Crib Notes

First the Nobel Peace Prize, now this. Forget the haters, it’s the lovers that Prez Barack Obama can’t seem to shake. (more…)

Bookmark to:

If anybody remembers Michel’le, the late ’80s/early ’90s R&B singer who worked with (and eventually had a son by) producer Dr. Dre, you might understand why Atlanta-based songwriter and artist the Dolldaze reminds me of her.

They sound nothing alike, mind you. But Michel’le has this helium-high speaking voice that’s the polar opposite of her rich, soulful singing voice. The difference in the Dolldaze’s speaking and singing voices isn’t quite that dramatic, but it’s interesting to hear how her Southern, round-the-way accent totally disappears once she begins singing.

But trust, that’s where the comparison between them ends. The self-penned song that the Dolldaze starts singing about 1:18 into the above video is one of the highlights from her recently released six-song EP, Acid Report: The Missing Peace. Titled “Let it Blow,” it features her signature blend of classic rock and soul. The traces of flamenco in her guitar strumming combine with her vocals in a way that reminds me of Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick singing “White Rabbit” for some odd reason. The alternating push-and-pull of the song’s changing rhythms builds a nice bit of tension, too.

Download Acid Report: The Missing Peace for free.

The Dolldaze performs tonight as part of the Think New 9 line-up featuring Sidestreet Ked, Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, Innate Forte, Lundy, Richelle L. Brown, Rico Wade, Dungeoneze and Pobody’s Nerfect. $10. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn, 736 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net.

Bookmark to:

Which came first, the BET Hip-Hop Awards or Atlanta’s steady flow of garbage-ass rap music?

The chicken-or-the-egg question occurred to me as I watched last night’s broadcast of the awards show, which should’ve been renamed the Gucci Mane Awards for the number of performances (3?) featuring the East Atlanta-bred MC.

It typified a night in which the show took every possible opportunity to reference Atlanta — which is odd considering the crowd is made up entirely of industry fucks (artists, publicists, label reps, promoters, radio heads, etc.) and almost zero fans. (more…)

Bookmark to:

Back when we included Fabo of D4L in the 2007 CL music issue, he seemed like the member of the Bankhead snap rap clique who was most likely to blow — not the D4L boss and former trap star Shawty Lo, who wound up dropping two solo albums and garnering a strong regional following in recent years. Fabo was also the member who drew the most criticism, mainly from hip-hop purists who felt the “Laffy Taffy” sound and Fabo’s colorful dances were destined to kill the culture.

But just when it seemed his detractors were about to get the last laugh, Fabo disappeared into the ether.

In the video clip above, he stops to talk to MTV’s Shaheem Reid on the red carpet of the ’09 BET Hip-Hop Awards, filmed in Atlanta earlier this month, and tells him that he returned to high school to get his diploma and is currently studying “business and management” at Ashworth College in Georgia.

I’m getting great grades. I ain’t no honor roll student or nothing like that, but I’m making it. I’m trying to better myself, not wanting this to be the last stop for me. Having a couple of more kids and watching them grow, being there with them. I been in the streets all my life, it’s time to do something for me and my family, you feel me? So I went back to school. That’s a great thing!” (more…)

Bookmark to:

Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Kelly Love Jones’ enchanted video for her acoustic wedding song, “For You,” has cast a spell on me. Directed by Roni Nicole, it features Rico Wade (Organized Noize co-founder/producer) playing her love interest. It was filmed  two and a half months ago in various locations around town, including East Point and East Atlanta.

The video also features several other local artists, including Doll Daze, who performs this Thursday night at Drunken Unicorn.

Bookmark to:

Of all the things happening this Saturday, Oct. 24 on Dilla Day in Atlanta — including a performance by the deceased hip-hop producer’s brother Illa J that night; a Lupus Walk that morning to support further research into the disease Dilla battled in life; and Dilla’s Dream Camp from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., which will offer MPC production lessons to participants 16-and-under — the most significant event could be the one that takes place at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Bench (602A Marietta St. 404-512-7671).

That’s when Amond Jackson (co-host, 89.3’s “Beatz & Lyrics Show” w/Jayforce) and taj anwar (hip-hop activist) will hold a name blessing ceremony for their months-old baby boy, Dilla Premier Wonder Jackson.

