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More Saul Williams!

Saul Williams is still touring right now with Nine Inch Nails (according to his website)

Also on the site is a link to a remix of his song “Black Stacey.” Featuring Nas, the remix was done by Thavius Beck, one of hip hops best kept secrets, if you ask me.

Saul Williams' “Black Stacey” Remix by Thavius Beck, Featuring Nas

Stay tuned for a review of his new book The Dead Emcee Scrolls.

Tags: Mandrill

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Video: Coldcut featuring Saul Willams - “Mr. Nichols”

Yes, I know that this ain’tthe video that you would want to see on a Friday afternoon before you get your club on, but damn, this video and track is just downright amazing. I don’thave any info about this track right now, but I'm pretty sure that it's off of Coldcut's new album, Everything is Under Control that dropped last month in the UK (though I could be wrong).

But yeah, if you're in a good mood, this video is like Debbie Downer, so be forewarned.

Video:

Coldcut (featuring Saul Williams) - “Mr Nichols” (Windows Media)

Tags: Mandrill

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Because I care: Grammy Performances

I was at the bar last night, and only then did it dawn on me that the Grammys were on. As someone who is supposedly a music blogger, I should known this ish. But I also knew that it would all be on YouTube anyway. Here are the performances that ya'll might like.

Gorillaz, De La Soul, and Madonna

Kanye West and Jamie Foxx

Jay-Z, Linkin Park, and Paul McCartney

Can’tfind the Sly Stone vid, but I'm sure it will be up soon.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Mandrill

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Radioblog: The Ranom Ish Edition

CLICK HERE FOR THE RANDOM ISH RADIOBLOG

So Miss Hipstah demanded that I post something today, but I still gots that temporary bloggers block that I told some of ya'll about the other day. So until I get my ish in order, peep this new radioblog.

In reverse alphabetical order:

1. Ty And Roots Manuva - Do You Want More (Refix)

2. Ty - Let It Go
3. The Carps - The Ballad of Jaheim
4. Snoop Dog - Signs (Siik Remix)
5. R.S.O. with M.O.P. and Smif n Wessun - One In Tha Chamba
6. Pitbull - Toma feat. Lil Jon
7. Mike Shinoda (Fort Minor) feat Ghostface and
   Lupe Fiasco- Spray Paint
8. Mike Jones - Still Tippin' (Diplo Remix)
9. Little Brother - What Ever You Say
10. Lethal Bizzle - Fire
11. Kudu - Barstar (Tru Remix)
12. Kev Brown - Albany
13. Kanye West - Slow Jams (Lushlife Remix)
14. Kanye West - Addiction (Kenny Dope Mix)
15. John Legend - Johnny's Gonna Go (bonus track)
16. Jennifer Johns - Do you Believe in Love
17. Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
18. Emanon - 6 Million Ways
19. Dizzie Rascal - Off to Work
20. Dirty Water - Eat My Breakfast Alone
21. Dead Prez - Hell Yeah (Pistol Pete Remix)
22. A.D.O.R. - Let It All Hang Out (Pete Rock Remix)
23. Yahzarah - Beautiful Place

RANDOM ISH RADIOBLOG

Tags: Mandrill

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R&B, What Ever Happened To?

Whatever Happend To…..Remy Shand?

Remember Remy Shand?

In 2001, Shand dropped The Way I Feel on Motown, which he recorded in his Winnepeg, Canada bedroom. The first single, “Take A Message,” got a considerable amount of airplay on MTV2 and Much Music (back when I got Much on my cable box).

Most of the songs on “Take A Message” were written when the dude was still in high school, and they draw the new clice comparisons to Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye. This album was a rare gem with tracks such as “Take A Message” and and “Rocksteady” embraced the soul masters without trying to copy them.

Shand got some cred from the likes of Ethero, Badu, D’Angelo, and others. Although the album went platinum in his native Canada, lack of radio airplay and label promotion sent Take A Message to the discount bin in the US.

His website lists that his last appearance was in 2003. Let’s pray to God that he’s producing music somewhere and not working at a McDonald’s. Can ya’ll Canadians cue us in on what’s goin’ on with this dude? Someone needs to ressurect this dude’s career like Robin Thicke.

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Whats Beef? Beef Is When You Make Your Enemies Start Your Jeep

Now before you think this post is about the return of the British bulldog DaveyBoy Smith (is he still alive?), I'm questioning the importance and/or need for rappers (and R&B singers…Christina Milian vs Nick Cannon anyone?) to have beef with rappers in 2006. In, around, and after Nas and Jay Z went at it in 2001 it seemed like rappers used their dislike for other emcees as a springboard to create a buzz for their album, but is that a successful approach now?

