Vibes blog

WARNING: Sweeping generalizations about the musical tastes of black people will be made in this post…I’m black soooo, it’s cool.

I hate being put in a position to express the views and opinions of my race. This time, I think I’ll take a stab at speaking for “my people.”

Following the American Music Awards on Twitter, not only did I get into an argument with a zealous Michael Jackson fan, but I also further realized that black people, for the most part, don’t keep up with white pop stars.

Tweets like “ Damn you Kanye…ain’t nobody know who this skeeza was before the VMA’s now they riding with her like Seabiscuit to the finish line” lead black people to be convinced that Taylor Swift was a nobody before Kanye West embarrassed her on the MTV Video Music Awards, thus throwing her in the spotlight and that’s because, for the most part, we have no idea who these white pop stars are.

Sure there’s Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus (I’ve seen Hannah Montana backpacks in the projects for Christ’s sake), Lady Gaga and other artists are just big everywhere but you’d be hard pressed to find a black person who can name a Taylor Swift song let alone own the album.

Then she beat Michael Jackson for awards and people were looking for the digital Dr. King to start marching against her, when as one of my followers so nicely put, MJ is great but he didn’t do much this year but die. (The subsequent retweet is what started my “debates” with MJ fans).

Then Adam Lambert gets on stage and the confusion mixed with homophobia nearly made my Blackberry explode. Truth is, I don’t know many black people that have followed American Idol since the Ruben, Fantasia days and that was what…? 5 years ago?

The point of this? Really isn’t one. Just a cultural observation. The same way I had to Google white actresses not named Anne Hathaway because they all kind of look alike to me is probably the same reason “my people” aren’t aware of the millions of albums Taylor Swift sold this year and really think Kanye West catapulted her to stardom.

Hey, if you want us to know, play it on Power 98.

It’s a black thing.

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Joy was an understatement when I pulled a poorly taped together package out of the mail Thursday.

Inside that box and literally wrapped up in a napkin was my missing BlackBerry I thought I’d never see again but that euphoria quickly subsided as I began to take inventory on what I’d received in the mail from a small North Carolina town.

All my pictures, ringtones and most importantly, music, were gone! Not just wiped from the system but replaced!

What kind-hearted monster would do this? Have the decency to give my BlackBerry back that they attained under unknown circumstances but send it back as a shell of it’s former self.

Gone were the entire discographies of Nas, Outkast, Jay-Z and The Roots, in was The Spinners, Mtune, Dionne Warwick and Aaron Neville?

I’m all for “Juicy Fruit,” and the subsequent hit “Juicy” by Biggie sampled from the same song, but damn! Surprisingly intact, the A&T fight song.

I have nothing against Peabo, Atlantic Starr, Natalie Cole, “big” Luther or the Chi-Lites, but I’d rather hear the The Cool Kids or Dilla beats when I’m wandering around the grocery store.

What makes things weirder are the songs that surprisingly survived the mass destruction. What music head makes an effort to leave Gucci Mane and Wacka Flocka Flame’s mixtapes intact but adds gospel like Donnie McClurkin and Fred Hammond to the mix? Were you going to put “Bricks” on a playlist right next to “Never Would’ve Made It?”

I’m not knocking his choice in music just the fact that dude deleted my gems for it. Whether it was mixtapes or tracks from local artists and producers, unfinished beat sketches by people trying to get my opinion on them or underground albums I can’t get my hands on anymore and that’s what sucks the most.

But hey, at least Moms just got a whole lot of new music to compliment that Prince on her iTunes.

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The Deal: DC rapper’s long awaited debut album, Attention Deficit, puts DMV in the hip-hop spotlight.

The Good: You get a little bit of everything. Wale manages to give people a taste of his home, DC, and heritage, Nigeria, with tracks like “Pretty Girls” featuring Gucci Mane and “My Sweetie.” An All-Star lineup of guest appearances with Pharrell, Lady Gaga, Rihanna (sampled), Bun B, Jazmine Sullivan, Chrisette Michelle. But the really stand out features came from the lesser known K’Naan on “TV in the Radio” and J. Cole and Melanie Fiona on “Beautiful Bliss.” “Mama Told Me” is the younger brother of Jay-Z’s “Mama I Made It.”

The Bad: Wale tries to be all things to all people and multiple times spits on the pressure of carrying the genre. Was anybody else aware he was anointed the next hip-hop leader? While the guest appearances are dope, they are all predictable. Why not get Gucci on a go-go beat or something else risky. The one that does break away from the featured artists’ usual is “Chillin” with Lady Gaga, and it leaves her sounding more M.I.A. “Paper Planes” than “Poker Her Face.”

The Verdict: Wale does an excellent job of capturing hip-hop’s attention span. Every track can’t be a party record or a single and most freshmen don’t get that. A dope first showing from someone we’ll be hearing from for a while.

