Wednesday, June 30, 2010

GRAB ONTO YA SEAT AND HOLD ON TIGHT; WHILE I TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT….THE BLACK DYNAMITE SOUND ORCHESTRA

If you haven’t seenBlack Dynamite, it’s a 2009 spoof of the Blaxplotiation films of the 1970’s. Along with this movie was the resurgence of the music from the era; that good ol’ funky soul music. The music your daddy used to pop into the 8-track! The difference is this: ADRIAN YOUNGE & THE BLACK DYNAMITE SOUND ORCHESTRA are all original works from a "young(e)" and gifted man who is only 30-something with an old soul. With the exception of a few tracks, Adrian Younge did the original score released on the Wax Poetics record label where the producer of the film gave Younge the freedom to create and make it do what it do-and that he did. Pulling from influences such as Curtis Mayfield, Jackson 5, and Wu-Tang, Younge played all the instruments for the tracks using vintage tape recording equipment and sent them to be digitally transferred for our listening pleasure and came up with the sound so original-you would think it was actually recorded back in the day.


I had the honor to attend their first NYC performance at Southpaw in Brooklyn on June 18th and BDSO absolutely delivered. The members of BDSO (some jamming with each other since their high school days) consist of Adrian Younge (Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Baritone Sax, Roland SH-2000, Fender Bass, and Flute), Alfredo Fratti (Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar, Sitar Guitar, and Flute), C.E. Garcia (Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Roland SH-2000, Fender Bass, and Flute), Jack Waterson (Drums & Percussion), Loren Oden (Lead Vocals & Fender Rhodes), and Mike Wait (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Guitar, Fuzz, and Sampler). I wanted to include the instruments they play because their live shows are really something to be seen with the members of the band switching instruments throughout the show displaying their talent and raw soul-genius. After the show, I had the pleasure of meeting a few members of the band members and they all were just real, down to earth, cool peoples who love doing what they do-and that’s making the music they love for people just like them-who look back at that era of music with affection, nostalgia, and respect.

Their live performances this year includes the ASCAP Music Cafe, the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and SXSW Film & Music Festival, tracks like "Jimmy’s Dead", "Rafelli Chase", "Shot Me in the Heart", makes owning this soundtrack definitely one you want to add to your collection as it is destined to become a classic. Future projects include a forthcoming release from Wax Poetics (yet untitled) and some pre-production work for the Black Dynamite Cartoon pilot. Aside from BDSO, all of the talented members stay hungry with each working on their own side projects. BDSO is based out of LA but are adding shows nationwide throughout the summer into the fall-so keep your eyes peeled!! It is only the beginning for this up and coming band bringing true funk and soul back to life! DIG THAT JIVE TURKEY????!!!!
Article and picture by ST Contributor ISABEL"Issa" MARCANO
Click here for BDSO's website
Click here for BDSO's upcoming shows and for booking info:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Rapsody-"Every" (Video)


RAPSODY - EVERY from Pricefilms on Vimeo.
As I said in an earlier post, I LOVE THIS GIRL. Rapsody drops her first solo video, "Every", which of course was produced by 9th Wonder. This is a nice pacifier as we wait for her full bottle of Similac to drop, which is properly entitled Return of the B-Girl. I've been a fan of this girl since I heard her on 9th's Dream Merchant LP. The torch has been passed down from the many B-Girls who have come prior to Rapsody, and she is carrying the torch well. Video directed by Kenneth Price.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Nneka Performs "Come with Me" in Tompkins Square Park, NYC


Nneka - Come With Me from david moffly on Vimeo.
Baeblemusic recently interviewed Nneka in Tompkins Square Park, NYC. Baeblemusic has an awesome Q&A with the Nigerian sensation and above you can check out Nneka performing her song "Come With Me" off of her album,Concrete Jungle.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

South African Doctor Developes Anti-Rape Condom

Rapes of women are running rampant in South Africa, so a South African doctor has invented a device that she says will help reduce the number of rapes and ensure that culprits are caught. Dr. Ehlers demonstrates the 'Rape-aXe' or Condom with teeth. Read more .......

Friday, June 25, 2010

Preview Dwele's Album Here

Okay, so our friends over at Centrictv.com gave us a gift to share. Preview Dwele's album W.ants W.orld W.omen Click here. Enjoy and if you want your copy and can not wait until 6/29, you can pre-order here.

One Year Later and We Still Can't Believe Michael Jackson is Gone

So today makes a year that we lost the greatest entertainer of all time. Michael Jackson was a global icon and was respected all over the world. His many philanthropy efforts weren’t done for photo opts and many of his donations the public knew nothing about. He did it, because he honestly wanted to. Everyone has a story about what they were doing a year ago today. I won’t go on, but I will say, check out my entry from a year about this subject (Click here). WE ALL MISS MJ!! Thanks for the music man, its timeless.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Big Remo-"GO"- feat. 9THmatic (9thWonder) (Video)


BIG REMO ft. 9THMATIC - GO from Pricefilms on Vimeo.
9th Wonder aka 9thmatic debuts his IWWMG (Its a Wonderful World Music Group) protege, Carolina's own Big Remo's video, "Go". The video was directed by Kenneth Price. Does 9th stay busy or what?

