Many of us know the Queen of Soul for her groundbreaking hits such as "Respect" and "Natural Woman" but wedged between these hits and subsequent number one singles such as "Angel", Aretha Franklin released the gospel album, Amazing Grace. The album sold nearly 2 million copies, and was easily the best selling gospel album of all time. The recording of the title track, "Amazing Grace", was done live in Los Angeles at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church on January, 13, 1972. A timeless classic not because it demonstrates Franklin's impeccable range and crowd-approved soul, this record stands out because it evokes the church tradition that produced many of our greatest artists, including Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Mahalia Jackson and Etta James to name a few. An example of what many termed 'gospel-soul', this record reminds us of a speical time. As a companion to her father, the late Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha's vocals captivated audiences as her father's words captured period of great struggle and triumph. For those born in my era, this is just a glimpse of it.
It was recently announced that The Foreign Exchange producer, Nicolay would be releasing a new album entitled, Shibuya: City Lights 2. The second installment of the City Lights series is slated to be released on September 15th. It is available for pre-order now.
This comes on the heels of the recent release of the Prince tribute Purple Flip featuring ?uestlove, Foreign Exchange,ZO!, and Carlitta Durand. In case you missed it, here it is:
Lastly, Phonte has confirmed the rumors that Carlitta Durand and Zo!, who are featured on many Foreign Exchange projects will be releasing albums in the near future. (more after the jump.)
Phonte states: Nic and I had always talked about the possibility of taking our partnership to the next level (I hate the word "label"), much like Jazzanova did with Sonar Kollektiv and how Jam and Lewis did with Flyte Tyme (for all my old heads out there...). When we decided to move full-speed ahead and form a production company, it seemed only right that our first artists would be two people we've been working with all along.
Zo! and Carlitta are much more than artists; they are family. Zo's album "Sunstorm" will drop early next year, and Carlitta Durand's as yet untitled debut will come afterwards. I feel that Nic and I have set the bar pretty high with the level of quality and craftsmanship in our FE releases, and I have no doubt that Zo and Carlitta's music will meet, if not surpass, that same standard. We treat their records with the same amount of love and detail as we do our own, and hopefully upon listening, you'll agree.
We are looking for big things from this collective. Oh, and by the way if you haven't heard The Foreign Exchange's Leave It All Behind ...you are slippin'!
Been in love with Ms. Teedra ever since I went with my homies to see her and Eric Roberson at the the black cat in DC. Hailing from New Orleans, Teedra is one of those honest songwriters, and her voice reminds me of sweet down home southern style baked treats. Everybody Rock is a collaboration with the Trackademics. Her new album, The Young Lioness is set to be released later this year. Shouts to wonderful folks at pinboard for the drop.
book info: published by New York University Press (2006) the author: Kyra Gaunt, professor of Ethnomusicology at NYU. Jazz vocalist, songwriter, and recording artist. The Games Black Girls Play is an excellent non-fiction foray into the world of young black girls. For those growing up in the Black community, we can remember the sounds of Ms. Mary Mack and Rockin’ Robin as well as visualize the Double-Dutch ropes churning ever so rhythmically. In this work, Gaunt shows how these games not only set the foundation for ethnic identity, but for folk culture, and eventually pop culture (hip-hop, neo-soul, R&B). She sees the games as essential to the development of identity or blackness and a part of growing up. Her background in ethnomusicology allows her to give technical information about the ‘musical blackness’ learned in these games and how it transferred to modern musical forms. Surprisingly for most readers, this type of foundation can be found in the styles of modern rap music and hip-hop. In an interesting section Gaunt shows the creative source of Nelly’s Country Grammar(see below) and other not so obvious songs as rooted in these children’s games while discussing the role of gender interplay. For music heads, this is a must read! (more after the jump)
quote: "Studying girls’ games need not, therefore, be confined to traditional folklore or vernacular studies. They, too, are part of contemporary and popular culture, and should not be relegated to the “other” categories of study and analysis that lie outside the artistic and popular." (p. 53)
The Roots recently debuted the title track of their upcoming album on their new job, the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon. Here is the mp3 studio cut. Shouts to the folks over at okayplayer for the drop. Don't know about yall but I've been itching for a new Roots album, its on the way via Def Jam on October 20!
Jay-z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West "Run This Town"
If you woke up late Friday morning you missed the world premiere of Jay-Z's new single, "Run This Town". This is the first official single of the upcoming Blueprint 3 which is scheduled to be released September 11th(8 years to the day of the original Blueprint. This song had Twitter buzzin' a day ago and many are saying Kanye finally topped his 'big brother'. What yall think? Shouts to the 2 dopeboyz for the drop.
book info: published by Routledge (1997) the author: Cedric Robinson, professor of Black Studies and Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Other books include The Terms of Order (1980), Black Marxism (1983), and Forgeries Of Memory And Meaning(2007).
