This is a Thing That Happened

VIA

LOTW – The Very Best

The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa

If you haven’t heard Esau Mwamwaya, I’d be surprised.  He’s done a very good job getting his name out on the blogs.  He makes songs with M.I.A., Vamp Weekend and Architecture in Helsinki.  Then he put out a free album mixtape last year with Radioclit (they call themselves the Very Best).   Today we have the album.  I’m listening to it right now and I got to say it has real album of the year potential.  It’s that good.

Not sure?  Check out Chalo after the jump, and then download it, ok?

VIA

I Know You Got Soul – Part 1

I Know You Got Soul Disc 1

Disc one of this jumbo sized mixtape is the original.  I made it a couple years ago, and with a couple tweaks, it’s harder, better, faster, ect.

Disc one is bookended with two of my favorite songs in any genre, “Didn’t I” by Bay Area legend Darondo, and the Stax classic “I’ve Been Lonely For So Long.” It also has my favorite Otis Redding ballad, “Tell It Like It Is” (and yeah, I do like it better than “Tenderness” or “Too Long”).  “Gimmie Little Sign” will get stuck in your head for the rest of your life, and the piano line in “Too Hurt to Cry” (by my first lady of soul, Candi Staton) is just a monster.

There’s just too much good stuff.  That’s why part two is coming next week.

Africa Brazil 2009

I tend towards the the old school when it comes to my taste in both African and Brazilian music.  “Nqayi” a collaboration by Brazilian DJ Maga Bo and South African artist Teba is anything but.  It’s pretty rad though.  It’s a mix of baile funk and whatever they’re doing in Capetown (I’ll plead ignorance here). The video was shot in the Capetown slums and apparently they’re speaking English for part of it, which I’d still like someone to prove to me.

Ostensibly, if you’re into the M.I.A. sound, this should be up your alley.

And in case you wanted to know:

“The lyrics talk about the difficulties faced by youth in townships today and how society tries to force them to drink and take drugs. Nqayi means baldhead and refers to fake rastas posturing themselves, but then bending over to the pressures of society and shaving their locks.”

VIA

I Can’t Fell My Face or… My Face Can’t Be Felt? (finally)

Four songs, uh, leaked sort of, and honestly they were kind of disappointing for two of the best in the “game.” I guess I feel this one is the best. Stevie Wonder beat, a few decent Wayne lyrics and some underwhelming Santana (who can be great). “I’m homer/ and your a simp’ son/ and i’m pimp son.” I actually found one of the blog responses really funny (even as a Wayne fan). Jump for it.

Awww, Fuck!

The spectacular Soul:

was broadcast beginning in the late 1960s through the early 1970s, first on NY public TV and it had a brief national run too. It was one of the first African American variety shows of its kind, during, arguably, one of the richest eras for Black culture and politics and amazingly, hosted by Ellis Haizlip, an openly gay television and theatre producer. [Soul Sides]

Soul and Jazz performances that were mostly unseen are now being archived and put online by WNET 13 in New York. So far there are episodes with Tito Puente, Max Roach and others.  This is the Roach episode with a great opening number by Bobby Heb (who?).  These things are a blast to watch and the interviews are great.  Man, this is gonna waist all my time today. 

More are coming soon according to the site.  VIA

Prom Queen Video

Some would say Lil’ Wayne is trying to jump over sharks. I would say they are wrong. Dead wrong. This is absolutely genius. Just watch it.

Wanna hear the President cuss, dude?

Here are some snippets from Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from My Father. In context, Mr. President is quoting and impersonating his friend from High School.  Out of context, these are great.

Take a listen.  NSFW Dude!

Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3

Click Here for the original blog.

The Korean Candidate

Two Items:

Many young democrats will try to ‘ride the top of the ticket,’ getting a bounce because they’re on the same ballot as Barack Obama.  This is a hallowed political tradition in the U.S.  In Brazil, the tradition calls for putting whatever name you want to call yourself on the ballot.  Six politicians figured ‘Barack Obama’ was a popular enough name and are running as Barack Obama.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kim Jong Il has maybe had a stroke and no one outside of North Korea knows who’s maybe running the country/military while Kim is in his coma.

Or he’s been dead since ‘03 and they’re just using body doubles.  Toshimitsu Shigemura a professor from Waseda University in Tokyo thinks so.  And look at this side by side…

This ones a bit small I know.  More compelling photos below.

Sweepin’ the Nash’?

Dance craze of ‘08.