Check my review of Hollis, Queens emcee Monsta X:
http://www.brooklynbodega.com/2010/04/25/x-factor-monsta-x-mixtape-review/#comments
And the video for his debut single, “Goin’ In” :
Archive for the ‘Muses and Music’ Category
Lil Wayne Blogs from the Pent
In Artz, Daily Rotation, Muses and Music, bright lines on April 6, 2010 at 6:27 am
Yes, that’s right–Lil’ Wayne is blogging and selling merch from prison.
In his Letter #1, Lil’ Wayne says:
“During my prison stint, I want my fans to know I love you. I want all of you to know that I appreciate all the mail I get, and this is my way of saying thank you. The F is for Family, Friends, and Fans.
“Love. Live. Life. Proceed. Progress. That’s who I am and who I’ll always be. You see, we’re all living on borrowed time, so I’m not worried about this situation. Life happens quick. The more time you spend contemplating what you should have done…you lose valuable time planning what you can and will do. Trying to tear down the past prohibits you from building up your future. So for my time here, my physical will be confined to the yard. My love and my spirit, however, know no boundaries.”
You can even get a ‘Weezy Thanx You’ desktop/Twitter background:
http://weezythanxyou.com/goodies/
Lil’ Wayne is currently serving a year long sentence at Riker’s for illegal weapon possession. Apparently he’s isolated from the general population, and can be eligible for parole in eight months for good behavior. Sigh…
Stay strong Weezy!
Some love for “A Milli” :
Brooklyn Bodega #2: Talkin’ Shop w/ Toro Y MOI
In Brooklyn Bodega, Muses and Music on April 6, 2010 at 5:04 amNow, for days I had up the videos for “Blessa” and “Talamak”–Just today I was lucky to interview Chaz Bundick, the visionary behind Toro Y Moi.
Check out the article:
http://www.brooklynbodega.com/2010/04/05/talk-shop-toro-y-moi-interview/
Brooklyn Bodega #1: Little Dragon Performance Review
In Brooklyn Bodega, Brooklyn Social Club, Feminista, Muses and Music, all that glitters, bright lines on March 29, 2010 at 8:45 pmHi Bright Liners,
I’ve started writing articles for Brooklyn Bodega, a website devoted to exploring Hiphop, art, culture, politics, as well as curating the annual Brooklyn Hiphop Festival. There’s so many forces in the conversation. I’d like to bring to the table the influences different genres of indie music have on Hiphop, interviews with artists and thinkers and creators who can incite dialog and shifts in the status quo.
Whew. For now, here’s a start. Little Dragon performed at The Music Hall of Williamsburg and Mercury Lounge last week, and I wrote a performance review for Brooklyn Bodega:
http://www.brooklynbodega.com/2010/03/29/little-dragon-nyc/
And check out Little Dragon’s video for “Swimming” off their new album Machine Dreams. Yukimi Nagano’s father, Yusuke Nagano created the vid!
photo courtesy of Matthew Drazin, www.shotsofrock.com
Daily Rotation(s): Toro y Moi
In Brooklyn Social Club, Daily Rotation, Muses and Music, nerdysexycool on March 11, 2010 at 5:17 amNot quite done with the lo-fi Daily Rotations for today’s installment. It’s this here warm spell in NYC. It’s a love jones I won’t name yet.
It’s Toro y Moi.
Musician Chaz Bundick’s project, by way of South Carolina-
Toro y Moi’s chill wave grooves are all about atmosphere, good times, kickin’ it, Spring Awakening, and shedding layers for smoother skin.
He’ll grace the Brooklyn Bowl stage with New Zealand psychedelic indie rockers The Ruby Suns on March 26th, 2010. Tickets are $5! Pretty voices, cheap tickets.
The video for “Blessa”:
and the boys playing with rockets in the video for “Talamak”:
Daily Rotation(s): Neon Indian + Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor
In Daily Rotation, Muses and Music on March 11, 2010 at 4:47 am
Alan Palomo of Neon Indian just released “Sleep Paralysist”…The track, co-produced with Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, echoes the outerworldly video game tunes on his debut record Psychic Chasms.
Daily Rotation(s): “Tightrope” Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi
In Daily Rotation, Feminista, Muses and Music, all that glitters on March 11, 2010 at 4:40 amRobo-R&B art-roc-songstress Janelle Monae, all pompadour and soul, belts this shiny, self-assured ditty with poise ‘n attitude. Big Boi’s smooth foray against the funky bass line compliments the pure abandon that Ms. Monae delivers perfectly.
Brooklyn Freestyle Sessions @ Rose Live Music
In Brooklyn Social Club, FG/CLlinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Muses and Music, The Talented Mssrs. & Mlles. I Know, Williamsburg, nerdysexycool on March 3, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Mobius Collective, every Thursday at Rose Live Music in Williamsburg, BK
Mobius Collective celebrates their 3rd anniversary at Rose Live Music this Thursday.
