Say it ain't so, Flo...etry...

WTF??? Dammit! You might as well blame this one on Bush, too. I figure he is as good a suspect as any that must be responsible for splitting up two of our favorite UK imports. Apparently, Marsh and Nat haven't done much talking since their last tour stretch that ended overseas some 8-9 months ago. But the public rumors began a few months back with Natalie Stewart's MySpace postings of "life after Floetry" as well as her transformation into "Super Heroine". (BTW...besides the "Life After Floetry" thing, you wont find any other mention of the group or Marsha. Wow.) Marsha has been doing her solo thing as well, signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label and popping up on some very hot joints including collabos with The Game, Nas, and DJ Hi-Tek - all of the tracks get the Dope Joints Seal of Approval (as if that means a damn.)

It now appears that the nail may be in the coffin for the Floetry you remember. Marsha has teamed up with MTV's poet laureate/mc Amanda Diva for a tour billed as "Floetry Remixed". Of course, Marsha says that Diva is not replacing Stewart. Well, it definitely seems like one hell of a test run! They will tour through the States extensively, primarily in venues like House of Blues. I'll let you read Marsha's words for yourself, posted on her MySpace blog 7.28.07. Judge for yourself and decide whether we'll ever see Marsh and Nat rockin' again. Damn. It's like Wham all over again. Well, not really...but y'all know what I mean.

From Marsha's MySpace Blog:

Disclaimer: there are two sides to every story (yeah right) middle men and chinese whispers make the truth all crazy... I can say that this is my side... no characters, dates, times or places have been changed to protect nobody... this is what it is... without putting anybody on front street of course, the subject of this blog will probably be questioned and due to parties involved, i may not be able to answer them directly, I'd advise when you can, go to the source.... thanx... :)


1st of all, Natalie Stewart was never replaced... However, at the end of the Flo'ology tour December 5th 2006 in Birmingham, UK, right after the show, Natalie wished me safe travels and we hadn't spoken since.. well until a few weeks ago... of course there are things that happened between us and will remain on my part between us yet there was evidence of a separation in the group way b4 these rumors came to light...

you see, myspace.com tells you what you need to know about a person, or what you want them to know about you... whilst Nat nor myself were communicating, I took the easy road and I went to check out her page coz a fan hit me with the link like wtf!!! this was early this year... so i see on Nat's personal page "Life After Floetry... Natalie Stewart is... Super Heroine..." and I'm like OK, she got her Code Records poppin, she was doin her... grown woman, had to respect the M.O... so I'm back in Philly, she's in the UK, we're not talking, I see "Life After Floetry..." to me, she left...

so, I'm getting calls from label people, management, etc... they let me know what was being said and done and I'm like damn... what to do now... coz its all personal, but Nat has been like my sister and I'll back her 100... but at some point, I gotta say or/and do somethin... I had to do me, I just want to make music... personal shyt aside... I've put blood sweat and tears into Floetry, when people see me out anywhere, I'm the chick from Floetry, its my aka, my ID... so, I'm continuing a brand that I sure as helped build and I'm creating opportunities for projects that I believe in... I believe in the Floetry brand and I am continuing and chose to do so with Amanda Diva on the "Floetry Remixed Tour"

"Floetry Remixed" came about very suddenly...I met Amanda Diva thru a friend and we creatively clicked instantly... I can't control promoters, i can't control gossip sites, what I can give you is my word.... not one of them sites had a quote from me saying nothing... every promoter of the Floetry Remixed tour knew what it was going in... I'm about the music... I'm about being on the road and giving the music to the people... I respect that everyone is so passionate and concerned about music... makes me wanna be better at what I do... but, as always, I respect other people's moves... I'll let you do you... I'm a friend till the end... but when it gets all crazy, at some point I have to see things for what they really are... if its not working, its not working... i can't please everybody... I can't, i tried that... got me in a whole bunch of shyt... guess if I'd a grown up sooner, things woulda been different but I can't live like that, I just gotta LIVE... and let LIVE...

