D’Angelo And The Vanguard: Black Messiah

Dec 19, 2014 |

So, after a 14 year hiatus that has been well-documented, speculated on, dissected, frowned upon, etc, D’Angelo, with his band, The Vanguard, drops a new album without much ceremony. The Wait And close to two years after Questlove said, in a Billboard interview…"Right now, we're just tightening up the loose ends. But I still stand by, 99% of it is done….I would not be far off by saying this is probably my generation's version of Sly (and the Family Stone's) 'There's a Riot Goin' On.' It's potent. It's funky. It's an extremely hard pill to swallow. He's one of those artists that have, of...

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Meshell Nedegeocello’s Comet, Come To Me Mini-Documentary

Nov 2, 2014 |

There is something sensual, guttural, and wonderfully calming about the bass. As a child, I was always fascinated by how the bassist in jazz bands always seemed to be the funkiest, even when playing the upright bass, which forces one to be relatively static on stage – not really something you can fling around. And then bands and musicians like George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic, Sly & The Family Stone, Con Funk Shun, Ohio Players and Bootsy Collins, that bass funk went a whole different level. This is what drew me to Meshell Ndegeocello who has been one of my favourite musicians...

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Digital Crates: Amerigo Gazaway

Mar 24, 2014 |

I have wanted to do a Digital Crates post on Amerigo Gazaway for a while. I first came across him in 2012 when he was still involved with Gummy Soul Record Company. The Pharcyde’s Labcabincalifornia continues to be one of my all time favourite hip hop albums while A Tribe Called Quest have served as a critical soundtrack for significant parts of my life so when Amerigo created a musical journey, which he called Bizarre Tribe: A Quest To The Pharcyde, that blended these two groups, I was hooked. Bizarre Tribe was described as follows: “Utilizing the original Jazz, Soul and Funk recordings...

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Digital Crates: TVOne’s Unsung

Jun 25, 2013 |

Our stories hold lessons that others could benefit from. While there are those whose journey is smooth, without nary a ruffle, for most of us, life is an exercise in experience gathering, not always positive but generally of value, even when it doesn't seem to at the time. The idea of artists being overnight sensations is one that some try to push but the reality is that, for many, the trip to stardom is littered with potholes, burning drums and other potentially apocalyptic trials. In some ways, this is what makes the achievement even sweeter. We put people on pedestals. We celebrate their...

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Random Thoughts: Justin Bieber

May 14, 2013 | ,

A truly random post after an extended period of silence. This past weekend, I joined thousands of tiny and teenyboppers in the trek to FNB Stadium to watch Justin Bieber perform courtesy of 5FM on a night when many a father was a giant in their daughter's eyes, at least for the night. It was also Mother's Day and to see so many mothers and daughters bonding was also wonderful. My view of Bieber was altered by the documentary Never Say Never which gave a peek into his life before and after his discovery and the people around him, including his manager Scooter Braun who 'discovered' him....

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STR.CRD 2012 – Urban Youth Culture

Sep 19, 2012 |

When it comes to hip hop and its influence on culture and lifestyle, the story of how Run DMC got – the first for a rap group - $1million endorsement deal from Adidas which eventually included their own line is legendary. In the book, The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop, Dan Charnas talks of how Lyor Cohen convinced Angelo Anastasio, Adidas US marketing executive, to come see Run DMC perform at Madison Square Garden during their Raising Hell tour. One of their great hits was the homage to the shell-toe, My Adidas (for the young ones reading this) Charnas writes, “The...

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