Saxophonist/director Troy Simms, along with staple cipher Omar Little (trumpet), Borahm Lee (keys), and David Bailis (guitar), the Collective features guest DJ’s and musicians each session. Last week amidst the snow storm, the house was packed full of folks ready to go on a trip. Guest DJ–brilliant selector–Deejay Obah–filled in the blanks between sets, seamlessly taking us from a recording of Fela’s “Yellow Fever” into the band’s supersonic rendition of it. Keyboardist Borahm Lee brings it full force, slapping at his keyboard, mapping out intricate solos, infusing the tune with an echo here, a reverb there–he’s a vision to witness in action. Jazz to warm you up in the beginning, dub to settle the whiskey in your bones (it’s cold outside, y’all), flowing into Afrobeat and Hiphop to get the people dancing.
There’s something to the venue too. The abuela wallpaper and jazz club stage has an old-timers vibe, a subtly complementary addition to the listening experience.
Mobius Collective, courtesy of the band's Myspace
Note about their name, “Mobius Collective,” it’s a reference to the Mobius Strip, a one-sided, single edged surface that has no beginning or end. This metaphor comes alive during their performance–the musicians contribute to the soundscape by carefully listening, evoking the continuity between them, between the genres they journey across in a few hours’ time.
Check it @ Rose Live Music, every Thursday!
What: 3rd Anniversary Party of Mobius Collective’s “Brooklyn Freestyle Sessions
Where: Rose Live Music, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on 345 Grand St. @ Marcy
When: 10 PM to 3AM
Dialog Box: Modality & Miles Davis
In Muses and Music, The Talented Mssrs. & Mlles. I Know, nerdysexycool on March 3, 2010 at 5:26 pmThe third track on Miles Davis’ 1959 Kind of Blue, called ”Blue in Green”:
You can see how thinking about music moves into mysticism–Kwami Coleman
This Sunday, I talked to my friend, musician & musicologist, Kwami Coleman, who resides in San Francisco, about modality in music. I was listening to Miles Davis’ ”Blue in Green”, a highly textured musical composition, from his record Kind of Blue, which is very modal. Now, I’ve studied music, namely violin, but still have lots of questions regarding the theories. At first, Kwami broke down the basics of my questions, but then it soon delved into the relationship between music & tonality & its (unknowable) effects on human psyche.
When we hear a piece of music, it elicits a response from us. Whether we listen to Miles Davis, to get into a heady, reflective, sober condition or the energetic, multilayered, orchestrated spontaneity of Fela Kuti—there is an emotional response drawn out of us. We attribute emotions—longing, misery, whimsy, joy—to the melodies we hear. We all know this. And we know that the reason for this will never be fully understood, there’s value in understanding what certain tones provoke in the listener.
To read the Dialog Box interview, click the title of this post.
Energy 2 Burn: Hip Hop, Weekend Edition
In Brooklyn Social Club, Muses and Music, Williamsburg on January 28, 2010 at 5:28 am
Alexis Mabille Spring 2010 Couture. Metaphor for Saturday Night.
A note from the party: (they’re pretty giddy, no?)
“Two vinyl-addicted dj’s are going to bring a bunch of true skool hip hop party records and breaks circa “88-’92 to Trophy bar and play them..and YOU are gonna come out and dance, sing along, “Jump Around” “Pass the Mic” move “Back and Forth”..you get the Pic!!”
Details:
Trophy Bar, 351 Broadway (btwn Keap & Rodney), Saturday January 30, 2010
11 PM to 4 AM
Red Baraat’s Record Release Party, 1/30
In Brooklyn Social Club, Muses and Music, The Talented Mssrs. & Mlles. I Know, bright lines on January 25, 2010 at 5:21 amRed Baraat, led by drummer Sunny Jain, is a dhol ‘n brass band, mixing North Indian bhangra beats with brass funk. Their debut record, Chaal Baby, has just been released by Sinj Records. Their release party is at Le Poisson Rouge @ 158 Bleecker St. $12 in advance/ $15 at the show
Check out their performance at the Ports 161 Fall 2009 fashion show.
I’ll even throw in the songbird and sweetheart of Pakistan, Nazia Hassan’s kitschy disco single “Aap Jaisa Koi,” from the film Qurbani (1980). Red Baraat covers the tune in the video (it’s the second tune, if you can tell…)
RIP Nazia Hassan نازیہ حسن (April 3, 1965 – August 13, 2000)
Tonight–Live Art, Music & Haiti Benefit at Sucre in BK
In Artz, Brooklyn Social Club, FG/CLlinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Fort Greene, Muses and Music, Politickin' on January 24, 2010 at 12:08 am