Natalie Stewart: you are my sister... blood... an important part of me being here doing what I dreamed about for the longest and you know that... I support you 100... you know how we get when its all personal and emotional and so very separate... we are different, and that's OK... you know me... I wish you well... all my luv...

at the end of the day, its all luv and music... if only it was that simple... :)

In full bloom

Those of us who appreciate indie music and "indie soul" in particular are easily agitated when surveying what the mainstream powers that be choose to put its full influence behind. Our anger and frustration is righteous and worth our focus when considered in the proper context. It's mainly due to our continuous discovery of acts that truly deserve everyone's attention, not just our own. And although we sometimes, albeit selfishly, revel in the knowledge that we are somehow cooler for being hip to a particular artist that many others are not, that self-righteous feeling fades when we realize that we would prefer to enjoy the bonefied artists we love on radio and t.v. the same way other music fans get to frequently indulge in the cookie cutter one-hit wonders that will soon fade. Sometimes it really sucks when you realize there is so much more that seems to be intentionally hidden from us.

Well, get ready to get pissed again, my friends. Because Kevin Sandbloom is another one of those artists you should know. This So-Cal singer/songwriter has been quietly building an ever-growing worldwide fan base. Pairing with Melany Bell to form his name sake band Sandbloom, Kevin has been relentlessly touring and recording- and his hard work is paying off. After a brief stint with Virgin via a demo deal in 1999, Kevin Sandbloom has been producing his acoustic driven songs as an independent and hasn't looked back. His 2005 album From A Bird yielded the much-favored track 'Is It A Crime'; a beautiful acoustic version of the Sade classic. No easy feat to take a song that Ms. Adu so clearly left her indelible stamp on and transform it into something so uniquely refreshing.

On the newly released MadLoveActivate, Kevin Sandbloom may have created his first, true masterpiece in 'Viva Los Angeles'. Destined to be as definitively California as Randy Newman's 'I Love L.A.', 'Viva' represents the darker side of the city of dreams. Where pursuit of your goals may cause you to gradually lose yourself and make you question why you ever went in the first place. Sandbloom's cautionary tale of life in the big city and fulfilling your dreams is spun in a particularly dark and honest way as he sings lines such as, "...gotta get down or lay down." "Am I myself or does this place define me?" And, "Even you're children know, this is where the hustlers go to get it. I hope that you find whatever you're looking for." The listener is draw into the struggles that sometimes envelope those that hop off the bus, ready to become a star; but often get lost in a living nightmare on the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Also apparent in the song is the deep love for L.A. often expressed by its long time residents. This is one of those great songs you fall in love with on the very first listen.

Be sure to stop by Sandbloom's MySpace page here. The 2 songs offered below are always within my reach. They stay in my personal listening rotation, and once you listen to them, you'll understand why. The new album MadLoveActivate is available now.

Kevin Sandbloom - Is It A Crime

Sandbloom - Viva Los Angeles

Jimmy stay down...

Though mainly known nowadays for hyphy and "ghost riding", the Bay Area has always produced great musical talents. The latest "next to blow" artist is Jimmie Reign. Entering into the already cluttered world of r&b will be no easy task. Right now, there are plenty of established artists fighting for spins on commercial stations. But, if she doesn't get heard, it won't be because she lacks the talent. This woman is a tour de force of talent. Looks: check. Singing ability: check. Fire tracks: check. Songwriting: got that, too. She's ready to make herself known to the world. I'm just hoping that the industry will make room for her. If for some awful reason she doesn't make it as an artist, she'll be just fine penning her great songs for others. She's that good. Hopefully, she won't have to worry about that. Stop by Jimmie's MySpace page here, and check these tasty mid-tempo goodies from Jimmie Reign. You wont be disappointed.

Ring My Bell

Something You Just Can't Hide

Superstar

Watch "Scratch" Now. Streaming Vid -

Director Doug Pray (Hype) pays tribute to the innovative art of DJing in the electrifying documentary Scratch. Featuring the most legendary figures in the DJ scene, Pray's film is at once a deeply insightful historical document and a highly entertaining glimpse into the world of underground hip-hop. Modern luminaries such as DJ Shadow, Mix Master Mike (of the Beastie Boys), DJ Q-bert, Rob Swift, and DJ Swamp are interviewed alongside living legends like Afrika Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, and Grand Mixer DXT, in order to paint a broad, comprehensive picture of how DJing has evolved over the years.

Seamlessly cutting between interviews and actual footage filmed at several high-profile DJing contests including Skratchcon 2000 and the DMC U.S. Finals, Pray's film is a must-see for both seasoned fans and the uninitiated, a celebration of one of the late-20th century's most thrilling, original musical movements.

