, "Candy Rain" on March 28, 1995 [Uptown/MCA]](http://www.uncloudedbyambition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Soul-for-Real_Candy-Rain.jpg)
Produced by rapper Heavy D, the Dalyrimple brothers (Andre, Brian, Christopher and Jason) were a squeaky clean R&B quartet known as Soul for Real, who garnered a chart-topping single with lead track “Candy Rain” from their 1995 debut of the same name. The project went platinum and though the group released two follow-ups (For Life, 1996; Heat, 1999), neither one reached the level of success of their first. My favorite tracks included: “Every Little Thing You Do,” “If You Want It” and “Candy Rain;” but the latter’s remix featuring Heavy D was especially good. [Uptown/MCA]
Pt. 2 – “My Teenage Love Affair With Music”
Last February I did a month-long project called “29 Days of My Teenage Love Affair with Music” – which was music I absolutely adored between the ages of 13 and 19, the years between 1988 to 1994. These were not only full-length albums, but single cuts, non-mainstream tracks, cassettes, one-hit wonders, movie soundtracks and the like, that I would play over and over and over again.
That being said, I’m doing it again this year! However, this time around I’m moving forward to ages 20 to 24-years old –- the years of 1995 to 1999. A period where my musical palette continued to grow from R&B to rock to hip-hop to neo soul. And to be honest, a moment in time when music was pretty dope. But especially, a point in my life where not only did my musical taste change, but my personal life did as well. I joined the military and moved away from home for the first time; got my first tattoo; fell in love especially hard, got engaged, broke up; met Morris Day; spent three-months in Haiti; started college; bungee jumped; saw Prince in concert for the first time; moved to Japan; and fell in love even harder. There were good times and not-so-good times, such is life. But the love for music never stopped.
With all the adult changes in my life, naturally my song choices matured too. I went from loving “Dial My Heart” by The Boys in ’88 to adoring “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden in ‘97. Music is a universal language. No matter where I’ve lived or whom I’ve met, music has somehow found a way into the conversation almost immediately. My hope is that all of you will go down memory lane with me and feel the universal effect music from the 90’s still has on music of today. So feel free to post comments, share it, tweet it, pin it if like.
The first “28 Days” post will begin this Friday, February 1st.
New Audio: French beatmaker Onra – “Second Chance”
Last week Paris-based hip-hop beatmaker ONRA delivered “Second Chance” via Soundcloud – simply saying it’s “unreleased r’n'b shit.” Since 2010, well-known hip-hop names have co-signed the “Deep In The Night” artist (born Arnaud Bernard) for his throwback R&B, hip-hop style. Releasing Long Distance, his acclaimed debut three years ago and Deep In The Night EP last summer, Onra is currently signed to Fool’s Gold Records. The label was co-founded by A-Trak, noted turntablist, producer, DMC World DJ Champion and Kanye West’s former tour DJ.
NEW YORK: Pete Rock & DJ Center: Brooklyn Terrace – Sat, 1.26.13
Legendary hip-hop DJ and producer Pete Rock and Brooklyn’s own DJ Center will bring the house down this weekend in BK. Part of Center’s monthly Sky High residency, Pete Rock will guest DJ at Brooklyn Terrace’s Indoor Sky Lounge, spinning classic Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul, R&B, Latin and Reggae vibes. What’s sure to be a grand time, the party starts at 9pm, Saturday, January 26. Tickets $10. For more info, visit Push The Fader.
Tickets: $10
[Via Push The Fader]
Lenny Kravitz doc “Looking Back on Love” hits iTunes Jan. 29
Looking Back On Love is a behind-the-scenes music documentary of rock star Lenny Kravitz recording his latest album Black and White America, released in 2011 via Atlantic. Directed by Grammy Award nominee, producer and photographer Mathieu Bitton, the film chronicles Kravitz in the Bahamas, New Orleans and Paris as he gives an all-access pass to studio sessions, family encounters and more intimate moments, such as his creative and recording process, thoughts on his mixed heritage and his lifelong message of “love.”
The film covers more than two-years in the life of Kravitz, as it also includes exclusive interviews with his musical partner Craig Ross, New Orleans prodigy Trombone Shorty (who appears on Black and White America) and his longtime collaborators, George Laks, Harold Todd and Michael Hunter at work at LK’s Bahamian studio, Gregory Town Sound. I, for one, can not wait until this drops!
Looking Back On Love is available on iTunes January 29.
New Album Releases: January 15, 2013
Noteworthy releases for today.
A$AP Rocky, LONG.LIVE.A$AP, (alt-rap) [Polo Grounds/RCA]
Dag Savage (Exile & Johaz), DAG SAVAGE EP (hip-hop) [Dirty Science]
Jessie Ware, IF YOU’RE NEVER GONNA MOVE {EP} (electro-pop-soul) [Cherrytree/Interscope]
Lee Fields, LET’S TALK IT OVER {Reissue} (soul/R&B) [Truth & Soul Records]
Teena Marie, BEAUTIFUL {last recorded album; completed by her daughter, singer Alia Rose} (R&B) [Ume Records]
Ziggy Marley, IN CONCERT (roots reggae) [Tuff Gong]
