Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Style Front and Center....
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Every icon has his signature piece from bow ties to suspenders to jackets and hats. When reading the Sam Cooke biography I noticed his shirts were always wonderful. His flare for shirts pushed me to step my dress shirt game up from polos to oxfords and french cuffs. I recognize Sam for his simple tasteful elegance through his example I saw that the little things make a fine ensemble.
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Saturday, June 25, 2011
Gospel Griots
For most of us our music experiences started in the church. So Black Music Month would not be complete if we don't take it to church. Bless the Lord. This is the first family and IMO has the greatest gospel writer ever in Marvin Winans.
Mary Mary - I Worship You
Sisters in song. These chicas keep the flame burning for contemporary Gospel.
Commissioned Running Back To You
This song is my testimony verbatim. Far too many times I have pursued my desires, wishes, needs and wants instead of God's purpose. His grace has seen me through those times and kept when I was lost.
Style Front and Center....
The next stylistic to be honored for Black Music Month is Andre 3000. 3000 has been a fashion renegade from the beginning turbans and shoulder pads with no shirt were just the beginning. The evolution of 3000 has rendered a more classic feel while maintaining his personal sense of panache.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Hoofers Pt 1. On the Good Foot Breakin' Turbo Broom Dance
This guy right here was the guru for a young 10 year old Shid. I would wait for Breakin' to come on cable so I could add to my repertoire. I never got remotely close to this level of brilliance but it was crazy fun trying. When I break even to this day I reflect back to Turbo and Crazy Legs as the quintessential B-boys.
James Brown From TAMI Rock Concert 1964 - Please Please Please & Night T...
Strength, grace and ferocity all in one body.
HOOFERS (Its a Celebration) Moonwalk - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - The First Moonwalk King Of Pop
For Black Music Month I am going to celebrate the breadth of this country's musicians. I first participated in music(hip hop specifically) as a dancer. So I felt it only right to pay homage to the world class steppers. This group of men possess power and grace that are rarely seen in any generation. The gentleman mentioned are the creme de la creme but not the only giants of dance go dig around on youtube to check Kid n Play, Bobby Brown, the Clark Bros., and Gregory Hines.
Sammy Davis Jr. Boogie Woogie
Sammy was the most complete entertainer I have seen. Impressionist, singer, musician, you name it he did and did it well. Check the tape.
Style Front and Center....
http://streetetiquette.com/the-black-ivy/
For the final week of Black Music Month I will be highlighting a different group of icons both musical and fashionable for the two go hand in hand like chocolate and peanut butter. The gentleman above put together an homage to collegiate style entitled Black Ivy check the slideshow and enjoy. The quote at the end of the presentation encapsulates my feelings not merely on dress but on being Black men in America. One.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Cee-Lo Green - Bridges
This song did not make the cut off the slept on (even by me) Lady Killer album. This is merely another example at Cee-lo's oft ignored brilliance. This Neptunes collaboration echoes early 70's soul with it's wistful positivity and calming melody making it a cutting room floor find.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
The Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Country Preacher (live)
In 1993 I was enamored with a young lady who was three years my senior so whatever she did I wnated to be a part of. She had an interest in poetry and wrote heartfelt poems so I tried my hand at it. She would cook spaghetti from scratch so I wanted to learn. She was interested in Jazz so I had to listen to it. She lived in Trotwood, Ohio so on my way to/from her house I stoppped by Camelot music and looked for the best option according to my budget. I looked through the clearance rack and found The Best of Cannonball Adderley,$ 2.99. With only ten dollars in my pocket I purchased it with glee. I took it home and marinated on it listening to each cut and digging each one more than the previous. At the end of the tape there was a dedication to Jesse Jackson entitled the Country Preacher. A minute into the song I recognized the opening notes from some record I had heard before. For months the questioned burned who used that? I would listen to that song on bad days and just allow the moody melody to seep into my cerebrum. After months of obsessing over this record my man aka the Connect informed me this was used by Pete Rock. This information blew my mind because Pete & CL were among a handful of artists that peaked my interest in Jazz. At that moment I was immediately reminded of the ATCQ line..1
You could find the Abstract listening to hip hop
My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop
I said, well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles
The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin like Michael
Tuesday Two Step: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth: Return Of The Mecca(
I grew up familiar with jazz but not loving it. My Grandfather played in Duke Ellingtons orchestra so I had a faint curiosity about the music. This curiosity became a motivation once I witnessed in living color in the movie Mo Better Blues, and heard it used as the bed in some of my favorite hip hop records. Few producers manipulated jazz samples as adeptly as Pete Rock. His loops boasted an affinity for horns that became his signature sound. Here he uses a snippet of a Cannonball Adderley record which happened to be my first jazz purchase. What is often lost in the discussions of Pete's brilliance is CL's microphone mastery. He was never going to be anyone's Rakim but like Ra he had a breezy lyricism. When it was coupled with the right track he shined like a new penny.
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