Named for his parents’ most beloved hip-hop producers (J Dilla, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder), their son has already graced the cover of Creative Loafing (his dad’s holding him up on the Aug. 8 issue) and made a feature appearance in Stahhr’s recent “Still Dope” video.

Not even a year yet, and already the kid’s doin’ it big.

UPDATE: Before posting, I emailed taj anwar to get the story behind her son Dilla’s name. Here it is, in her words:

I chose to name my son Dilla because of my love and respect for JDilla as a person. If my marriage to Amond was a movie- then JDilla’s music is the soundtrack. Our son is a symbol of that.

I met JDilla in 2004. I was a really big fan so when I had the opportunity to meet him- I was amped to say the least. I was introduced to him, and our first conversation went like this- (more…)

Bookmark to:

In 1980, Nigerian musician and creator of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, hooked up with funk-jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers to release the Pan-African collaboration Music of Many Colors. Ayers’ performance at this year’s fifth annual Atlanta tribute to Fela caps off a three days of educational roundtables and media meet-and-greets for Ayers.

The Saturday night tribute, sponsored by Spread Love, will also feature Mausiki Scales and Common Ground Collective, plus DJs Ausar, Kemit and Rich Medina. $15-$20. 595 North, 595 North Ave. 404-835-2329. www.595north.com. For more info, visit experiencespreadlove.com.

Below the jump, peep Ayers’ full schedule of events, which begin tomorrow in Atlanta: (more…)

Bookmark to:

$20 for Atlanta-area college students w/I.D. $25 for non-students. 8 p.m. Wed., Oct. 21. Morehouse College Forbes Arena, 830 Westview Dr. 404-681-2800.

Bookmark to:

Kenny Burns‘ upcoming documentary on himself looks fierce. The trailer for the doc, entitled B.U.R.N.S., offers a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Atlanta-based cultural connoisseur’s success, with clips featuring early collaborators Diddy, Dame Dash and Jay-Z. Dig it:

B.U.R.N.S means Be Ultimately Realistic & Never Sellout.

Far to many times I hear people idolizing or worshiping the “Entertainment Bizness”.
The crazy thing is half the time they don’t even know what they want from it, or better yet what it will TAKE FROM THEM!
B.U.R.N.S is the story of My Grind and hopefully will show YOU that YOU don’t have to be somebody’s slave to make it in the Entertainment Business (or The World). I NEVER WALKED TO BROOKLYN FOR CHEESECAKE!

As of late, he’s also added Huffington Post blogger to his long list of credentials.

Bookmark to:

SMOKE ONE: Decatur's own Bobby Ray gets lit Friday at Smith's Olde Bar.

(Photos courtesy Dustin Chambers. More after the break.)

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Atlanta-based music industry legend and former James Brown promoter Bob Patton died last Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Piedmont Hospital of an aortic aneurism. He was 70.

Born in Middletown, Ohio, Mr. Patton launched his music career as a teen with a weekly radio show. He would grow up to become a highly-respected music promoter. He had personal and professional dealings with stars that included Isaac Hayes, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Jerry Lee Lewis and B.B. King. He booked act for American Bandstand, the TV show.

“He was in the business 50-something years and worked with everybody from the Beatles to Prince,” said Sammy Blue, founder and executive director of the Georgia Legacy Foundation, a Decatur-based nonprofit that assists musicians with their careers.

“I’d say he was one of the greater promoters of what I call real American music.”

Read the full AJC obituary on Patton.

Bookmark to:

via NahRight.com

See additional parts after the jump.

(more…)

Bookmark to:

With the ink still drying on their recently-signed, four-album deal with Virgin Records, the Constellations make a pit stop at the crib tonight before returning to their tour through the midwest and other spots on the map. A couple of people have asked me why the hell (!) the Constellations didn’t make CL’s recent Best of Atlanta issue. And it’s a valid question. The band shot out of the blocks since dropping Southern Gothic last year, and they’ve crafted a potent, unexpected indie-pop sound considering the cats that comprise the local supergroup of sorts, including members from Trances Arc and Snowden.

Expect tonight’s show to double as a homecoming celebration, featuring the premiere of the Constellations’ new video for “Perfect Day.” Special guests include Falcon Lords, Future Shock and Prince Presto. $10. 9 p.m. Sat., Oct. 10. Lenny’s, 486 Decatur St. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com.