Obviously G Unit has beef with someone anytime they have an album dropping so they really don’tcount. 50 took Jas formula, smashed him because of it, and turned around and used it to sell hella records to millions of people. Lame. I've been watching the BEEF dvds on BET (damn the animated MLK was so right) and I just can’tbelieve that in todays world of hip hop people take music that serious.

After the jump read about more beef, Game vs the world, and how I’ll be beefing with some B-List rapper from Tampa before my album drops….KILLA!!
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Mandrill

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“Sexual Healing” Could Be A Good Thing

Hollywood can’tget enough of the biopic. First there was Ray, soon there's going to be one about Nina Simone and now, there's talk of one about Marvin Gaye:

“Sexual Healing,” an independently financed drama starring “Law & Order” cop Jesse L. Martin as the late Motown icon, will shoot in Hungary and Germany. Lauren Goodman will direct from her own script.

The movie chronicles Gaye's self-imposed exile in Europe after years of battling drugs, domestic issues and label headaches. There, he was rescued by a promoter who helped Gaye record his biggest-selling album, “Midnight Love,” which yielded the monster comeback hit, “Sexual Healing.”

For those of you who aren’tfans, Jesse L. Martin not only plays Detective Ed Green on “Law & Order”, but was also in the Original Broadway production of the hit show “Rent” (He went on to star in the movie version as well). He's a classically trained actor, which is rare to find these days. If this film goes through, it'll be interesting to see him in his first starring role.

Tags: Mandrill

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Weekend Update: The Movie Edition

So the latest thing now is for Hip Hoppers to become Hollywoodites. Everyone from Queen Latifah and LL Cool J in Last Holiday to 50 Cent in that movie where he couldn’teven play himself. In the next few months, there are gonna be a few more films coming out that are gonna show some people might have better acting skills than everyone first thought.

I already posted this, but I'm so psyched about the movie, I'm gonna post it again. Here's the trailer to Idlewild, staring Andre Bengamin and Antwon Patton aka Big Boi. The soundtrack drops the 14th of this month, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Big Boi is also going to be in the upcoming film ATL, also starring Tip Harris aka T.I. The film follows a group of young people growing up in Atlanta, all of whom are trying to make money and get out. Directed by veteren music video director, Chris Robinson, the movie sports the tagline “The New American Story.” Oh, and if you want more info on Big Boi, check out Elemental, issue 73 (should be on newsstands now). He's on the cover.

Another movie coming out soon is The Tenants, a film about two writers who both move into an abandoned tenement while trying to finish their novels. Starring Snoop Dogg and Dylon McDermott, the film looks at issues of race through the eyes of literary novelists. The movie actually looks really promising. It's a different role for Snoop…one that doesn’tconsist of a matching pimp coat and cup.

Finally there's 16 Blocks. Starring Bruce Willis and Mos Def, 16 Blocks tells the story of a down on his luck New York cop (Willis) who has to take an imprisioned witness (Mos Def) to the court house…16 blocks away from the police station. And he has to do it in 118 minutes. These doesn’tseem like a huge deal, except for the fact that every cop in New York wants to see get taken out. So, basically the whole movie (as you can see in the picture above) is Bruce Willis and Mos Def running around trying not to get shot. Mos Def's character looks annoying but entertaining, while Willis just seems to be playing the same character he always plays.

That's it for my weekend update…I'm gonna go do something productive.

Tags: Mandrill

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Dave Chappelle on Oprah

Like a lot of other people, I missed seeing Dave Chappelle on Oprah today. But I heard it was a really really good interview. Best Week Ever posted some clips on YouTube.com. Here they are:

Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3

Thanks to ConcreteLoop for the heads up.

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Floetry's Songstress Gets Her Own Gig

Marsha Ambrosius, one half of the dynamic duo Floetry, is getting her own record deal with none other than Dr Dre and Aftermath Records.

…The singer-songwriter says she is thrilled at the chance to work with Dre, who has only worked on a few projects in recent years. “Who wouldn't? It's a lifetime opportunity,” she said, adding, “It's not like he offers to do an album with everybody.”

The invitation to work with the rapper-producer came late last year, when Ambrosius and partner Natalie Stewart were performing two Floetry shows at The Roxy in Los Angeles. The audience included a number of other music makers, including Dre and Prince. Ambrosius ran into Dre later the same week, and when he played her a track she soon found herself in his studio, singing the vocal hook. The seeds for the Ambrosius solo project were sown.

“It's all very much a dream,” Ambrosius added. “I've always wanted to do a solo album. However, I didn’texpect this to come when it did. But I'm ready for it.”

There's no telling when the album will drop. In the meantime, the British duo have been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category (whatever that means).

The nomination is for their track “Superstar” which is off their latest album Flo'Ology.

Tags: Mandrill

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