Black Movements in America is an essential add to the library of anyone interested in the history of Black people in the United States of America. This non-fiction text tracks the evolution of the Black experience beginning in 1619 up to the late 20th century. Avoiding the normative assumptions about early Black history, Robinson details the history of enslavement. Central to this discussion is the idea of resistance. We are often told that many of our ancestors were docile and accepted their condition in enslavement. As Robinson outlines, this is furthest from the truth. Along with a discussion of rebellions (Prosser, Vesey, Turner), Robinson outlines the maroon societies that African-Americans created in the South. Robinson then moves the discussion to the free Black experience, African-American involvement during the Civil War, a discussion on the Nadir, and the political movements of African Americans in the 20th century from Garveyism, leftist movements, the modern civil rights era, and Black Power. This is a title that is necessary for all African-American students, and would be important for all US historians to consider. Names mentioned in this work such as Martin Delany, Henry McNeal Turner, and Septima Poinsette Clark, as well as others must contribute to the normative curriculum of African-American history as it is taught today.
(more after the jump)
quote: “Thus, while they might be catalyzed by their immediate historical circumstances, their bases are in alternative world views germinated from radically different Black experiences. From among the antebellum free Blacks, historical consciousness emerged that mirrored the liberal aristocratic American classes. From among the slaves, older African sensibilities were preserved, fertilized in the New World by maroonage and the work regimes of plantation slavery.”(p. 93)
beatsandbooks.com is a website and blog dedicated to the uplift of african people across the world via the elevation of art and intelligence and is the result of the need to highlight and showcase the array of genius that often goes unnoticed. This site will feature what its title implies, two of my passions: beats and books. The intellectual work and inspired music featured here will not only captivate your attention but will force the reader, listener, and viewer to reflect on what is being shared. In the age of excessive tabloid material and gossip in the blogosphere,beatsandbooks.com provides a respite as well as a remedy for the soul and mind. Recently, we've noticed a thirst for knowledge, and many folks out there have been searching for a place to find great suggestions for reading and good music. Very few places on the internet can web travelers access books reviews and suggestions while listening to the sounds of soul music, hip-hop, and even the eclectic afro-punk genre! booksandbeats.com is that place, and we are proud to offer the very latest as well as the classics when it comes to music and books. The following are explanations of the different topics and headings listed above:
the reading list: In this section visitors can find suggestions for good reads. Most of the books in this sections (as well as the site) will focus on people of African descent. As diverse as our people and writers are, visitors need not worry that this body of knowledge is to narrow. Stay tuned, in this section we will feature writers from as far away as the Sudan and topics as diverse as ethnomusicology. timeless classics: Some things are timeless. This section will feature monumental contributions to our intellectual history and music that transcends space and time. We will pay homage to the grand masters and mistresses of our time and of time immemorial. recent releases Here we will feature new music and recently released titles. this section will whet your apetite for more. We plan to have plenty of good stuff on deck. media: Here is where all media that we feature on the site will be kept. Look our for interviews, clips, music videos, and much more. artists news Want to know when Bilal's album is dropping? Curious to know Erykah Badu's upcoming tour dates? When are the Fugees getting back together? Here is the place to keep track of your favorite artists and their latest moves. artist spotlights: New and fresh music from up and coming artists. Yep, enough said.
The Zulu remind us...umuntu ngumuntu ngubantu. Which is interpreted in English as 'a person is a person, because there are people'. As my good friend Jabari recently stated as he launched his site,"though progression is up to you it is never only you." So I would like to thank the following people who've either influenced me, been there for me, or kept me going.
first and foremost:
the fam, those who came before, those who are yet to come
sc fam:
ric j, j murda, black rob, grady, steve mo, ralph, gav, bj, the ville, noc, blu, i300 fam, harold, byrd, rick, steve fred,old school kl, bruin football, tommy brown, britt, lil sis, jessica j., ran, cakes, shantel, jk, rita,christan, megan j, and the rest of the fam.
howard fam:
skep, terico,jabari, artic, mario, o. chris, obed, tybc, the bretheren(ian, carrington, will, brodrick, adrian, daniel), lamar, galen and 406, meik, craddock, niko, kahlil, the ones that didn't make it back after '06, jahaan (for her seed planting), evie, paige, nikki trip, larri, lauren, portia, sydney, linz, liz, amanda b, ash, candiace, joy lindsay, shay, selena, alls valle, raquelle, J-VO!, kristin, candace, sbel (sometimes), mr. gray (maa kheru), kts(chigozie, courtney, jam, sawdayah, justin, sham, anoa, nina, mike, james and ava), doc (chair of africana studies), south africa 07(alex, jackie, steve, tiff), eygpt 08 (kina, christina, morgan, malik, dexter, monique, nnamdi, amanda, holy family, royal family), 09 finance majors (phew), austin and the rest of pays, will brown, hiram, ray baker, husa 48, nick, kellen, husa 49, b. smart, jewel, the football team (for real), the legacy, and the future.
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