NEW!!! Hezekiah f. Bilal - Keep Looking Up vid

Hezekiah and Bilal make a lethal combo. This track is without a doubt one of the dopest of the year so far. Visit Hezekiah's MySpace page here.

Old School Progressive Soul Videos!

Just a few favorites here. Hopefully it will be something you haven't seen in a while or haven't seen at all. Enjoy.

Incognito - Still A Friend Of Mine


Christion - Full Of Smoke


D'Angelo and the Soulquarians (live) - Send It On


Unless you're from Atlanta, you probably haven't seen this one...

Dionne Farris and Van Hunt - Hopeless (live)


Lynden David Hall - Sexy Cinderella

Some Dope Joints For The Week

Ice Water f. Raekwon & Busta Rhymes - Do It Big

Doc Holiday - 26 Chrome

Rob O - Mention Me (prod. by Pete Rock)

Erykah Badu - Music Is Everything

D Dot f. Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, and Black Rob - BBQ 2007

Big Shug - It Just Don't Stop (prod. by DJ Premier)

Common - Break My Heart

Stevie is that dude.

Good ol' Steveland. You know, there are certain artists and songs that you'll always remember and recall the very first time your ears bore witness. I remember as a child the first time I heard Donny Hathaway. I mean really heard him, because as kids you heard things all the time, most of which we paid no attention to. But this time I really heard what I was supposed to hear. It was like that with Stevie Wonder, too. When I was 13, I discovered 2 songs- 'Love's In Need Of Love Today' and 'Joy Inside My Tears'. For at least a year, I was fixated on Stevie's music. I was lucky to have hip older siblings and cousins that collectively had all of his albums to that point. And I was every bit that kid who sat in the music corner my older brother's bedroom and sat with the big, round-ear headphones and listened to records all day long. Stevie had a way of bringing questions about life to me that no other artist could. While most artists asked questions in their music, Stevie gave answers. Love yourself. Give others love. Stand for what's right. Religious leaders - mind your flock properly. Maybe your baby done made some other plan. The words were written and performed in a way that give an instantly perceived truth to every word.

These days I spend a pretty good amount of time watching video clips of my favortite artists. For all its issues, YouTube is the shizzaroo. Great thing about YT and other video sites is that you never know what someone will upload. A gem is literally around every corner. I found this vid a couple of days ago and thought I would share. Stevie Wonder singing one of his many classics- "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing" with Omar. Yep, an American legend with one of the UK's finer musical gifts. This is what YouTube was made for.

Stevie Wonder and Omar - Don't You Worry Bout A Thing




Love's In Need Of Love Today (stream)

Ladies...I Love You All

Alice Smith

I'll admit it.

My name is Bobby. And I objectify women. "Hi, Bobby!"

I know it's wrong. It's a serious character flaw. I could chalk it up to just having a "playa's attitude"...you know something cool that I could use to defend it, but it's time I face it. And you'd think that, like many men, I would be into the mainstream hot women like Jenna Jameson, Esther Baxter, Tila Tequila, and the like. Nope. I likes the women that can sang. Specifically, female artists that are just off the beaten path of their mainstream peers. While many guys fantasize about Pamela Anderson giving them the Tommy Lee experience, I tend to think about slightly weirder shit...like...chillin' in the park on a sunny day w/ Esthero with my head in her lap while she runs her fingers through my hair and gently sings My Torture. (Screw you, guys...at least I freely embrace my weirdness!) All my fantasies have pretty much the same premise and the women I love are fairly interchangable. Sometimes it's Erykah Badu and other days it's Alice Smith...just depends on what I feel like listening to at the time. I just put the music on and - off I go - into my own little world where these women sing only to me. The fact that most of these women are sexy as all get out makes it all that much easier. I mean, seriously, Lina is as sexy as they come. So is Amel Larrieux, Conya Doss, Sy Smith, and N'Dambi. All of them are real easy on the eyes, know what I mean? But, looks are a small part of the equation for me. What I really love is the fact that these women all sing great songs that are very personal to them, and many of them are great songwriters with an innate ability to search within themselves and produce poignant lyrics that get embedded into your psyche. Yep, gets me every time. OK...enough of my weirdness. It's time to bring you all into my fantasy with some tasty offerings from some of my favorite women. And by the way ladies...if I ever meet any of you, you will all receive the utmost respect from me. But, I'll be "Spittin' Game" like Anthony David. I just thought you all should know. Anyway, here are the goodies.

Alice Smith - Do I

Esthero - Country Livin'

Wayna - Mama's Sacrifice

Alice Russell - Don't You Worry

N'Dambi - Can't Change Me (m4a)

Dionne Farris - Funny

Janita - That's How Life Goes

Lina - Nothing

Do you want more? Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes is a documentary that examines the caustic relationship between hip-hop music and its major themes - violence, misogyny, and homophobia. Of course, these themes do not represent hip-hop music as a whole, but it does unfortunately permeate much of what is marketed and presented to the general public through commercial radio stations, video channels, and mass media as a whole. Byron Hurt takes an honest look at these issues from the standpoint of a loving fan as well as community activist. Watch now.

Sad face...

My bad, y'all. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off for two days and haven't updated the site. Sorry. I'll make it up to ya. Gimme a few hours and get some new posts up...including some Dope Joints For The Weekend. Also, I've got some great interviews coming up, so you GOTS to stay tuned. We'll also have the inaugural Dope Joints podcast up in a few days. We want you to have to goodies to ride to and to keep on the player or pod. Thanks for hangin' with me during this initial blastoff period. I've only been fully at this blog thang for the last 5 or 6 weeks, so please, please, please....forgive ya boy while I get the kinks knocked out and adjust to my own learning curve.

Peace and blessings...

Victory is near.

One of Houston's finest is back to show not only his lyrical ability, but his business acumen, too. Chamillionaire dropped his Mixtape Messiah 3 yesterday at 9pm CST and it immediately became the hottest download on the net. Koopa rips through all the hot beats- Fiddy's 'I Get Money', Kanye's 'Can't Tell Me Nothin', UGK's 'International Players Anthem', and... he even reaches back for the classic Jay Z/Eminem 'Renegade' track. The smart business move was in not pairing up with one of the hot mixtape DJs like Drama, Smallz, or Big Mike which would have likely seen the mixtape sold as they usually are- but instead, he teased his fans by dropping heaters over the last couple of months before finally giving away the 22 track heater of a cd on Chamillionaire.com last night (7/18) for absolutely free. He actually wants people to bootleg this mixtape, hoping in return they will not bootleg his major label release. Not a bad move. His cd 'Ultimate Victory' is slated to drop Sep.18.

Get Mixtape Messiah 3 right here, right now...before they kill the link.

Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 3

Do you.

Petey Greene was unabashedly proud to be a "nigga". He didn't even bother trying to be someone he was not and did not seek the approval of upwardly mobile blacks or the white establishment. He was Petey. An ex-con turned popular radio and t.v. talk show host. The true definition of a "hood nigga", Petey Greene - although he was a good communicator and could talk with anyone - was especially comfortable around neighborhood folks, which included pimps, pushers, and prostitutes - and they all loved him. But there were many who did not love him. Mainly, the before mentioned upwardly mobile blacks who considered him an embarrassment to black people. They were mortified by Petey's unforgivable "blackness" during a time when many blacks were aiming to fully integrate into the American establishment. They felt then, as many feel today, that his proprietary use of slang in his speech would give the impression that all blacks spoke and acted in this manner and that he perpetuated the stereotypical "nigger" image to whites. Nevermind the fact that Petey frequently spoke out on many issues that severely affected the black community such as racism and government-sponsored oppression. And nevermind the fact that he consistently called out community leaders who did not have the "community's" best interest at heart. He was just too God-damned black. For all his personal issues, and he had quite a few, Petey did the best he could to uplift his people. He was greatly responsible for bringing a burning Washington, D.C. back to calm during the riots after M.L.K.'s death. He started community organizations and consistently used his radio and tv platform to highlight issues and speak with community leaders. Yet he was still berated and despised by many for his anti-establishment demeanor and his refusal to assimilate as many blacks leaders at the time preached.

It's hard for me to imagine why many races, especially Blacks - since I am, are so embarrassed by their less sophisticated, "country" cousins - so to speak. Everyone's life experience is different and not all are raised in the same manner with the same etiquette. We seem to live in fear that others will look down upon us for reveling in our culture, when we should realize that some will have an opinion of you, of us, no matter what we accomplish. Blacks did not come up with the slur 'white trash', whites did. Many whites use this term to describe their less sophisticated brothers and sisters. We all have way more in common than anyone would like to admit. And even though our inter-racial differences wont disappear anytime soon, I personally thank Hip-hop for helping my generation understand each other a little better. Petey Greene was, in a sense, a version of Hip-hop in his generation. Brash, insightful, embarrassing, and revolutionary - he made you pay attention.

Go check out the bio-pic of Petey Greene 'Talk To Me' featuring Don Cheadle. And right now, check out a clip from Petey's tv show 'Petey Greene's Washington', as he shows how to properly eat watermelon. And before you start thinking you're about to see coonish behavior at its finest, keep in mind that Petey's mantra was "be yourself". Stop frontin', and be yourself. Do you.

Across the water...

About the time that D'Angelo and Maxwell were revitalizing the American music scene with heavy injections of soul, in the UK, the soul train had already been in full blast mode. Acts like Incognito, Jamiroquai, SoulIISoul, and Lewis Taylor had already hit their stride by the time major labels in the U.S. realized there was money they were missing out on. In '96, Jamiroquai had already been on the UK scene for 3 years and it took another year to bust out stateside with their hit 'Virtual Insanity' in mid '97. It took another 8 years for Lewis Taylor to finally make some noise in the states with his Stoned album (although he retired from the music business in frustration before he could tour the U.S.)

Even though Jamiroquai and Lewis Taylor are on opposite ends of the soul music spectrum, both acts were able to create, within their respective styles, lush and soulful soundscapes. Heirs of Soul is a documentary that follows both acts on tour and features great interviews with both acts as well as some prime concert footage. If you're a Lewis Taylor fan, then you know how hard it is to find good performance clips and interviews, but this 25 min doc has it all. Watch it now.

Dope joints give you tight eyes...

There's just something about Nicolay's production style that makes it hard to resist. He doesn't make beats - he makes grooves. You know...the kind that when you hear them they just seems to take you on this spaced out, soulful journey through his head. Phonte heard it. Tigallo made damn near a whole album with the dude before he ever met him face to face. Kay of The Foundation heard it, too. And now their relationship may turn out to be one of the most lethal producer/mc combos since Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek. If these cats do an entire album together, it's a wrap. But for now, take this newly leaked single from Nicolay's new label Nicolay Music and use it as your personal theme music for the week. I know I am.

Nicolay's MySpace page

Nicolay and Kay f. Oh No and The Luv Bugs - Tight Eyes

Conya Doss Takes You Up and Away

School teacher by day - sultry soul singer by night. That's my kinda woman. What's not to love about Conya Doss. The smoky, emotive vocals elicit a passionate vibe with every listen. Pop in one of Ms. Doss' cd's, sit back with your significant other sipping on some Boone's Farm (yeah, I'm ghetto..what!), and let Conya do the rest. It makes for a great evening everytime. Here's a great clip the hottest teacher I know doing her thing last week in Baltimore at the African-American Festival. Check out her remake of Norman Connors classic 'Starship'.



Conya Doss - Starship

Tuesday's Dope Joints

Classic from D'Angelo. Alright, D. Enough of this eccentric, artist bullshit. It's time to make the donuts. New album please.

D'Angelo - Girl, You Need A Change of Mind


New Chaka and Mary. Chaka is sounding good.

Chaka Khan f. Mary J. Blige - Disrespectful


Royce is killin' this Kanye track!! Nickel Nina is definitely one of the dopest MC's blessin' a mic.

Royce Da 5'9" - The Return (Can't Tell Me Nothin' track)


Termanology - So Amazing (prod. by DJ Premier)

Gordon Chambers f. Ledisi - To Love Again

God don't like ugly...

You know, I'm not what you would call a particularly religious dude...but it didn't take T.D. Jakes to figure out that things were about to go real bad for Remy after this fiasco of a mixtape cover. This shit is wrong on so many different levels that you just can't count 'em all. As I'm sure you've all heard, Remy has finally turned herself in for blasting her (former) friend in the belly behind 2 g's. She's already posted her $250K bond and is back on the streets. 2 grand? You shot your friend behind 2 grand??? Really???? Wow. Keep in mind that this is not the average shlub like me or maybe you. If I lose 2 grand tomorrow, it's gonna be a terrible freakin' month or so. Remy Ma can get 2 grand from some simp who wants to take her to lunch. Remy Ma can get way more than 2 grand by charging some unsuspecting indie rapper for 16 bars. Remy Ma can get at least 2 grand by showing up for 15 minutes at a club or party in Queens. So what in the hell would make her shoot her friend over $2,000??? Bizarre doesn't begin to describe this situation. Looks like it's time for Shesus to have a talk with Jesus.

