Vibes blog

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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I’ve noticed that there is a lack of band introductions these days…

Sure, some bands do it old school — Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Al Green, Janelle Monae and others will have their band play first before being introduced and hitting the stage.

The Evening Muse, depending on who’s at the soundboard or hosting the show, will usually introduce the act hitting the stage.

Kiss is known for their “You wanted the best, you got the best,” introduction that they’ve been doing for years. Does John Mayer, Jane’s Addiction, Brittney Spears, Metallica or Harry Connick Jr. need to let you know who they are? If not, at what point is a band or artist famous enough to skip the intros?

However, a lot of places and people just don’t say a word. The lights go out, the lights come back on and the band is on stage as the first notes ring out. Sure, nine times out of 10, it doesn’t matter. The headliner is a big band and you already know who they are. But what about the opening acts? What about the people who are just there to see a new band and have no idea who they’re watching?

Most bands, even when not “introduced,” will let people know who they are at the same time they tell you there are CDs and t-shirts for sale in the back of the room. What’s your preference? Should a band be introduced before hitting the stage? Should they leave it as a mystery? Should they only say it at the beginning and/or end of the set?

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Merry Christmas! It’s that time of year – you know Santa, gifts, family and all that. Christmas lights, movies, and of course – music. So, enjoy your holiday. It’s hard to believe Christmas is already here again. So soon!

Wait…..what’s that you say? It’s not Christmas yet? It’s not even December?!?! Well, it’s at least after Thanksgiving then right? No…….well, I’m confused. I figured it HAD to be close to the big day. Why? Because there’s been Christmas music on the radio for almost 2 WEEKS now!

When did the day after Halloween become the start of the holiday season? The day after Halloween, I found no less than THREE radio stations devoted to playing Christmas music 24/7! Did we all forget this little holiday called Thanksgiving? It’s just now Veteran’s Day for crying out loud. Are there really enough people out there who want to hear 2 full months of The Chipmunks sing “The Christmas Song”? Really, that’s what we need right now? I am convinced that I know the culprit behind this “start the Christmas season early” campaign. Wal-Mart. Gotta be. (more…)

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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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I try to keep an open mind when listening to music. I look for some kind of intrinsic value or something worthy of saying there’s talent. However, when I heard this song, I couldn’t find a damn thing about it that I liked. It’s like taking an ice pick to the ear drum.

Disagree? That’s fine. But if you do, leave a comment and let me know what it is about this song, particularly the vocals, that give any hint to some kind of talent. Sure, she was married to John Lennon, but that doesn’t mean she should be allowed near a recording studio.

“Enjoy.”

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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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