N.E.R.D. Drops Video for "Hot-N-Fun" feat. Nelly Furtado


N.E.R.D. dropped their new video, "Hot-N-Fun" , which features Nelly Furtado. The video shows Pharrell, Chad Hugo, Shay and Nelly Furtado cruising through the desert having fun. Well I'll let the you decide on the video, but the song is a classic N.E.R.D. sound. I liked the song when I first heard and I like it more everytime I hear. Trust this song will grow on you.

David Banner and 9th Wonder-"Slow Down" (Video)

David Banner and 9th Wonder have been in the studio for more than a minute now. ST informed you that these two were hitting the lab to make music and their partnership will bring about some good music. Mississippi's own stand up guy and one of the hottest producers on the block have the streets waiting for the final project, Death of A Pop Star. Well the team recently dropped their video for the single, "Slow Down". The video features Heather Victoria and has David and 9th as superheros trying to save her. Great video and great song as we wait for the project to drop next month.

Sarah Palin Endorses Star Parker-Black Canidate Running for Congress

Sarah Pain politics is like a deer caught in a car’s headlights, clueless. If you think that Sarah Palin and her followers only endorse white Republican far right wingers, well check out who she’s endorsing. Palin is enodrsing black Republican candidate Star Parker. Parker is running for Congress in California and recently gained the endorsement of America's favorite clueless former vice presidential candidate.


Parker is challenging Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.), an incumbent and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, in a district where the demographics have shifted away from the traditional CBC constituency over the last decade.

California's 37th Congressional District encompasses Long Beach, Signal Hill, Carson, Compton and parts of Los Angeles. The district is highly diverse ethnically, with almost half its residents being of Hispanic decent and a quarter African American. Click here to learn more about Star Parker.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Tupac's Recordings Inducted Into the Library of Congress

The Hip Hop nation loves, misses, and respects Tupac Shakur and his contributions to Hip Hop. Now the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry have shown the same respect by inducting his song into their registry.

In its citation for "Dear Mama," the NRPB called the song a "moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference."
Click here for more info.....

In Unity There is Strength-The Roots' New Album "How I Got Over"

In this Music Fan's opinion, this is The Legendary Roots Crew's best album since THINGS FALL APART. That's just this Music Fan's opinion. I LOVE THE ROOTS!!! For a person who attended Cheyney University, which is about 30 minutes outside of Philly, I became an immediate fan since their 2nd album, Do You Want More. With 11 albums out, MUSIC FANS are going to have a variety when it comes to a Roots' favorite or best album.

This group have made music that matters for over 15 years and counting. This group can give a lesson on how to remain a group and handle the hurdles that comes with creative differences as a group. The music arrangements and Black Thought's lyrical skills, which are educational talk and a flawless ryhme flow that makes him a Monster on the mic.

Groups like The Roots and De La Soul makes me proud to be a 40 year old fan of Hip Hop. Its groups like The Roots who's music have grown just like they have. Black Thought's lyrics are for the grown folks, just like Pos' and Trugoy's and they have stood through the test of time. There's strength in unity and hopefully the Hip Hop nation will unify and support this awesome Hip Hop band. Grab the new CD and trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Judge Feldman Plays Poli-TRICKS Even Without a Fix for the Gulf Oil Leak

It’s been 60 plus days since the BP explosion that caused this oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. The people of the gulf coast states have been upset, looking for someone to blame, and at the same time wanting a solution to the problem. Our president and his administration have been criticized about how this administration is handling the problem.

BP has been criticized about how they are handling the problem and so have our goverment. The same people who have been screaming and promoting, “Drill baby Drill” (poliTRICIANS), gave these big oil companies permits to DRILL. These oil companies are suppose to meet some kind of government mandate or some kind of government safety standards. Now U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman wants to lift Obama’s 6 month ban on drilling. Just slap the faces of the families of the 11 victims who died why don't you. Excuse me judge, but isn’t there an oil leak out of the bottom of the ocean’s floor? Do we have an answer for this major problem? So how is continuing to drill a smart decision? Its POLI-TRICKS as usual. Everyone assumed when this judge made this decision, he had a vested interest. Well today it was confirmed.

I understand America’s dependency on oil. I understand that we need to produce our own oil here in America, so we can reduce our dependency on foreign oil. I also understand how so many people work these oil rigs and work at these oil companies. I live in Houston, TX and there are an estimated 150, 000 people in and around this city who works in the oil industry. However, continuing to drill without an answer to a major problem which happened as a result from drilling is just asinine.