Bookmark to:

Asher Roth has received his share of citations from the cultural police for Tweeting While White (TWW). Back in April, he caught wreck after referring to “nappy headed hoes” before his scheduled show at Rutgers University. The former Atlanta resident and MC later apologized, saying he only meant to make fun of Don Imus.

Huh?

Anyway, his latest Twitter sound-off over Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize win may need no defense since he seems to be on the right side of the argument:

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Not since N.W.A. dropped “Fuck the Police” 20 years ago has hip-hop sounded this defiant, this jaw-dropping, this groundbreaking.

(more…)

Bookmark to:

HERE, YOU MONSTER!

It worked for Marvin Gaye — sorta.

After his marriage of 15 years to an older Anna Gordy ended in bitter divorce proceedings in 1977, Gaye dedicated to her the double-album with the double-edged title, Here, My Dear. In it, he took creative license to air the dirty laundry leftover from their failed marriage with such songs as “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You,” “Anger,” and “You Can Leave, But It’s Going to Cost You.”

The punchline? According to the divorce decree, half the proceeds from sales of the album went toward alimony payment — hence the sardonic title.

So today, when a new song from Usher’s upcoming album, Monster, was released, titled “Papers,” the comparison was unavoidable. In the song, Usher sings:

(more…)

Bookmark to:

“I’ve never questioned what my purpose was. I’ve always felt like I was given a gift and I’ve always felt like I’m being led.”

Janelle Monae’s new song, “Come Alive (The War of the Roses)” is being released today via Kia Soul Collective — a group of highly-touted artists comprised to help market the auto brand. The energetic, pop-punk song is also a sneak peek into what’s in store from Monae’s 2010 sophomore follow-up to her Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy/Atlantic debut Metropolis: The Chase Suite.

A free download of “Come Alive (The War of the Roses)” is available at KiaSoulCollective.com.

The behind-the-scenes video, shot at Wondaland’s Atlanta homebase/studio, features Monae and her W.A.S. peeps Nate Wonder and Chuck Lightning, as well as her bandmates, including the wig-wearing guitarist Kellindo Parker.

Bookmark to:

For Atlanta “Housewives” star Kandi Burruss, the tragic weekend death of her ex-fiancé Ashley “AJ” Jewell has only reminded her of how precious a commodity time can be. She writes about it in a recent blog posted on Hello Beautiful yesterday:

When you’re young you automatically assume that you got all the TIME in the world but then something like this happens and you realize that you’re not guaranteed TIME.

She also attempts to dispel the rumors and negative media portrayals that she feels persisted about Jewell as a result of their decision to expose their relationship on the ongoing season of the Bravo hit, “Real Housewives of Atlanta”:

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Free music. Free food. Free dranks.

See details below the jump:

(more…)

Bookmark to:

UPDATE:  Ashley “A.J.” Jewell’s murder stemmed from fight over respect.

UPDATE: Kandi Burruss’ ex-fiancé ‘hated’ being on “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” she reveals in her own blog post about AJ’s murder.

Even before news reports confirmed that Ashley “A.J.” Jewell, 34, had been killed late last night in front of the Marietta Blvd. strip joint Body Tap Club, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kandi Burruss began receiving countless condolences from fans via Twitter.

Some were shocked, others outraged, and most everyone was saddened that Burruss’ former fiance had died such a sudden, tragic death.

Burruss’ own Twitter message — posted in the wee hours of the morning before she prepared to attend an unrelated funeral service for a recently deceased uncle — was just as heartfelt:

im just in one of those moods where i dont wanna talk, i dont wanna b held & told its gonna b ok. i just wanna cry myself 2 sleep, alone.

It’s the kind of honest reaction fans of the show have come to expect from her. Sure to form, the newest “housewife” on the show has been the anomaly all season. As a former lead singer with the defunct Atlanta R&B group Xscape, she’s the only one among the ladies of RHOA who was a bona fide celebrity long before being cast in the ongoing second season. Yet, Burruss has remained the most down-to-earth on a show where ratings are fueled by constant catfighting and diva-like drama. In a sense, the drama in her life has almost been too real for reality TV.

(more…)

Bookmark to: