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I Watched Chappelle’s Show

So I watched The “Lost Episodes” of Dave Chappelle, episode 2. On bootleg of course,, just like Dave intended. For those who are waiting until Sunday, I’ll put my thoughts after the jump.
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Album Preview

Album Preview: BOOZOO BAJOU - Juke Joint 2

I’m going to preface this by saying that I never heard of Boozoo Bajou before this CD arrived in my mailbox. Usually I have some type of clue of what to write as far as backstory, but with this group, I’m drawing blanks. What I can piece together though, (thanks to Google) is that they are a European (German?) DJ duo who dropped a “ground breaking” trip-hop album entitled Dust My Broom which blended American blues and classic soul from the South.

This year they’re releasing Juke Joint II, a followup to their first Juke Joint compilation CD that dropped in 2003. Essentially, its a compilation of rare sounds and remixes featuring artists that you’ve most likely never heard of. If you’re looking for a comfort zone when it comes to music then you’re this joint is not for you. Unless you get down with Alice Russell, DJ Day, Mulatu Astatque, and Hanne Hulkeberg on a daily basis.

Get past the unfamiliarity angle and you have a solid CD. It starts off with a Boozoo Bajou remix of Joe White’s legendary “A Rainy Night In Georgia.” These dudes have an ear for sound. The El Michaels Affair rework of Issac Hayes’ “Hung Up On My Baby,” is superb. Nichole Willis and Urbs & Cutex are solid selections as well.

The most notable track for me was by Ethiopian jazz musician Mulatu Astatque. I only recently heard about this dude a couple days ago after watching that Bill Murray movie Broken Flowers. The movie was wack, but Astatque did the score and Ethiopian jazz is my new thing now.

The verdict: If you’re getting tired of rollin’ wit it and rockin’ wit it, and you really want to enhance your musical experience, you should definitely cop the CD. You have to be willing to open up to new music though, and sometimes its a tough thing. Juke Joint II will be released in the US on August 8th 2006.

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Hip-Hop

Lupe Fiasco - I Gotcha

Lupe Fiasco - “I Gotcha”

I don’t think this track is extraordinary, but it’s it fills that “club track” void that was missing on Food and Liquor bootleg. And that’s a good thing, trust me. We all love Lupe (no brokeback, of course) because he’s the “thinking man’s rapper.” I consider myself a cross of Lupe and Murs personally. But we know he won’t sell anything unless he has big name producers. Getting the Neptunes to produce this track is a good look.

Update: Nah Right has yet another Lupe/Jill Scott track. This ish is fire. Can I dare say that Lupe is the “truth?”

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Nightlife

The Roots, Talib Kweli and The Pharcyde @ Club Fur

Update: EVENT IS SOLD OUT

WHAT?

The Roots are coming to DC and I wasn’t alerted? Damn, it seems like my sources don’t love me anymore.

But anyway, this looks like DC is set for another hot show. The Roots always bring a dope live show (word is that they do a dope rendition of Laffy Taffy and Roll Wit It, Rock Wit It), and the Pharcyde (unfortunately sans Fatlip) is worth the price of admission alone.

Event Information:
Thursday, July 13, 2006
8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
21+
cover: $20.00

Venue Information:
Fur Nightclub DC
33 Patterson Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002

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Hip-Hop

Str8 Ballin

Thug Life Vol 1

I know I’m being lazy people, but hey its the summer and I spend the majority of my time outside in these D.C. streets (11th and Rhode Island NW HOLLA!!!). Throw these albums on your iPOD and run, kick/push, workout for the next 2 months.

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Gnarls Biggie

Since these things are a dime a dozen, I’m surprised that it took so long to make a Gnarls Barkley mashup album.

I mean, Dangermouse singlehandedly created this genre, didn’t he?

This new mashup CD is the brainchild of Sound Advice and was apparently created in a week. No MP3’s yet. Just a preview EPK on YouTube. These projects always are hit or miss, so I’m sure that some of these tracks will be hot but I doubt that it will get album of the year.

Gnarls Biggie drops on July 18th. You know I’m getting my hands on this for review.

Props to Miss Hipstah for the find.

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Tuesday Blandness

The track selection today is eh. No standout tracks for you guys, but again, as a public service I’m obliged to post. Luda is on point as always. John Legend fails to impress surprisingly, and Talib Kweli is still….Talib Kweli. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad, right?

John Legend - Save Room

Eh. I dig Legend but he’s really sounding like a Vegas lounge singer in this one. It’s definitely on Elvis Costello type of vibe. Hopefully this is not making it to his next album.

Talib Kweli - What I Feel

So other than Blackstar, I’ve never liked Talib Kweli. He’s the epitome of what people hate about backpack rap. He has no flow. His lyrics are tired. And his beats are wack. Please Talib, pick a new profession. Real estate investing is hot right now.

Ludacris - Tell It Like It Is

Luda is back with a vengeance. He basically calls “the industry.” I have a feeling that calling out “the industry,” will be in thing to do in ‘06 -’07. Good. The music biz has been corrupt for years. You already have Method Man and Nas taking shots. Luda takes his, but gives y’all up and coming rappers some advice on the music biz. Seems like the years of artists not having their publishing rights are coming to an end.

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Philly People ….

Just wanna let y’all know that its going down in Philly tonight.

Couch Sessions peeps J*Davey and Banned in DC alumni Nouveau Riche are playing tonight in that back alley the Five Spot TONIGHT. Doors open at 10. Party starts at 11. Peep this video invite.

Also, J*Davey is playing Mirrors in DC on Tuesday night, and The Slack Republic plays The Red and The Black on Wednesday.

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Can I Read Vibe Again?

So we all know its true: Vibe Magazine fell off under the tenure of Mimi Valdes.

I don’t know what it is, but there was something about Vibe that was missing once she took over. The gossip section seem to double in size, but since Vibe is a monthly it was always 3 weeks to late. The “Next” section always seemed to be the best part of the magazine to me, but lately its just been profiling record label’s pet projects and weed carriers. And Bobbito is interviewing dudes who aren’t even in the same area code when it comes to musical knowledge.

And who in the hell is getting a cover these days? Bow Wow and Ciara? WTF? True, putting petty little pop stars on your cover will sell on the newsstands (Vibe’s newsstands sales were 8.1%), it will alienate older readers (hence, Vibe’s subscriptions were down 2.8%). Talk to anyone in a business class. You want paying subscribers over some dude who might buy your magazine just because Lil Wayne was on the cover. (No disrespect to Weezy, of course. I’m just using him as an example)

Still, the fate of Vibe ain’t that bad when you think about it. They could be The Source. Even still, the powers that be saw that magazine doing down a slippery slope. The drama that supposedly went down behind closed doors probably had something to do with it as well.

So I was going to let my circulation of Vibe expire at the end of the term, and just chalk up the money and subscribe to The Fader. I used to get Fader for free when my homeboy worked there (plus I used to swipe them from Miss Hipstah), so I still can’t fathom the fact of sending them a $20 check for a bi-monthly magazine. But it seems that almost anything is better than Vibe these days.

What do y’all think?

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Hip-Hop

Classic

Fantastic Vol 1

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