Funk Off!

Here is a great documentary on soul and funk that aired on BBC as part of its Soul Deep - The History of Black Music series. It doesn't cover as much ground as Yvonne Smith's 1996 critically acclaimed PBS doc 'Make It Funky', but it does tread much of the same ground and gives more focus to Motown's apprehensive foray into the funk. There are some great Stevie Wonder rarities here, including studio footage of Stevie creating one of my favorites, 'Jesus Children of America'. There are 8 parts to this doc....so sit back and enjoy. Get some soul.

The Story Of Funk and Soul

Part One


Part Two


Part Three


Part Four


Part Five


Part Six


Part Seven


Part Eight - Final

Harder Than You Think

Public Enemy - Harder Than You Think

Dope Joints For The Weekend

Van Hunt - The Lowest 1 of My Desires

Wipe Me Down (Texas Reppin') - Trae, UGK, and Chamillionaire

Prince - Chelsea Rogers

Nas, Kanye, & KRS-One - Classic (Hezekiah rmx)

Pete Kuzma f. Bilal - High And Dry

Beat Diggin': Documentary

Here's a 30 minute documentary on how producers and DJ's find those fire beats and samples. Diggin' in the crates is an artform to many as well as a way of life. This film features legends like:

Diamond D (D.I.T.C), Mr. Walt (Beatminerz), Showbiz (D.I.T.C), Evil D (Beatminerz), Godfather Don
Paul Lepe

Special Appearences by: Common , Mos Def, & Royal Flush

Strange Fruit Project f. Erykah Badu - Get Live

There's A Riot Going On

Hezekiah Speaks
'I Predict A Riot' drops Sep. 18

Everybody knows someone like Hezekiah. He’s the soft-spoken quiet type - an almost nerdy dude that’s always seems to stay under the social radar. Cool as hell, low key, never boisterous, and usually a computer geek and/or obscenely talented when it comes to music. If he’s a rapper, he’s the dopest one in the cipher but rarely gets his full props. If he’s a producer, chances are he’s got some of the hottest beats in the city. And no matter to what extent people try to disregard him, he keeps at it. Still dropping jewels in the cipher, still banging out head nodding grooves in the basement.

That’s Hezekiah. He is the rapper, the singer, and the producer (and a self-proclaimed geek). Only difference is now, he’s no longer quiet and is beginning to speak up for himself. He had been quietly doing his thing for years, but now, as Rawkus prepares to release his new cd ‘I Predict a Riot’, Hezekiah is ready to show that he has learned his lessons from years past and is applying the knowledge. It’s been over two years since his debut ‘Hurry Up and Wait’, and two years can seem like forever when you’re a hungry, independent artist eager to make it happen. After careful reflection, he freely admits that he made some mistakes when the album was released. “When Hurry Up and Wait dropped, I stayed in the studio. I didn’t get out and support the album or go and tour. I just stayed at home…you know…just stayed in the studio creating.” Nowadays, you couldn’t pull him off the road if you tried. Hezekiah has been all over the U.S. opening for Mos Def and now he’s setting his own tour dates, including a tour of the west coast just starting.

‘I Predict a Riot’ appears to have all the makings of a banger. Hot production that includes his own tracks and gifts from Oddisee and Brainstorm; quality features from the likes of soul wunderkind Bilal, neo-soul divorcee Jaguar Wright, Freeway, and the wonderfully talented Muhsinah; and last but not least, Hezekiah himself – showcasing his lyrical prowess and exceptional songwriting. When asked how ‘Riot’ differs from the previous album, Hezekiah says, “Making this album was a lot more personal for me. I got into myself in terms of what I wanted to say. I talk about relationship issues. Like…one track talks about a dude finding out his baby isn’t really his. I’m also talking about a lot of world situations and different stuff going on. (The album) is more concept driven (than the ‘Hurry Up” album.) It’s very dramatic…more melodic…it’s better written than my last album. “

