Or how our emotional investments in questionable symbols of Black excellence continue to fail us. I have three thoughts about the large engagement of African American energy in Diddy’s innocence from creating a criminal enterprise over an azz of one. “Tight p**sy”. “Loose shoes”. A “warm place to s**t”. You should Google that. Or read […]
Read More ‘Free Diddy’ Won’t Free UsAre you living outside your screen? Hannah Arendt warned us that technology can cut both ways — open new doors while narrowing important ones. A walk through Chelsea a few years ago made me see her point. While on my way to watch legendary bassist Melvin Gibbs give a free performance at an art gallery, […]
Read More Strange Brew: Smartphones are Shaping Our LivesThe curious case of Feg Hero I could easily pile on the legit concerns of musicians and writers about Spotify looking like a Trojan Road to a long-devalued destination called “exposure” … I mean, if Spotify’s paying creators chewing gum money, what other reason would bands have to stay on this platform? It’s the reanimation […]
Read More Spotify Antics — It’s Not Payola, But Still Funny …C’mon, it’s 2024. Date: Nov 17, 2023 — “Apologetically unapologetic”. Those were the first two words I wrote while listening to Rapper André 3000’s track “I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A “Rap” Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time”, from his flute-driven New Blue Sun album. Some […]
Read More In Defense of André 3000 Grabbing His Flute and Changing on UsSocial media friend “Bart” — I’ll leave it at that since I don’t know how much he wants y’all to know about his kind and generous self — hit me with a Bilal vocal performance video that features Questlove playing drums, Robert Glasper on piano, and Burniss Travis keeping the pocket fresh with bass duties. […]
Read More Scene & Heard: Bilal — Live With Robert Glasper, Questlove, and Burniss Travis“Sounds influenced by George Benson” was my commentary after hearing Jazz-Funk guitarist Vladimir Cetkar for the first time more than a dozen years ago. Cetkar has excellent taste in influences, by the way. His high-energy Post-Disco “Ocean of Love” track from the 2007 OM Vibes, Vol. 1 compilation remains a pleaser, and I’ve kept an […]
Read More Scene & Heard: “A New Day” by Vladimir CetkarAn ode to crypto — and other modern-day shibboleth Richard E’s “To the Moon” is a tripped-out, timely metaphor of building a digital stairway to success riches — built on Atridean cobblestones, while escorted through the star lanes by at least five decades of savory musical flavors. Richard also mentions on his Bandcamp page that […]
Read More Aural Dive: “To the Moon” by Richard E (EP)Some of you have been waiting for this: a modern Punk band that doesn’t sound like a 90s Pop doppelganger. Welcome to Jenny Hates Techno. I really appreciate the pairing of band members John M. Ellison on guitar and “Boo” Dixon on bass. They probably listened to the same bands you and I did growing […]
Read More Scene & Heard: Jenny Hates TechnoFiercely creative musicians like Sheila Ellis and Richard E — collectively known as Annabel (lee) — will always grab my attention. And the group’s ability to show the world another unfamiliar property of their musical superpowers with every release made me ask a near-rhetorical question a few months ago: “What’s next?” Live Covers, the duo’s […]
Read More Album in the Crosshairs: Annabel (lee) — “Live Covers”; Further Out Recordings (2023)This piece is not an album review, but some dap for people who dare to surprise. I’m sharing these words with the assumption that you’re serious about sharing Let’s Start Here with the universe. Do it; if it feels good. And while feeling good, you may still think you’re not completely heard. That’s your cue […]
Read More To Lil Yachty and It Starts Here
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