These poli-TRICIANS who were elected into office let these big oil companies just run wild and this judge wants to continue to let them run loose. Judge Feldman has an invested interest in the oil business, which is the reason for his ban. Not that he cares about the earth or about the people put out of work as he may protray. His concern is his pockets and his investment. Say it with me, "poli-TRICKS!!!"

When Toyota had a problem, they fixed it before they were able to put out more cars. The Toyota dealerships around the country took a hit in sales and are still taking hits. We knew that Toyota employed people here in this country, but they had to take time off until their company FIXED the problem. Now Toyota is on an upward swing. They fixed the problem and the govement made them fix the problem.

Let’s look at the bigger picture here. This explosion could have happened on any company’s oil rig. However, no oil companies have any provisions on how to fix this leak. NOT ONE.How does an oil drilling company build an oil rig without knowing how to fix a problem such as a busted pipe? I’m not an engineer, but I do know where there is oil, then preparation for a fire should be taken into consideration.

If there was an oil company (no matter which one) with an employee who could fix the problem, we would have this problem fixed. This means not only BP, but all of these other oil companies drilling in the gulf is not prepared for this type of disaster. So how does it make any sense to continue to drill.

Our president did address the need for American minds, government, and business' to look into alternate means of energy use. Americans must use more natural resources and stop being so dependent on fossil fuels. We have to use more solar and wind power. We need to drive smaller cars and stop acting like we must have the biggest gas guzzler out there. We should all be driving some kind of alternative fuel cars. China has way more people than we do, but they are not as dependent on oil as we are. As a whole their country uses less fossil fuels than America.

Here is the problem, “No one knows how to FIX the leak”. Not an employee of BP, not an employee of Exxon, not an employee of any other oil and gas company. What this means to me? Well all of these oil companies drilling have never figured out a plan for a disaster like the one we are having and are not prepared for another disaster and it doesn’t matter which oil and gas company it is.

Looking at this problem from a GREEN point of view, the oil leaking at the bottom of the ocean is bleeding our earth. I don’t know why oil is at the center of the earth, but I do know that GOD put it there for a reason. The oil in the earth is the start of everything created at the bottom of the ocean and on land. This is not only a food chain that BP is destroying, but also a life chain.

Let’s use this example, when a person goes to donate a pint of blood, the person is not going to fall out and die. The person donating the blood can get up, walk, and even come in the next day and donate more blood. However, let’s just say that same person doesn’t have a pint bag collecting blood at the end of the needle. What will happen to that person? Eventually that person will die a slow death. Our earth is bleeding a slow deathFix the Leak!!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Talib Kweli @ NYC's S.O.B.'s-LIVE 6/23

Now what NYC Hip-Hop fan would want to miss this? Check out Talib Kweli at S.O.B.'s tomorrow night. For those who don't know, this is the NYC stage Talib got a lot of burn on prior to him and Mos Def dropping their first BlackStarr album (by the way, can the fans get a 2nd BlackStarr album?). Catch the talented MC along with ChinnahBlac and Chocolate Thaii. Click here for more info

Nneka Remixes "Heartbeat"-featuring Distant Relative Tourmate Nas





ST informed you of Nneka prior to her heading on tour with Nas and Damien Marley. Well Nneka's Distant Relative tourmate Nas joins Nneka on the remix of, "Heartbeat", which is a single off of her debut album, Concerete Jungle. Listen below and don't forget to grab the FREE download here of the re-mix.
Nneka feat. Nas - Heartbeat (Remix) by skelletop

Spragga Benz-"Shotta Culture" (Video)

Reggae sensation Spragga Benz drops his video for, "Shotta Culture" yesterday. The video is Spragga's visual to the 'culture' within the culture of Jamaica. If you've seen the movie Shottas, which was loosely based on a true story, then you have an idea of what a 'Shotta' is. Spragga played the role of a 'Shotta' in the film along side Kymani Marley. If you haven't seen the film yet, do so as it is a ST and underground classic. The video was directed by Ras Kassa and produced by none other than Salaam Remi. For more info, click the jumplink.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Roots-"Dear God 2.0" (Video)

The Roots - Dear God 2.0 from Deejay Vince RU on Vimeo.

The wait is almost over as The Roots' highly anticipated LP, How I Got Over hit stores tomorrow. Here is the first video to drop from the LP, "The Fire". More than the visual, the CD as a whole is the group's best work (In my opinion) since the Things Fall Apart CD. Enjoy the video, but trust me, "Don't sleep on this album".

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Houston's Robert Glasper Gives Us-"Dilla*Shine" feat. Zynzelay

Houston's own Robert Glasper and vocalist Zynzelay pay some respect to one of the most respected producers in the game, J-Dilla. This Dilla inspired track is entitled, “Dilla*Shine”. Now I wasn’t Hip to Zynzelay, but I love her voice and I usually love anything Dilla laced. A great voice, a Dilla laced track, and Robert Glasper on keys is a great combo and is worth a listen. Put this one in your iPods. Download here
Dilla Shine-Robert Glasper feat. Zynzelay by skelletop