When asked about the current state of hip-hop and what’s getting the airplay, Hezekiah seems to take it all in stride. “Everybody wants to dance,” he says. “Right now is the Down South(‘s) time. The South is making the dancing and street type stuff. It’s cool. My music is more complicated…you know…it’s real tedious. It has a lot more stuff in terms of melodies and it’s harder to make.” But Hezekiah knows that times change, and what’s hot right now can be something totally different tomorrow. He seems ready for it. Ready to show the world why The Roots, Musiq Soulchild, and Bilal are all down with him. Ready to show the world that he is bigger than his Philly popularity. Ready to show that geeks can be the best hustlers. “I’m a hustler, dude. I know how to get out there and get it.”

Hezekiah's myspace page

Hezekiah f. Bilal - Keep Looking Up

Hezekiah f. Keziah & E. Shon Burgundy - I Predict A Riot

New Video: Hezekiah - Wild and Wreckless

Who in the hell???

Have you ever heard of Iron Solomon? Yeah...me, neither. But after watching this, I'm wondering why I haven't heard of him sooner. I won't even bother telling you who's who in the MC battle vid. Just watch. You'll figure it out.

The Hip-Hop Years DVD - Watch it NOW!!! (Now Streaming)

***NOW STREAMING*** (5/2008)

Check out this great documentary that documents hip-hop from its early years. Features DJ Kool Herc, Fab Five Freddy, and many more of hip-hop's legends and luminaries. There are four parts in all, taking us from the music's beginnings to the new millennium.

Watch it now.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

New music from Van Hunt!! Signs to Blue Note.

Van Hunt has recently announced that he has signed to Blue Note. Hopefully, he'll get a little more understanding about his creative vision, since Capitol didn't seem to get it. To their credit, though, they gave it an honest attempt releasing two albums. But Van has never been the sort of artist you could place in a nice, neat box and package for consumers. With the swag of a pimp and his God given talent, Van continues to press his own boundaries and yours as well. His self-titled debut in 2004 featured a soulful mix of uptempo, groovy goodies and low down, bass heavy, bluesy tracks. Two years later, he returned with On The Jungle Floor which was a more creative outing than the debut, but ultimately left many listeners scratching their heads thinking they would get the more subdued and laid back Van Hunt. Surprise, bitches. Featuring great songs like "Mean Sleep" f. Nikka Costa, Jungle Floor was a another step in Hunt's process of exploring the full potential of his creativity. Major labels, of course would much rather have an artist they know how to promote and market. Capitol appeared to not have the slightest clue of what to do with Hunt or the Jungle Floor album. The album received great reviews but ultimately did not do much on the charts.

Hopefully Blue Note will have a better plan in place than Capitol did by the time Hunt's new cd The Popular Machine drops in January 2008. But, they do plan to test the waters by dropping an 4 track digital EP of the same name on August 7, according to Hunt's myspace page. One of the new cuts to be featured is called "The Lowest 1 of My Desires". With a steady, repetitive kick and funky guitar licks, Hunt lays his pimpishly smooth vocals all over this one. He lets it all hang loose as he exclaims on the hook, "I wanna f*ck you..." Wow. This song easily brings back old memories of some of Prince's earlier sexed up works, but Hunt is definitely into his own vibe. And of course....we wouldn't be Dope Joints if we didn't give you the dope joints. (wink)

Van Hunt - The Lowest 1 of My Desires

Van Hunt - Character (acoustic version)

BET loses sponsors over new show "Hot Ghetto Mess".

Good. I personally hope BET loses all its sponsors. There's a reason why the station is commonly referred to as Buffoonery Entertainment Television. There is absolutely no effort made on their part to create any sort of balance in it's programming, particularly the music programming. Here is the story. Link

Wednesday's Dope Joints - Brand new Raphael Saadiq and more

Killer Mike f. SL Jones - Good For You (dirty)

Jayme - Welcome to The Future (prod. by Timbaland)

Nicole Scherzinger f. Swizz Beats & T.I. - Whatever You Like (Snitches) _DJ E-Soul Blend

Royce Da 5'9" - Hit 'Em (prod. by DJ Premier) (dirty)

Velben - Travelin Man

Ne-Yo f. Mary J. Blige - Do You (remix) clean

Q-Tip - Work It Out (clean)

Raphael Saadiq - I Need You (Everyday)

Davina album BACK IN STOCK!