INFO
Allido/Interscope; Release date: Nov. 10, 2009

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You don’t have to be old and stuck in a sexless marriage to do something special for the women in your life. Seeing as I’m neither old, nor married, nor dating, I thought it’d be a great idea to take my mom out on a “date.” A huge Kem fan, she’d surely enjoy a evening of soul and comedy right? But who knew I’d learn so much.

Within seconds of arriving at Ovens Auditorium, I realized I was 1) easily one of the youngest people there and 2) desperately underdressed.

I swear there was a secret, unsaid, old Head dress code and I don’t own anything brown. Nor Kangol caps, corduroy or velvet blazers. I’m dead on the striped button-ups and linen pants. And gators? I’m almost certain they have a sticker at the register that says, ‘Must be born before this date in 1974′ to even purchase those.

One of the most amusing parts of experience was seeing how middle-aged men refer to their wives. Their’s something semi-sweet (in a greeting card way) about an older guy calling his wife, “my lady,” even though some of them had been married since Otis Redding was on the charts, they still introduce their wife of decades as, “my lady.” Hey, maybe she’s everything he needs and more (Boom, Jeffery Osbourne reference!). (more…)

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Eyes of the Elders
Snug Harbor
Nov. 7, 2009

The Deal: Eyes of the Elders performs its entire new album, EOE, and old favorites in front of recent and long-time fans.

The Good: Who knew the electric fiddle was so hip-hop? The fact that they could fit nine people with microphones and instruments on the tiny stage at Snug Harbor and still perform with any stage presence was amazing. The energy was awesome and because the venue was so tight it allowed lots of interaction with fans. Where else could you pass a rapper a beer on stage? Every musician really got a chance to shine during the show. Eyes of the Elders managed to squeeze in some theatrics as well, whether it was Uncle Fox rapping through a megaphone or stripping down to a dress + skateboard shoes, it was all entertaining.

The Bad: The band and sound people never figured out the right balance of band and emcees, one was always drowning out the other. Your best bet would be to learn the lyrics before you get there because you won’t catch many of ‘em at the show. I’m all for a great show and great band but the length was outrageous. 22 more songs after playing the whole new album? Jesus!

The Verdict: The Roots shouldn’t be looking over their shoulders just yet but Eyes of the Elders are definitely a band everybody should see. Amazing show and musicians who leave every ounce they have on the stage. No one could say they didn’t their monies worth.

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Los Angeles hip-hop duo, U-N-I, performed their song, “Hollywood Hiatus (Cool It Now)” live at Amos’ South End on Thursday night as they opened up for Kidz in the Hall and Warren G.

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Hip-hop duo Kidz in the Hall performing their hit, Driving Down The Block, live at Amos’ with U-N-I bouncing around in the background, on Thursday, November 5, 2009.

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Warren G w/ Kidz in the Hall & U-N-I
Amos’ South End
Nov. 5, 2009

The Deal: Strange lineup brings G-Funk and Midwest hip-hop to the South.

The Good: U-N-I didn’t approach their set as an opening act and rocked it like the headliners. Double-O from Kidz in the Hall held down a keyboard, beat pad, drum stick and the mic, you have to appreciate that kind of multi-tasking, while Na’ledge made sure his MC duties weren’t overlooked. Warren G brought the G-Funk back complete with someone lighting a blunt in the front row and the tribute to Nate Dogg, who’s in therapy after suffering multiple strokes, was a very bright spot and probably the most engaging part of the show. Rarely do you see the bigger performers watch the openers from the audience instead of chillin’ back stage, props to Kidz in the Hall for that, they definitely gave fans a great opportunity to press the flesh.

The Bad: Did anybody know about this concert? Whether it was the strange combination or lack of promotion, sparse would be an understatement and even the performer’s attempts to embrace the intimacy came off kind of sad. With all the extra space people felt the urge to do too much. With every single comment in the crowd being audible on stage, there was a lot of drunken interruptions and did we really didn’t need you to crip walk to every Warren G song Malibu’s Most Wanted? Warren G’s new material got a lot of blank stares before the crowd finally went along with it.

The Verdict: Really really awkward show, more because of the crowd than the artists. U-N-I are definitely a group to watch now. Kidz in the Hall probably should have headlined considering they are a little more relevant and the old heads who came for Warren G had to work in the morning. Don’t know if it’s a winning combination but it’ll work for short tour.

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Mike Posner may be living the dream.

During the week, the J Records recording artist is a senior sociology major at Duke University, recording his debut album during free time and touring on weekends.

How many students can sit through a midterm one day then be in the studio with some surprisingly big names days later? It’s like the best of both worlds. Being inside the college bubble during the week and then having the opportunity to step out and be a star. What more could a 21-year old ask for?

Posner’s newest mixtape, One Foot Out The Door, features guest appearances by Kid Cudi, 3Oh!3, Bun B and Saigon, to name a few, and what’s even cooler is instead of searching blog sites trying to find a link to download the whole thing Duke University made the whole mixtape, and Posner’s previous one, available free to download on their iTunesU. (more…)

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