CD Baby has restocked the Davina Return To Soul v.1. You'd better get it while the gettin' is good. For more on Davina just scroll down.

Intergalactic

Detroit. Does it even surprise you anymore when something new and dope comes out of this city of soulful talent? Velben may be the new kid on the block, but he's making a helluva lot of noise. Equipped with spaced out grooves and otherworldly lyrics, he is quickly making a name for himself in a city that's already overloaded with funky talent. We chopped it up with Velben in our first 5 Questions series.




5 Questions with Velben


1. Tell us about the Formless album.

Well basically I was singing hooks and secretively recording songs from home for 5 years. After hearing so much that I had something special, I decided that I was going to put together an album on my own. I felt the need to just release some of this music I had sitting around. So I grabbed 7 songs that I liked and just threw them on the project. Formless is a collection smooth soulful vibes over melodic hiphop beats. Its my introduction and I hope the world is ready for me.

2. Who did you work with on this project?

On this project I had the pleasure of working with Roxstar of Cream of Beats, Rise, The Blue Mile, Sean Lane and Kim F.

3. Detroit is known for being one of the groove capitals of the world. How much of an influence does the Detroit music scene have on your music?

Well I've been told that we have a vibe about our music, but because I'm born and raised here, I feel like its just who I am. I'm quite sure it has an impact on my delivery.

4. Who would you like to work with in the future?

I would like to work with 4Hero, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Deborah Jordan, Strange Fruit, Michael Franks etc. I can go on for days.

5. Tell us 5 CD's you are listening to.

I'm listening to Amy Winehouse, Michael Franks, Coldplay, Yolanda Johnson and 5th Dimension.

Visit Velben at his myspace page here.

Check out the Dope Joint from Velben - Travelin Man

Davina - Return To Soul V.1: Review

In the mid to late 90’s, there was a succession of releases that paved the way for what is now considered progressive (neo) soul music. Raphael Saadiq and Tony Toni Tone blazed the path, followed by D’Angelo, Groove Theory, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, and a few others. This period was arguably the most creative time in R&B/Soul music since the early 70’s. When Davina hit the scene with her debut album Best of Both Worlds in ’98, it was almost doomed to fail. Not because it wasn’t as good if not better than albums from her contemporaries, but it was generally considered way too “underground” compared to most of the r&b releases at that time for most MD’s and PD’s at radio. Most hip-hop dj’s loved the record and were greatly responsible for getting the single So Good f. Raekwon of Wu-Tang (originally released on the Hoodlum soundtrack) the good amount of spins it received. Best of Both Worlds was produced mostly by Davina, a feat in its’ own right since there were very few female producers in the music industry. Her record label, Loud Records, failed miserably to convince radio that she was an artist on par with others in heavy rotation. The record didn’t sound like anything else at the time, featuring a combination of dark, melancholy grooves over hardcore hip-hop beats. Not to say that it was groundbreaking, but it was definitely far ahead of what radio was playing. The album soon faded into obscurity, along with Davina – the artist. Now regarded as one of the most slept on cd’s of the 90’s, Best Of Both Worlds is still as good as it ever was and has created new fans worldwide in the 10 years since its release.

Even though she dropped off the scene as a recording artist, Davina has been firmly entrenched in the music industry. She has written and produced for some pretty well known artists in the last few years including Mobb Deep, Tyrese, Adriana Evans, Marques Houston, and the late Big Pun. Now she’s back, deciding to give her fans what they’ve begged for - new music. Return To Soul V.1 shows Davina has not missed a step. Her distinctive production style still sounds as fresh and just as dope as it did in in ’98. Great tracks like My Blues Away, Red Sky, and Ready are sure to guarantee some serious rotation time in the CD changer. Rumor has it, there will only be 10,000 copies of this CD to be pressed and distributed, so when it comes to getting your hands on it, hope for the best. CD Baby has already sold out and at this point, online retailer Amazon has not received any at all. So, good luck to you if you hope to get an original copy of this one. The fact that there will be so few of this CD pressed will almost guarantee that Return To Soul V. 1 will be considered a classic. If you’re not lucky enough to get your hands on it now, don’t worry. You’ll soon find them on e-Bay going for $50 bucks a piece. And to true Davina fans and soul fans as well, it’ll be worth every penny.

Davina - Ready

Davina - My Blues Away